nVidia Optimus is a hybrid graphics technology

nVidia Optimus is a technology from nVidia for switching the discrete nVidia card off when the graphical power of it is not needed and relying on the integrated GPU from Intel.

This technology is supported by Ubuntu in two different ways:

  1. By nvidia-prime module. It allows to switch adapters in Nvidia X Server Settings utility (PRIME Profiles). This requires log off and log on and allows to use only one setting for all applications.

  2. By bumblebee module. It allows to use Intel adapter by default and run some applications using Nvidia adapter with optirun command.