Strange problems with nvidia video card

[david23]

Hi, I don't know if it's really a problem, but I suppose...

I had in the last days serious problems with the nvidia card and ubuntu (see ubuntuforums or askubuntu).

Resuming I couldn't boot ubuntu if the nvidia card was enabled...

Now I only use windows because of this problem but I have another doubt: why the power manager sometimes don't show me the GPU usage (see image)?

In any case the nvidia (I think) is always working (the external monitor plugged in  the DisplayPort works... I think that's a confirmation)

Another question: at times when I watch video on youtube the nvidia is enabled at others not... is this a problem of optimus or not?

For me it's important that windows works (no problem if ubuntu doesn't works.. I posted the links of the problems with ubuntu just  for information on what's happened before this problem with windows..

[ThorsHammer]

Are you using Flash or HTML5 to watch videos on YouTube?

What browser?

[david23]

I'm using Firefox with html 5...
But I also tried also with chrome, in which the html 5 mode in youtube is not activate, and I have the same problem...
I find it strange because if i have the monitor plugged in the nvidia GPU is activated (of course) and if i'm whatching a video on youtube when i disconnect the monitor the GPU won't switch to the intel but it still remains the nvidia activated until i close this video..

[christopherlang]

Lol glad someone posted about the gpu gauge. How are you determining which card your video is running on? Are you using the GPU activity monitor?

[Chatbox]

Someone will probably come along and correct me if I'm wrong...but here's what I know (or I think I know):

GPU switching does not happen midway through a process (thread) execution.

For example, if a flash plugin will be allocated over to the nvidia chip (becuase you're connected to the display port)...and it is not switched over to intel until the next initialisation of the plugin.

[christopherlang]

Agree. The app would need to be restarted.