NVIDIA: Difference between revisions

{{Note|Offload mode is available '''since NixOS 20.09 and NVIDIA driver version 435.21''', and requires an NVIDIA GPU of the Turing generation, or newer and a compatible CPU — either an Intel CPU from the Coffee Lake generation or newer, or an AMD Ryzen.}}

Offload mode puts your dGPU to sleep and lets the iGPU handle all tasks, except if you call the dGPU specifically by "offloading" an application to it. For example, you can run your laptop normally and it will use the energy-efficient iGPU all day, and then you can offload a game from Steam onto the dGPU to make the dGPU run that game only. For many, this is the most desirable option. '''Offload mode is incompatible with sync mode.'''

{{Note|Reverse sync mode is available '''since NixOS 23.05 and NVIDIA driver version 460.39''' and is still an experimental, buggy feature<ref>https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/the-all-new-outputsink-feature-aka-reverse-prime/129828/67</ref>. '''Your mileage may vary.''' Reverse sync mode also requires using a desktop manager that respects the <code>services.xserver.displayManager.setupCommands</code> option, including LightDM, GDM and SDDM.}}The difference between regular sync mode and reverse sync mode is that the '''dGPU''' is configured as the primary output device, allowing displaying to external displays wired to it and not the iGPU (more common).