Big problems with Hybrid SLI graphics!

Problems with Nvidia Hybrid SLI graphics on my Alienware - New!
by AlexanderB1001 - 23/09/10 10:43
To start with, here are my specs:

System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer Alienware
Model M17x
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4

Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total size of hard disk(s) 281 GB
Disk partition (C 81 GB Free (281 GB Total)
Media drive (D CD/DVD

Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter type NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Total available graphics memory 2687 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 1024 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 1663 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.17.12.5896
Primary monitor resolution 1920x1200
DirectX version DirectX 10


And here's my problem: I have Hybrid Graphics enabled in BIOS and on my toolbar there's a little pop-up saying "Boost Performance NVIDIA Hybrid SLI". So SLI is working, right? Wrong. My games are hardly as fast as they should be (ultimate gaming rig? it can't run games at their normal settings properly as opposed to highest settings), there is NO OPTION in the Nvidia toolbar (accessed on my control panel) to enable/disable SLI, as if it didn't exist, and when using Everest Ultimate I am told that SLI is disabled.

So my laptop thinks SLI is enabled - it isn't - and there's no obvious way of ACTUALLY turning it on.

What am I missing?

Also I have downloaded the latest Nvidia driver for my system, version 258.06 so the drivers are completely up to date. Bear in mind my computer used to run perfectly when I bought it, a couple of years back. My laptop has enough disk space, and everything installed is pretty much to date.

PLEASE TRY TO HELP ME!

 

Well my first guess would be you don't have two video cards as you have 1024 dedicated and then shared for sli..... or its only picking up one of them for some reason.
Does Everest list two video cards? or device manager?

 

Hybrid SLI takes the IGP and a dedicated GPU to boost each other.


IIRC, this was dropped a while back?

Hybrid SLI technology

It appears you cannot use Graphics Boost (real SLI - with performance gains), but can use Hybrid Power (sort of like switchable graphics - when your computer is not gaming, it will use the IGP, when it is gaming, it will use the big GPU; all in order to save power when not gaming).

Reason why you cannot use Graphics Boost? Your main GPU is too powerful

 

But the FPS of my games is sub-standard... It is not what it should be! Are you telling me there is nothing I can do? That I'm doomed to have "the ultimate gaming laptop" that can only run things at normal settings?

Also I do definetly have two graphics cards.

 

haha do not panic at all.

What happens is that your games are using your integrated + one of your main video cards at the moment (dells hybrid sli is extremely broken that way).

In order to GAME when your at home / plugged in; go to your bios (tap F2 @ the alienhead) and go to advanced/graphic settings [video graphics or something like this]

You should have the option to disable hybrid sli and integrated graphics - turn them both off and tap F10.

you should turn off hybrid sli anytime your gaming - its quite lackluster and will ensure you are using your most powerful video cards. [remember to turn on SLI through your nVidia control panel; which is the "max 3D performance" - option]

Anytime you are traveling but still want to watch videos - re-enable your integrated video card (but not hybrid sli) and tape F7 @ your windows desktop to switch between integrated / discrete video cards. YOU CAN enable hybrid sli but this will give you a small performance boost and drain your battery much more cause its using one of your GTX 260Ms+integrated video card anyway; the integrated should be just fine for an "on the go unplugged style".

In summary;
Plugged in: Hybrid off/Integrated off through your BIOS
Battery: Hybrid OFF/Integrated ON through your BIOS AND tap F7 in windows to toggle between your video cards.

Important: go to your power options in the control panel and make sure your system is using high performance mode everytime your plugged in!

 

I did all of these things. Note: Batman Arkham Asylum, with all settings maxed, gets a framerate of 16. Is this to be expected from the "all powerful" M17x?

 

The hardware Physx settings chew through any card upto a gtx285m. Just lower it down. In the last few levels, Physx really shows, but that is about it. So turn it down until the end?

 

Can't you just switch them by hitting fn+f7? Mine goes from a low power state, to SLI when I switch it with that button combo. Even checking it in device manager shows only the 9400, when in hybrid, and both 280's working when switched over with fn/f7.

 

Have you checked that you didn't accidentally enabled Stealthmode?