How to switch to discrete graphics ubuntu 16.04

Question

I have an Integrated Intel graphics and AMD Radeon R5 M230 graphics card. and I want to switch to AMD whenever I want to.

I ran the lspci command for you to see.

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller (rev 0b)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0b)
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller (rev 0b)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series USB xHCI HC (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series HD Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev e4)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev e4)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev e4)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series USB EHCI #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series SMBus Controller (rev 04)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 10)
02:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)
03:00.0 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Sun LE [Radeon HD 8550M / R5 M230]

Additional drivers tab

If you want to switch between graphics cards and see the same windows displayed I don't know how to do that. However, if you don't mind having two instances of X running, each having a separate set of windows (like having 2 workspaces) that should be feasible and you could switch between them with Ctl-Alt-Fn keystrokes. See [http://superuser.com/questions/117239/how-can-i-get-multiple-video-cards-to-work-on-linux] for a good place to start. You will need 2 xorg.conf files and to start 2 instances of X, each using its own file. Of course, there may be a smarter solution... — Jeffrey Ross, Sep 13 '16 at 19:47

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 13 '16 at 19:47

0

I just happened to have this screen snapshot handy from a question I posted a couple hours ago:

From your launcher select System Settings then Software & Updates and then pick Additional Drivers tab.

On my screen the manufacturer shows as "NVIDIA" but on yours it will show "AMD". If you have multiple choices and don't know which to pick you can print your screen and Edit your question to show that image.

answered Sep 13 '16 at 19:47

WinEunuuchs2Unix

102,282

edited with screenshot of my Additional drivers above. – Naster Sep 13 '16 at 19:52
@Naster In that case you need to read this Q&A: http://askubuntu.com/questions/124292/what-is-the-correct-way-to-install-proprietary-ati-catalyst-video-drivers-fglrx – WinEunuuchs2Unix Sep 13 '16 at 19:56
But isn't that for ubuntu 14? I've read on some sites that fglrx is not work in ubuntu 16 – Naster Sep 13 '16 at 19:58
I'm not sure. I'll have to research the subject further. – WinEunuuchs2Unix Sep 13 '16 at 20:16
This will not work. fglrx doesn't work on 16.04 or 14.04.5. Read my Q&A, which I linked in the comments of the question. – TheWanderer Sep 13 '16 at 20:36
@Zacharee1 OK. Is there anything that will work for Naster? – WinEunuuchs2Unix Sep 13 '16 at 20:41
@WinEunuuchs2Unix My Q&A has options. That's why I marked it as a dupe. – TheWanderer Sep 13 '16 at 20:46
@Zacharee1 Hello brother, Thanks for the response, Im trying to implement the OIBAF drivers method. Is there a tutorial how to set it up? Coz It's abit confusing for me – Naster Sep 14 '16 at 02:13
@Naster I would assume you just add the PPA and install, but I haven't tried. – TheWanderer Sep 14 '16 at 11:54

How to switch to discrete graphics ubuntu 16.04

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