Latitude E6420 and switchable graphics?

Few questions.

Firstly, do all latitude E6420 comes with switchable graphics? Mine has an Nvida graphics card but for some reason drivers for Intel graphics are also installed?!?! My best guess is that I have switchable graphics card system which I heard about some time back

If I do have a switchable graphics card, how do I know it is "working" properly? FYI, I reformatted and reinstalled my dell. How do I switch from Intel to Nvidia graphics?

 

I was wondering the same thing. I just got an e6420 from the outlet, it has an Nvida graphics card but it seems to be using the intel graphics. I was wondering how to get it to use the Nvida one. I can't figure it out. Device mgr says both are installed and working properly.

 

No, not all E6420 have switchable graphics. Optimus is an upsale. Intel drivers must be installed prior to nVIDIA if you ever re-image. You will know its working properly everytime you watch DVD, use HDMI out etc.

 

It will automatically switch to the nVidia one when it needs to. Thing is, I don't think you can "force" it to use one or the other in the OS short of running a program that needs the extra GPU power (I think it will also activate under certain multi-monitor setups that the Intel can't handle).

You can disable Optimus in the BIOS, though, and it'll run in nVidia mode all the time. I've actually had to disable it when using certain linux live CDs since GUIs would come up all messed up otherwise.

Someone posted this in one of the other threads:

Dell Community

You should see both adapters in Device Manager.

EDIT: Forgot about the context menu in Explorer, right-click and go to "Run with graphics processor". Though I've had mixed success with this when benchmarking, some programs still detect the Intel one.

 

Ok, I still got one unresolved question. How do you know which graphics card is in use? How to check? And another question, how do I switch it manually? If this can't be done, what triggers the switching?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...mus-any-way-manually-switch-between-gpus.html

In Explorer, right-click and go to "Run with graphics processor".

If you don't do this, it's auto.

 

If you want to know any application that uses the GPU, you can use Nvidia GPU activity notification.

Go into Nvidia Control Panel (Right click on desktop, or Control Panel), then click on 'Desktop' (Top), select 'Display GPU Activity Icon In Notification Area'