Alienware M17xR4 :How can i choose the HD7970M card instead of the Intel HD 4000

How can i choose the HD7970M card instead of the Intel HD 4000 ?
I use win 8.
Adapter settings only shows the Intel HD4000.
FN+F7 doesn't work.

Thanks.

 

Are the proper drivers for the GPU installed?

 

Yes, I first installed the Dell drivers for that gpu, didn't help.
Then I installed the latest drivers amd 12.11 I found here also with Cap2 driver,.... same problem.
FN+F7 doesn't work.
I will call Dell support tomorow.

 

I just recently had this problem as well and I think it was coming from running on the wrong GPU and installing drivers in the wrong order. It is quite an irritating procedure but I would suggest first removing all the GPU driver's for both cards (I just went into device manager and removed the device telling it to remove the driver with it). The beta AMD driver was what started the problems for me. I uninstalled the beta driver and then re-installed the Dell driver which got everything working again including the switchable graphics in my case, and once I got switchable graphics back I was able to switch to the 7970 and then upgrade those drivers. The bad part is if you stuck on the HD4000 it usually won't let you install the AMD driver because it tells you your hardware is not compatible. In my case I was even getting a BSOD immediatly after restart because it was trying to load the 7970 driver for the HD4000. If you look at the driver size for the Dell driver vs the AMD driver you can see the Dell package has both the drivers included and not just the AMD. Try getting rid of all the other video drivers and installing the dell drivers as those contain the switchable options, then I would sugest upgrading the AMD driver from there although in my case I am actually seeing decreased performance in WoW

GL, let us know what happens.

I have gone back to the beta driver since then and it seems better, I don't know what had happened but I think something went screwy in the driver change. Either way it was still a nightmare when I first tried it lol.

 

It might be because Enduro is on and so Fn+F7 doesn't always work with Enduro. If you have the unlocked BIOS for the R4, then you could check or change the video configuration to the 7970m card. Be warned if you change the video configuration setting and there is something wrong with the 7970m card, you WILL soft-brick your system and the only way to restore it will be a BIOS blind flash.

 

Thank you for helping me MogRules & Radgi .
I removed and installed those drivers several times, yes it was a little frustrating because intel HD driver always showed up, and the FN+F7 didn't work till now,... how ? I realy don't know, but now I finaly can switch from HD4000 to HD7970 driver.
I don't know if my bios A09 is locked or not, I think it's locked because I don't see a option for the GPU.
Its working now and I wanna thank you guys for helping me, also now I know its the enduro problem and I can look further in this forum ...
(sorry for my English, my primary language is Dutch).

 

If you want to disable Enduro you will need the unlocked BIOS. Here is the website which posts them: [M17x R4] - 'unlocked' BIOS versions

 

Thank you Radji, after making a account I don't have permission to download the A09 unlocked bios.

 

edit bad info didnt know you wanted A09 my bad will work on solution


it appears the only way is to post 5 times anyone got an account to upload the file for HIM