Acer Aspire 7750G - Switchable Graphics problem

Hello.

Got my new Acer Aspire 7750G laptop a week ago. Happy with the new laptop, but have some problems with the switchable graphic.

My laptop has a AMD Radeon HD 7670M - 2 GB DDR3 VRAM dedicated GPU, but also uses the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphic card.

As I now understand ( from this thread) AMD have stopped letting us users have the choice to use the dedicated GPU or the integrated GPU. In the BIOS I can only switch between Integrated or Switchable.

In Catalyst Control Center I can not see the Switchable Graphic Method as you can see in this video showing how to only use the dedicated GPU.
(the text is Norwegian)

I asked Acer support (on the phone here in Norway) if there is any fix for this problem. But they told me to reinstall Windows, and if that did not work, they did not know of any fix. (and I have tried that now, twice).

I have updated my laptop with the newest driver from Acer support ( from this page, dated 04.01.2012)

This problem also affect Adobe Photoshop CS 5.1. I only get an error message telling me that it's a problem with my GPU, and that it has been disabled in Photoshop. And under the settings, now GPU is present.
So I can not use openGL.

(sorry for the Norwegian text, I'm using the Norwegian version)

I have tried to use the Switchable Graphic settings, and I have used the High Performance settings on my games and on Adobe Photoshop, but that do not fix the problem.

Do anybody with a Acer laptop, using AMD Radeon HD 7670M and Switchable Graphic know how to fix this issue?
I want to use my dedicated GPU (AMD Radeon HD 7670M) on Photoshop and on my games.

 

Nobody else with a Acer Aspire thats has problems with Switchable Graphic? And nobody using Adobe PhotoShop on a Acer?
Strange if I the only one with a problem with this.

 

I am having related problems (same age laptop). Same exact config.

Original installation of drivers created a "loadlibrary faild error 126" error when trying to start Solidworks. (Photoshop at least opened). Recommendations online involved re-installing the drivers.

I uninstalled all video drivers, and now I am unable to re-install drivers.....only the built in HD intel card seems to be working. The other device (ATI Radeon) shows up as non-functional, with an error message.

The 04-Feb-2012 Driver release from Acer says it installed properly, but the device remains non-functional. Drivers from ATI.AMD for mobility won't work as they don't work with switchable graphics options.

[UPDATE] - I was successfully able to force the driver update by manually pointing it to the proper directory from the ACER catalyst package. Catalyst doesnt work though....I have no idea how you got the window you show above. I am now back to where I started.



Ideas?

 

I would avoid switchable graphics systems especially if they don't use cards of the same brand, I used to have an Acer 8935G and I was unable to update drivers on it at all since it used an old-gen Intel HD together with an Ati 4670M. Eventually I had to resort to using modded switchable graphics drivers but they caused bluescreens so it wasn't exactly the best solution. You might want to try Leshcat's Switchable Graphics drivers, they're basically WHQL signed standard drivers with some modification that allows them to run on any kind of switchable system (haven't tested them myself but it seems safer than running non-WHQL modded ones).

Right now I have an Acer 7560G which fortunately has two AMD cards (6620G + 6650M Crossfired), so I can update drivers and play most games fine. Sadly OpenGL will only function with the "primary" card used though, so in my case it only runs on the integrated 6620G and there's no way to change it. Even if you adjust the game/app to run in high performance mode, OpenGL will still use the weaker card no matter what drivers or settings you use. So you probably can't get Photoshop to use OpenGL either unless you disable the Intel card in BIOS. :/ Only DirectX apps will allow switching of cards (or Crossfire too for that matter).

