Hey folks,
Been doing some research/reading on the forums and elsewhere and I’m hoping someone here would know more to help me understand how Garuda leverages hybrid graphics. Based on the Garuda Wiki it claims that “Garuda Linux by default only uses your integrated GPU to save power…” and that “The iGPU is much better suited for running low power common desktop applications.”
I have an Intel UHD Graphics 770 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti dGPU. However, I can confirm that the intel igpu is not used at all (via intel_gpu_top and btop (don’t see any gpu activity). Furthermore, running glxinfo -B | grep "OpenGL vendor string" results in OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation. Of course, pre-pending prime-run to the same command has the same exact output.
I’m wondering if I use envycontrol and switch to integrated mode (currently envycontrol -q shows hybrid) and then utilize prime-run for more graphic-intensive applications - would this correctly leverage my iGPU for more “low power common desktop applications” like the DE? I have a dual monitor setup, and they’re both plugged into 2 displayports on my NVIDIA card - would switching to integrated mean I won’t get any output display?
Is there another way I should be thinking about this? If Garuda uses iGPU by default to save power, how can I confirm that it’s doing so, since all I’ve been able to see is that it’s using the NVIDIA card.
Secondarily, any benefits to using the Intel Xe driver?
Here’s my garuda-inxi:
> garuda-inxi
System:
Kernel: 6.17.1-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=8dcc0c9c-8fe9-4fc6-b189-a8db2cfa3823 rw rootflags=subvol=@
i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7 quiet
resume=UUID=a14a443b-9c6b-47d0-b49a-d9686d767b7c loglevel=3
sysrq_always_enabled=1 nvidia-drm.modeset=1
pci=disable_acs_redir=pci:12D8:2308
vt.default_red=30,243,166,249,137,245,148,186,88,243,166,249,137,245,148,166
vt.default_grn=30,139,227,226,180,194,226,194,91,139,227,226,180,194,226,173
vt.default_blu=46,168,161,175,250,231,213,222,112,168,161,175,250,231,213,200
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.4.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.18.0
wm: kwin_wayland with: krunner vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda
base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: ASUS product: N/A v: N/A serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: ASUSTeK model: PRIME Z690-P WIFI v: Rev 1.xx
serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required>
UEFI: American Megatrends v: 3801 date: 05/14/2025
Battery:
Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard serial: <filter>
charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: discharging
CPU:
Info: model: 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900K bits: 64 type: MST AMCP
arch: Alder Lake gen: core 12 level: v3 note: check built: 2021+
process: Intel 7 (10nm ESF) family: 6 model-id: 0x97 (151) stepping: 2
microcode: 0x3A
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 10 cores: 16 threads: 24 mt: 8 tpc: 2
st: 8 smt: enabled cache: L1: 1.4 MiB desc: d-8x32 KiB, 8x48 KiB; i-8x32
KiB, 8x64 KiB L2: 14 MiB desc: 8x1.2 MiB, 2x2 MiB L3: 30 MiB
desc: 1x30 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 801 min/max: 800/5100:5200:3900 scaling:
driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave cores: 1: 801 2: 801 3: 801 4: 801
5: 801 6: 801 7: 801 8: 801 9: 801 10: 801 11: 801 12: 801 13: 801 14: 801
15: 801 16: 801 17: 801 18: 801 19: 801 20: 801 21: 801 22: 801 23: 801
24: 801 bogomips: 152985
Flags-basic: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel AlderLake-S GT1 vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915 v: kernel
alternate: xe arch: Xe process: Intel 10nm built: 2020-21 ports:
active: none empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0
chip-ID: 8086:4680 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: NVIDIA GA104 [GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Lite Hash Rate]
vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nvidia v: 580.95.05 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
non-free: 550-580.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-08; EOL~2026-12-xx)
arch: Ampere code: GAxxx process: TSMC n7 (7nm) built: 2020-2023 pcie:
gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-2,DP-4,HDMI-A-4
empty: DP-3,HDMI-A-3 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:2489 class-ID: 0300
Device-3: Realtek Integrated_Webcam_FHD driver: uvcvideo type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-12.4:11
chip-ID: 0bda:58ba class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
Device-4: Microsoft LifeCam Studio
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-3:3 chip-ID: 045e:0772
class-ID: 0300
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.18 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.8
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: modesetting,nvidia
unloaded: nouveau alternate: fbdev,intel,nv,vesa dri: iris
gpu: nv_platform,nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch d-rect: 3840x2160 display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: DP-2 pos: primary,left model: Samsung SyncMaster
serial: <filter> built: 2009 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1)
dpi: 92 gamma: 1.2 size: 531x298mm (20.91x11.73") diag: 609mm (24")
ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
Monitor-2: DP-4 pos: right model: Dell UZ2715H serial: <filter>
built: 2014 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 83 gamma: 1.2
size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 676mm (26.6") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
Monitor-3: HDMI-A-4 pos: right model: Lontium semi serial: <filter>
built: 2020 res: mode: 3840x2160 hz: 30 scale: 200% (2) to: 1920x1080
dpi: 813 gamma: 1.2 size: 3840x2160mm (151.18x85.04") diag: 139mm (5.5")
ratio: 15:9, 16:9 modes: max: 3840x2160 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0
drv: nvidia device: 2 drv: iris device: 3 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nvidia
surfaceless: drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
inactive: device-1
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 580.95.05
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
memory: 7.81 GiB display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.321 layers: 17 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti driver: nvidia v: 580.95.05 device-ID: 10de:2489
surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: integrated-gpu name: Intel UHD Graphics 770
(ADL-S GT1) driver: mesa intel v: 25.2.4-arch1.1 device-ID: 8086:4680
surfaces: N/A device: 2 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8 256 bits)
driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.2.4-arch1.1 (LLVM 20.1.8)
device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: corectrl, gputop, intel_gpu_top,
lsgpu, lact, nvidia-settings, nvidia-smi wl: wayland-info,wlr-randr
x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-S HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl bus-ID: 00:1f.3
chip-ID: 8086:7ad0 class-ID: 0403
Device-2: NVIDIA GA104 High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:228b class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Conexant Systems (Rockwell) DELL UZ2715H
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-12.2:12 chip-ID: 0572:141c class-ID: 0300
serial: <filter>
Device-4: Microsoft LifeCam Studio
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-3:3 chip-ID: 045e:0772
class-ID: 0300
API: ALSA v: k6.17.1-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss
type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.8 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-S PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
bus-ID: 00:14.3 chip-ID: 8086:7af0 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlo1 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel
pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 3000 bus-ID: 06:00.0
chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp6s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: br-1f7862558da6 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-2: br-7bfc84ea431e state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-3: br-82d31aa0b51e state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: unknown
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-4: br-960c3623af4c state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-5: br-b787944b7593 state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: unknown
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-6: br-b90412b2529c state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-7: br-c3a5729d4cf6 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-8: br-e0cf0c4bc03a state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: unknown
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-9: br-e9c38ec2b98c state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: unknown
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-10: docker0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-11: veth03c4a4f state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-12: veth4ccbab3 state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-13: veth5f3d8a9 state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-14: vethe85a946 state: up speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: <filter>
IF-ID-15: virbr0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-16: virbr1 state: down mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, sshd, systemd-timesyncd
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Intel AX201 Bluetooth driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-14:8 chip-ID: 8087:0026
class-ID: e001
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.2
lmp-v: 11 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c0104
RAID:
Hardware-1: Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller driver: vmd
v: 0.6 port: N/A bus-ID: 00:0e.0 chip-ID: 8086:467f rev: class-ID: 0104
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 6.37 TiB used: 2.97 TiB (46.6%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 990 PRO with
Heatsink 2TB size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B
speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 4B2QJXD7
temp: 46.9 C scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 1TB
size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 5B2QGXA7 temp: 42.9 C
scheme: GPT
ID-3: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Seagate model: ST4000NE001-2MA101
size: 3.64 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> fw-rev: EN01 scheme: GPT
SMART Message: Unknown smartctl error. Unable to generate data.
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%) used: 705.27 GiB (38.6%)
fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:3
ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
used: 636 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
maj-min: 259:2
ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 705.27 GiB (38.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
maj-min: 259:3
ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 705.27 GiB (38.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
maj-min: 259:3
ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 705.27 GiB (38.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
maj-min: 259:3
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 31.08 GiB used: 137.3 MiB (0.4%)
priority: 100 comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842
dev: /dev/zram0
ID-2: swap-2 type: partition size: 34.2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:4
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 32 GiB note: est. available: 31.08 GiB used: 9.43 GiB (30.4%)
Processes: 620 Power: uptime: 3h 41m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 12.37 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 258 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: 2698 pm: pacman pkgs: 2681 libs: 619 tools: octopi,pacseek,paru
pm: flatpak pkgs: 17 Compilers: clang: 20.1.8 gcc: 15.2.1 alt: 13/14
Shell: Bash v: 5.3.3 default: fish v: 4.1.2 running-in: kitty inxi: 3.3.39
Garuda (2.11.1-1):
System install date: 2024-10-16
Garuda release: 240428
Last full system update: 2025-10-08
Is partially upgraded: No
Relevant software: snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-utils nvidia-open-dkms garuda-hardware-profile-nvidia garuda-hardware-profile-standard garuda-hardware-profile-standard-x11
Windows dual boot: Probably (Run as root to verify)
Failed units:
--- System Health Check Report ---
23/24 checks run in 0.73 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅
✅ System health check passed. No issues found.
Many thanks!!