Studio 2020 or 2021 blade 17 for AI

Hey
I am using Blade 2020 studio edition for neural networks development on Ubuntu 20.
eg https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/r...-archived-content-to-4k-resolution-and-above/

This is my 3rd Razer and I am rather happy about it except for one thing
I can't use integrated intel graphics for UI on my external monitor.
Why is this important you may ask?
I would like to free up all of nvidia quadro gpu vram for neural networks (mine are huge vram hogs)

As far as I understand there's no way to force external monitor when using intel (not soldered or something)

The question: I am thinking of upgrading to the recent blade 17 with nvidia 3080 + 16gb vram, does anyone know if it will support external monitor on integrated graphics?

 

@zhuker42
I have a 2021 Blade 15 Advanced with the same GPU. I'd be happy to test and report back,
if you can point me to the right configuration that reserves the discrete GPU to make sure
that the external monitor is, in fact, driven by the integrated GPU.

Chances are the two systems (15 vs 17) are quite comparable in this regard.

 

On linux you just switch to intel-only profile and check if monitor still works

# sudo prime-select intel

 

That was too easy...

BUT, the detailed answer is a bit complicated, since

• the Blade has several output options (2 Thunderbolt/DP ports + 1 HDMI); and,
  
• I tested on Ubuntu 21.10, which has both Wayland and Xorg support.

The integrated Intel GPU cannot use the HDMI port _at all_,
but works fine on either of the Thunderbolt ports under both
'Ubuntu' (i.e. Wayland) and 'Ubuntu on Xorg' (heck, even Sway works!).

So, depending on your monitor's input options this _could_ be fine,
but might as well turn out to be a deal-breaker.

Interestingly, the 3080 can drive any of the 3 outputs with Xorg,
but in Wayland plugging an HDMI cable causes the whole system
to hang HARD (before any errors hit syslog...)
The Thunderbolt ports work OK also with Ubuntu on Wayland.
(Sway won't even start with the discrete GPU enabled,
but most people likely wouldn't care, anyway).

I hope this helps.

 

WARNING: do NOT update your BIOS to 1.09 v3
if you want to keep USB-C output enabled for the integrated GPU!!!


The description for the update does specify

I naïvely assumed that this meant _an option_
to enable USB-C for dGPU, but that's not the case.
With my dGPU reserved for CUDA, Razer just managed
to render my external 5k monitor essentially useless...
I'm delighted. I hope I can roll back this update....