Acer 5742G Graphics card problem

Hello,
I have an Acer notebook with a NVIDIA Geforce GT 540M 1GB in it.
But my laptop doesn't use it, it uses the intel HD graphics card (the bad one with no memory).
On the Nvidia control panel I only see:
- System update
-3D-options
- Video
I looked around and I saw I missed the display tab.
specifications:
- Intel Core i5-450M 2.53 GHz
- 4GB RAM
- 750 GB HDD

Hope you guys can help me.

 

37 views and no reply.
come on people I really need a fix.
I look around for 1 month now and I begin to think it is an hardware problem.
Anyone who can confirm this?

 

Hi Dennis,
What is your BIOS version, I've found the version released by Acer 1.17 has a fix for Display mode. I'm sure "downloads" or someone definitely will answer your query, be patient.

 

I'd be glad to help but I've never had enough contact with Optimus to be able to do so. Switching is based entirely on drivers as opposed to manual switching for ATI cards. The former might be more comfortable but produces issues like the ones mentioned by dennis1027.

All I can recommend is to make sure that your drivers are properly installed (re-install Acer-provided drivers if needed) and if nVidia's own drivers work with your machine try to update to most recent ones straight from nVidia.
Ellalan's recommendation seems to make sense- that's worth trying.

It would be good if any of 5742G users could chime in at this point...

 

Bios: InsydeH2O version V1.10
I recieved my laptop fully installed so I didn't download my drivers.
and maybe an interesting screenie:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/863/geforcej.png/
As you can see it looks like my laptop screen is attached to the Intel and not to my Geforce.

PS sorry for my bad english.

 

I think your "switchable graphics" isn't working for some reason, first try and find the newer drivers for nvidia(PhysX) from here or Acer Support:

Download

If it doesn't help, try the retailer if it's possible(you must have paid premium price for the graphics).
As a last resort you could try updating your BIOS to the newer version but I am not in a position to guarantee that will solve the problem.
I hope someone having the exact model will come up with a solution for you.

 

I have an ACER 5742 xxxG version also. Can someone tell how to see if I too have the Nvidia grafix in my notebook???
All I see in the hardware is the INTEL stuff.

Any help or info greatly appriciated.

Rob

 

If your model number is similar to this:AS5742-384G75Mnkk

Manufacturer: Acer

Then you don't have dedicated graphics.
If your model number is 5742G, then you have dedicated graphics.

 

Ok Thx mate

Rob

 

my current version of my psysix is newer than that one.
what do you mean with retailer? I don't know what it means.

 

The place where you bought the laptop, I do not know your situation, that is whether you can get a replacement or refund for your laptop, it seems a recent model and I believe it's under warrenty.

 

Have you tried downloading 3dmark 11? If it runs at all then all is working properly.

 

I still have warrenty but I thought it could maybe be an easy fix but I think it's not so I will contact dynabyte (store where I bought it) soon.

3d mark 11? what kind of a program is it?

 

3DMark 11 is a benchmark.
Just don't tell me you haven't heard of 3D Mark software

Download

 

sorry, I am only 15...
I looked for the program but it just let me see a video? or is it testing my videocard meanwhile?

 

No reason to be sorry. I shouldn't have made that comment anyway.

If you're having trouble with the link in my previous post use this one.

Download, install and run it- post the score when you're done.
The video was just to show you how the benchmark looks- although don't expect the actual benchmark to be that smooth.

 

Result
this is my result.
strange it detected my geforce card.

 

Not only did it detect it but it also used it which is confirmed by the score you got.
That means there's probably no problem to solve- your laptop uses Intel when you're not gaming and GeForce when you are switching automatically

 

explain to me why it doesn't use my geforce when I shut down my intel card?
and why there is no display tab in my NVIDIA control panel?

 

You can't shut down an Intel card with nVidia Optimus. It's always active even when GT540 does the rendering Intel is responsible for keeping the frame in place- GT540 just fills it.

Why do you want do disable switchable graphics anyway? It's a good concept.
With Optimus you just have to keep the drivers up to date.

 

ahhh ok!
but I am still missing the display tab in my Nvidia control panel.

 

It seems that we have the same problem, it is very annoying this double card thing, and i want to disable the integrated one. Looks like few now something about this.

 

I'm afraid, you can not disable integrated graphics as it is used by the system. Your laptop will utilise the integrated graphics for normal operations and when it needs more graphics power the dedicated graphics start to function.