FN + F7 can screw the performance

I write this, because I read in a test on Notebookcheck, that it's advisable to restart the System with the dedicated graphics card only, because it's supposed to be better for performance. The result of this was, that Windows felt the need to install software for a newly found device after restart, what went without problems, but after it, I had 1000 points less in PCMark7, and it was not possible to fix this problem with a system-restore towards the point before doing that switch.
What solved it though was to re-instal the graphics-card-drivers and to create new powerplans. One or both of those things can get screwed from doing that switch.

System (see signature) .

 

You probably re-enabled the Intel GPU and so it found and installed drivers for that device. It has always been the case for most people to see reduced performance when running Optimus or the AMD equivalent of graphics switching instead of using the dedicated card...that's why everyone here recommends it.

 

I think you misunderstood me. I had 5100 scores in PCMark7, then I disabled the Intel GPU, this made Windows install the driver for the 7970 newly, and afterwards I only had 4100 scores, no matter if only running the ATI or re-enabling the Intel. Re-installing the driver and creating new powerplans brought me up to 5100 again with Intel and ATI running simultaniously.

Assigning the GPU manually in the driver is imo. the better way than switching the Intel off, because the last can screwn either the driver or the powerplan. ATI has that option to force a game to use the ATI. The problem is just, that auto-selection for this is flawed, so often, games are assigned to the Intel which they shouldn't. If one assigns the few important tasks manually though, there's no problem with using switchable cards.

 

So you disabled the Intel card to just the 7970m and then when you restarted you got a new driver installed automatically by windows? That seems odd.....

I would remove all the driveres from the system and start again, but you have to be careful because unless Alienware fixed anything, you need to use their drivers for the 7970/Intel card first and then upgrade from there. When I had my R4 just installed the Intel drivers and then the amd drivers caused a BSOD on my screen that required a reinstall every time.

 

I got the same driver installed again after reboot, but lost 20% performance in PCMark7 with it :lol: .

And here is a link towards the fastest working Intel + ATI drivers combination that I'm aware of.