 

I have the way to disable Acer 7750G Switchable Graphics and use it a long time

1. Go to below link -> ºê³žAS5755G 5750g/5755g/7750G½âËøÒþ²Ø¸ß¼¶Ñ¡Ïî1.16BIOS_acer 3750G 4750G 4752G 4755G 5750GÂÛ̳
Download the Mod BIOS
2. Updating BIOS
3. Go into BIOS -> Advanced -> Video Configuration -> Pci Express Grpahic -> Always Enable PEG [Enabled]
4. Go into BIOS -> Advanced -> Video Configuration -> Pci Express Grpahic -> PowerXpress Setting [Muxed Fixed Scheme]
5. Restart PC -> You can select which display card that you want to use in 7750G in the future

 

All 3 of those models use the same BIOS?

 

I have Acer Travelmate 7750G with AMD 6650m and run always on AMD 6650m, is not there integrated graphics options. I guess its because switchable graphics problems Acer disabled using with intel HD. Maybe some bios modification.

 

Wonder if that means a regular Acer Aspire could be updated in the future to only use the 7670m. I'm tired of questionable performance and the AMD card not working on some apps I tell it to.

 

I just bought an Acer 7750G with a 7670 gpu... I have the same problem; have you fixed this OP?? What a terrible product!

 

SORRY I SEE Cyberisk ALREADY POSTED THIS ABOVE

Different download site though.

Go here and download the Insyde -> A_A_7750_P5WE0117_UlkMenus_ByCamiloml.exe

Bios Mods Tools; - [http://www.bios-mods.com/BIOS]

After flashing then go into Bios settings and change the following:

Go into BIOS -> Advanced -> Video Configuration -> Pci Express Graphic -> Always Enable PEG [Enabled]

Go into BIOS -> Advanced -> Video Configuration -> Pci Express Graphic -> PowerXpress Setting [Muxed Fixed Scheme]

Restart

It works great. I got this from another forum and happy to share here. NOTE: This is for the 7750G series only!

 

popeye - thank you I might try that.

My real problem though is updating my drivers. I've been getting blue screens during games (Lara Croft Guardian of Light frequently, Trine 2 occasionally, and haven't tried any other games) with atikmpag.sys being the likely culprit according to dump logs.
What is the latest drivers you guys have for the Acer 7750G with AMD 7670M. I'm trying to download the updated catalyst control center 12.3 but those are not compatible with AMD 7xxx series I'm finding. Currently I'm using the most recent from Acer website:
Version 2011.1013.754.12275

 

I'm using the leshcat modded drivers here: leshcat blog IT Tips & Tricks: Catalyst 12.3 WHQL UnifL for Switchable Graphics

Don't know how they'll perform with 7670m as I have 6650m. They work great for me. Be sure to follow his instructions EXACTLY if you decide to try. The instruction manual is linked on the sidebar at his site.

 

thx for this. jus got this laptop 3 days ago and with the perma switch to the radeon bios update, everything looks amazing in my games. i actually bought this to be a work notebook but it runs games so much faster and clearer and with more frames than my desktop, i've been playing games on the notebook instead lol.

 

puffidredz - you have 7750G with the 7670 card? or from the amd 6000 series? I haven't found anyone that has used this bios with my system (7670M).

 

na i have the 6000 series. 6650M

 

Wolfz's done it here: Acer Laptop: Switchable Graphics using i7 & AMD Radeon - Page 18 - Windows 7 Forums

Be sure to read through the whole thing. He had to install the 1.20 OEM bios first then the modded bios. I already had OEM 1.20 installed before going to the modded.

 

For some reason with my 7750g-9810 (7670m) I cannot get leshcat drivers to install. I even tried on a clean install of Windows 7 after DSE being confirmed disabled. I wonder what causes this?

 

You do have UAC turned off?

 

Yeah, it's one of the first things I disable. I can get it to install up to a point of choosing what to install within Catalysy Install Manager, but the AMD driver nor the CCC are ever in that list to be checked.

 

The first time you run the driver package do you get the screen where you select which Intel driver and different patches that leshcat provides?

 

Leshcat just released latest 12.4 drivers and changelog says he added the 7xxx series support. I guess 12.3 did not have full support.

 

hey popeye1128, thanks for all the help, but i keep getting a "AC detect error!"
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2482/naamlooszr.png

is there anything i can do to fix that?

