Switchable graphics is not working on Acer Aspire 5745G - It appears to be stuck in Intel, even when plugged in.

I recently bought a brand new Acer Aspire 5745G laptop on ebay, and I'm running some adventure games on it.

my new laptop has both Intel HD graphics and a dedicated 1 GB NVidia 420M graphics card. The computer is using the HD graphics card, which I tried disabling in order to try to force it to switch to the NVidia card, but it seems that it won't switch over even though I'm keeping the computer's AC power plugged into it at all times - how do I force it to make the switch and save this setting?

I know the laptop was using its HD graphics card b/c when I last tested Alter Ego on it after applying my successful fix (in another thread) to render the invisible game characters fully visible, I saw text at the bottom of the game's menu that said something like "using HD video (low-end graphics)".

I tried this -

I went to Control Panel > NVidia Control Panel > 3D settings > Highlight "manage 3D settings" in left pane, > In "manage 3D Settings" (right pane) go to Program Settings > Select a program to customize > Add > Computer > C:\ > Program Files (x86) > Viva Media (highlight this) > Open > Highlight game > Open > select game's shortcut-like icon > click on this > Open, and it takes you back to the Manage 3D Settings panel, from there where it says "select preferred graphics processor for this program", you have 2 choices - either the Integrated graphics or the high performance NVidia Processor, Highlight "NVidia processor" > Apply - but this doesn't help, see below.

I've use the NVidia control panel to try to make the game (alter Ego) switch to Nvidia card, and changed the default Intel HD graphics setting to Nvidia GeForce GT 420M in the game's engine file, saved it, but it didn't work - the game strill automatically switches to Intel HD graphics, running in Compatibility graphics mode (low-end HW detected) mode. Nothing I try forces it to switch to the NVidia card, and at one point in the game, half of Tim's body is cut off in the basement at the bar after the fight - I believe this is because the HD card isn't rendering the scene properly which is why I need to force the game to switch to the NVidia card - how do I force the game to switch to NVidia instead of running in compatibility graphics mode?

Here are the specs for my new laptop. I'm running Alter Ego (by Vivia Media) on Windows 7 64-bit.

The problem is, when I'm playing Alter Ego, the laptop defaults to the Intel HD Graphics Media chip instead of the 1 GB NVidia GeForce GT 420M graphics card and it remains stuck there. How do I make the laptop switch to the NVidia card (by default) each time I start up Alter Ego (or any other 3D intensive adventure game that I want to play)?

Model
Brand
Acer
Series
Aspire
Model
AS5745G-7671
Part#
LX.R6U02.014
General
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU Type
Intel Core i3 370M(2.4GHz)
Screen
15.6"
Memory Size
4GB DDR3
Hard Disk
500GB
Optical Drive
DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card
NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M
Video Memory
1GB DDR3 VRAM
Communication
Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Battery Life
3.5 hours
Dimensions
14.96" x 9.84" x 1.00" - 1.34"
Weight
5.72 lbs.
Other Features
NVIDIA Optimus technology
CPU
CPU Type
Intel Core i3
CPU Speed
370M(2.40GHz)
CPU Support
3MB L3 cache
Chipset
Chipset
Intel HM55
Display
Screen Size
15.6"
Wide Screen Support
Yes
Resolution
1366 x 768
LCD Features
LED backlight & Acer CineCrystal Technology
Operating Systems
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Graphics
GPU/VPU
NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M
Video Memory
up to 4095MB of TurboCache (1024 MB of dedicated DDR3 VRAM, up to 3071MB of shared system memory)
Graphic Type
Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HDD
500GB
HDD RPM
5400rpm
HDD Interface
SATA
Memory
Memory
4GB
Memory Spec
2GB x 2
Memory Type
204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM
Memory Slot (Total)
2
Memory Slot (Available)
0
Max Memory Supported
8GB
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type
DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface
Integrated
Optical Drive Spec
8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
Read: 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 8X DVD±R, 6X DVD-ROM DL (double-layer), 6X DVD±R DL, 6X DVD±RW, 5X DVD-RAM
Write: 24X CD-R, 16X CD-RW, 8X DVD±R, 4X DVD±R DL, 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 5X DVD-RAM
Communications
LAN
10/100/1000Mbps
WLAN
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Ports
USB
4
Video Port
1 x VGA
HDMI
1 x HDMI
Audio Ports
1 x Headphone/Speaker/Line-out Jack with S/PDIF Support
1 x Microphone-in Jack
Audio
Audio
3rd Generation Dolby Home Theater Audio Enhancement, featuring Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Natural Bass, Dolby Sound Space Expander, Dolby Audio Optimization, Dolby High Frequency Enhancer Technologies
High Definition Audio Support
Built-in Microphone
Speaker
Two Stereo Speakers
Input Device
Touchpad
Multi-gesture touchpad pointing device
Keyboard
Dedicated Numeric Keypad
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card (xD)
Webcam
1.3MP
Power
Battery
6-Cell Lithium-Ion (4400 mAh)
Battery Life
3.5 hours
Physical Specifications
Dimensions
14.96" x 9.84" x 1.00" - 1.34"
Weight
5.72 lbs.




Quote:
They mention moving the graphics selection in the BIOS from "Switchable" to "Discrete." They say it didn't work for them, but you have a newer model. Have you tried that setting in the BIOS?
Note: I have the NVidia Optimus technology.

I'm in the BIOS of my laptop now, but I don't see any such graphics setting in my BIOS, but there is a setting for the Network Boot: Atheros in the "boot" section of the BIOS. Right now I'm looking at the first category "information" in my BIOS, and all the listings are grayed out (printed in dark gray) and there are entries that says, "system BIOS version: v1.15" and "VGA BIOS version: NVidia VGA 70.08.19.00.04" - both are grayed out.

I'm beginning to think that while the NVidia 420M card shows up in Device Manager under Display Adapters, this may be false (a lie) and my laptop doesn't have a NVidia 3D graphics card, but when I went into the NVidia card's properties (while still in Device Manager), I clicked on the Resources Tab where it lists the Resource Settings, and below the Resource Settings window, in grayed out text it says "setting based on" with a grayed out box next to it, as well as grayed out "use automatic settings (which is already check-boxed)" with a window next to this bearing the text "change setting" inside it.

Anyone know about this and how to make it use the NVidia card rather than the Intel HD graphics card (which it was apparently set to by default)?


Thanks in advance.

(see screenshots showing how part of character's body is cut off b/c video may not be rendering properly in Intel HD graphics mode)

 

Optimus hides the existance of the 3d card somewhat, since its the integrated cards frame buffer that is outputted.

The reason the bios stings are greyed out is... well what options do you expect to perform on that information?

 

How do I get Optimus to reveal the 3D card's existence, hide the integrated card and output the frame buffer from the NVidia 3D card instead of the integrated card?

I expected to perform these options (quoted from thread I linked to below)

from this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...el-chipset-hybrid-mode-acer-aspire-5745g.html

 

There is no switchable or not with optimus. It's either hardwired into the motherboard or its not. There is no way to turn it off as far as I am aware. All the display outputs are wired into your integrated chip.