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    Nvidia Optimus

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Charismaztex, Apr 25, 2011.

  1. Charismaztex

    Charismaztex Notebook Consultant

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    Hey all,

    I'm wondering about whether the optimus affects general use or if it's very efficient. I've heard from some people that there are a few problems with it such as not kicking in the dedicated graphics card when it's needed. What are your opinions of the optimus? Has it served you well or is it not a perfect system?


    Thanks!
     
    Charismaztex, Apr 25, 2011
    #1
  2. sparklesmcgraw

    sparklesmcgraw Notebook Consultant

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    I have had no issues on my M11x r2. It works very seamlessly and you can allocate the graphics options for individual programmes using the Nvidia graphics options.

    Failing that you can right click on the programme and select it to run with the Nvidia graphics.

    Once you set-up the list of which programmes you want runnning with what graphics option it works very well.

    I believe there are some issues with punkbuster etc.. but others may be able to clarify as I am not a big gamer.

    Sparkles
     
    sparklesmcgraw, Apr 25, 2011
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  3. c1ro

    c1ro Notebook Consultant

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    Optimus sometimes do not work with old games, I had problem with Warcraft III. Force it running in opengl solved the problem.
     
    c1ro, Apr 25, 2011
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  4. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Can you force an application to use the IGP? I know you could leave it off the whitelist, but assuming that application works as it's supposed to with Optimus, the NVIDIA GPU would kick in when needed.

    Ideally I'd have two installs of a browser, one forced to IGP, the other running as normal.
     
    Serephucus, Apr 25, 2011
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  5. c1ro

    c1ro Notebook Consultant

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    You can, but some games decide to ignore you, like WC3. In this case you have to turn off IGP in bios, or force the game in opengl to activate nvidia chip
     
    c1ro, Apr 25, 2011
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  6. Charismaztex

    Charismaztex Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for some headsup
     
    Charismaztex, Apr 25, 2011
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  7. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    What if you wanted to keep the NVIDIA chip off? Ex. what if just felt like going old school and playing Half-Life OpenGL on the Intel graphics? or just wanted to see how HL2 would run on the Intel graphics for battery life?
     
    Gearsguy, Apr 25, 2011
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  8. sparklesmcgraw

    sparklesmcgraw Notebook Consultant

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    Yep. Just right click it and select run with integrated graphics.
     
    sparklesmcgraw, Apr 25, 2011
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  9. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Oh sweet, thanks
     
    Gearsguy, Apr 25, 2011
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