 

You have to be plugged into AC power to flash. Is your power supply working?

 

Damn. Still doesn't work using the 12.4. The only two options that come up for the install are AMD Catalyst Install Manager and AMD App SDK Runtime. About to just give up and hold out hope for Acer to update their drivers.

Here is my Install Log in case there is any useful information in there:

http://pastebin.com/c9tRQ9g6

 

I don't know unless maybe something running in the background not letting it install. Do you know how to do a clean boot with the msconfig utility? Maybe try that.
You can also try running YUC then also use CClean registry cleaner.
I've run into these kinds of problems before and it always ends up being just the right steps and making sure the things are deleted that need to be.
Are you deleting all ATI/AMD folders? That may help too. Then run CCleaner after deleting them.
Sometimes it takes a lot of patience but I know it is very frustrating. Good luck!

Also, curious when you do clean out drivers and reboot, before trying to install new ones, in Device Manager display adapters do you show two standard VGA adapters with yellow exclamation marks?

 

I have one with the exclamation mark and one without. The 7670 is the one that displays the exclamation mark. I can uninstall the device and delete the drivers for it in Device Manager, but when I uninstall the other Standard VGA adapter without the exclamation mark it prompts me to reboot. Upon rebooting it shows the 7670 again with a yellow ! and the other is listed as standard VGA adapter with no marks.

Just tried following his guide straight to the letter, and still cannot use his drivers for some reason. Only two choices when I run the AMD setup is 'AMD Catalyst Install Manager" and AMD App SDK Runtime

 

I am having problems with 12.4 myself, can not get CCC to run. The MOM service will not start although I did get the drivers to install. Restored back to 12.3.
I think Leshcat was pressured into releasing the 12.4 too early. I'm sure there will be an update coming.

 

well thank you popeye for directing me to leshcat. and for reply regarding BIOS and Wolfcat - i just saw that.

None of leshcat's versions worked for me in the past but yesterday i decided to try to find drivers again (diablo3 was blue screening on lowest possible settings unless in windowed mode), and I think i found a solution:

Catalyst 12.3 UP2 UnifL for Hybrid Graphics from his latest blog post (5/14/2012)

This is the first driver set that I can actually see the updated drivers in the Catalyst Install Manager Custom Install menu (I had same issue as you NeoGeo, although I never even tried 12.4). And I haven't had much time to test it out, but i played D3 for about 20 min on mostly High settings without any problems!

Again I have the 7750G Aspire (i think it's 7750-6625 but I'm at work right now so don't know) with 7670M hybrid graphics.

 

Trying now, thanks!

The install worked, but I don't have a switchable graphics menu, and no CCC to change settings.

EDIT 2: When playing Diablo III I can tell it chooses the 7670 at least. Is there a way to install the CCC manually? It seems like I have the "odd one out" laptop.

 

i don't know if i do either, Neo. I installed at like 3 in the morning last night and went right to trying Diablo. I never even opened CCC so I might be in same boat as you. I'm just ecstatic that I can play games without bluescreens now.

 

You can try uninstalling ONLY CCC then installing the one from the 12.2UP5 package. It has worked for some. Also be sure to check your clock speeds, they have been stuck on low for some.

 

I believe this package will allow you to customize your installation and install CCC: AMD Catalyst 12.3 WHQL – BenchmarK3D

I think 12.4 is the newest, but I can't confirm it has support for 7650m. Hence the link above for 12.3.

I did install this package, I do have the ability to overclock using Trixxx (and an unlocked BIOS with PEG enabled)

 

leschat replied to me and directed me to FAQ which address problem with installation of CCC:

http://drivers.leshcatlabs.org/f-a-q/

haven't had a chance to try; haven't been that concerned since my diablo3 is working perfectly anyway. lol.

 

I was able to overcome my problem by using his 4/18 set to just install the CCC after a successful install of 12.3 Up2. Worked perfectly.

 

OK thanks I will try that. 4/18 set being this one:
Catalyst 12.x Apr18 UnifL for Hybrid Graphics
http://drivers.leshcatlabs.org/2012/05/05/catalyst-12-x-apr18-unifl-for-hybrid-graphics/?

Oh, clearly it says Apr18. ok, got it haha.

 

popeye, I followed your instructions on how to use only the dedicated card by enabling PEG and changing powerxpress to muxed.
I did all that but what do I do afterwards ? Where do I select the card ?

 

You do have an Aspire and not a Travelmate correct? If so, you should already have switchable drivers installed.
Right click on the desktop and at the top of the popup screen you should see 'Configure Switchable Graphics' and select it.

 

Hello,
I have the Acer Aspire 5750G and exactly the same problem.

Where can I find a bios update for my model?

Thank you.

 

First page of this thread, bottom of page.

 

That modded bios is pretty sweet. I've already made those two bios changes

I'm having an issue with it though. With one game. Minecraft. Stupid Java.

It'll run for a few moments, but then the graphics driver will bug out.

Before I modded my bios, Minecraft would run, but even though I had set it (minecraft.exe and javaw.exe) to High Priority in the switcher, it'd refuse to run on the Radeon chip, only the weaker Intel chip. And it ran like crap, too.

Now it runs sweet for a few moments, but then gracefully crashes and restarts the graphics driver without bringing down the rest of my system.

I tried installing the latest leshcat drivers (12.3 UP2), let's just say thank goodness I had YUC do a system restore point. Everything else runs fine, so changing out my video drivers isn't something I'd like to do for just one game, but if it's my only option and won't break anything else, I might have to try another attempt.

Any advice?

 

Which AMD video card? People have posted problems at Guru3D with Minecraft and certain GPUs/Drivers. I'll try to find the link.

Oh, and which drivers?

UPDATE: Here's one link http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=363265&highlight=minecraft

 

Hey guys i just want to warn the ones of you with

Acer Aspire 7750g and a HD 6850m (only!)

Biosflash works great but u should be carefull with the settings u make.

DONT ENABLE switchable graphics or the onboard graphics chip

i and several other people did this and the notebook keeps rebooting with a black screen you can't enter the bios or windows.
A insyde bios recovery in crisis mode( fn+esc ) was impossible .. i don't know if it has to do with the bios or not maybe acer just don't want us to be able to recover the bios.

So just be aware and don't make the same mistake like me.
Happy day to you all

 

That sucks. Are you saying the settings in the quote did this? The muxed fixed scheme mode?

 

Hey popeye these settings werent available on my bios
PowerXpress Setting wasnt there I'm sure.Then i thought hey maybe it's abit different because the 6850m graphics.

Like i stated it was
Switchable Graphics originally on Auto i set to Enable and
IDE Intel Graphics originally on Auto/Disbale set to Enable also (not 100 % sure bout the name i know for sure i changed the mode)

I know from another guy he only set Switchable Graphics on Enable and had the same issue (7750g with 6850m same modded bios).

Update: CMOS Reset Removing CMOS Battery and Removing Ram isn't working either trust me i tried everything

 

This is very strange. Curios, do you remember which OEM BIOS you had before installing the modded one?
Also, do you know what motherboard you have? I have the JE70_HR . This may only be good for that particular motherboard.

 

i flashed to the newest 1.20 (up to date) I used that for a while and then flashed the modded one based on 1.17

The flashed bios worked fine the boot looping began after i made the mentioned settings.

Sorry don't know which modell my mobo is where could i look that up?

 

A program called Speccy will do it but if your laptop is dead, not much use.

 

@Shuriken99
If the flash itself worked fine and it used to boot but stopped once you've changed settings you should remove CMOS battery. That will reset BIOS settings to default ones.

EDIT: Oh sorry- I see you knew that already.

 

I have same problem my game is reading the wrong graphics card i downloading what u said in your post but how do u enter the bios to change those settings

 

do the system restore and re install the drivers