FN+F7 to switch graphics mode. I don't think it works properly?

Had the seemingly common problem earlier where when I switched on my machine it didn't detect the sound card. I tried the trick of switching GPU modes and it seemed to work.

But......when I hit FN+F7 to switch modes, my machine rebooted and when it got back to the desktop it looked like I was in safe mode - that is, the resolution was at its lowest setting. Almost like when you first set up a P.C and haven't set the resolution yet.

But is it even supposed to reboot anyway? I mean, when I start a game, the main GPU kicks in and I can play games fine (a GTX660M) and then when I go back to the desktop the Intel icon pops up in my system tray showing it has switched back again.

So why the reboot? I admit this is the first time I have switched graphics modes manually, so perhaps that affected it somehow?

As a side note, the sound thing is the third issue I have had with this machine. I only bought it about four months ago, and all three issues I have had, I have found posts on here and google, complaining of the very same issues, going back 3-4 years at least. So much for a premium product :/ Problems that existed that long ago shouldn't be happening to something bought around the middle of this year.

 

You have two modes:

IGP = Integrated graphics on your CPU
DGPU = dedicated graphics card (eg GTX660M)

Optimus: Display outputs controlled by IGP, when a game starts the rendering commands are sent by the IGP to the DGPU and the DGPU sends the completed frame to the IGP to output to the display. When no 3d work is being done the DGPU is put to sleep.

DGPU only: Your DGPU handles all display outputs and 3d work directly. This means it can never go to sleep fully and will always draw some power. However this is a simpler way of operating and lets you get round certain issues and do more like overclock the display.

You have to restart the machine because on boot electrical switches determine what the display outputs are connected to and this cannot be changed on the fly.

You got a low res screen because in non optimus mode the dGPU needs a different set of drivers to operate, once installed in both modes you can switch freely every reset without re-installing them. This shows the switch is working.

 

Firstly thank you for a detailed explanation

But I am still confused I think. Are you saying I need to manually reinstall the GTX drivers when in that low res mode? Or should the machine have recognised the DGPU and installed them itself when in that mode?

Do I just install the regular Nvidia drivers again? Will that not cause issues with them being installed twice? I'm sorry if my cluelessness is annoying, but I'm not great at this kind of thing :/

 

Think of it as a latch that switches over to two separate modes which wont have much to do with each other, almost like separate systems in terms of graphics drivers.

 

You will probably need to install them. About the sound issue. Are you still having it ? What has been done to fix it?

 

Thank you both....Meaker, I think what I had just failed to do, when I switched modes, was just set the resolution properly. I found a handful of people on google who had basically experienced the same thing and just needed to set the resolution and then were fine.

Porras (is it ok to shorten your name to Porras?)

I used my laptop last night and it booted up ok. I only tend to use my Alienware of an evening when I do some gaming, and use my netbook during the day. So have only booted it up once so far since installing the newer drivers (they end in .2033) but as I say, it booted up ok. If it happens again, my next step will be to update the bios to A12. I'm on A11 at the minute, but I tend to avoid updating a bios unless it is absolutely necessary. And I hadn't seen anything in the release notes for A12 to suggest it fixed any sound issues.

Failing that, I will follow Mr Fox's advice in the dedicated soundblaster thread and see how I go from there. I have my fingers crossed that I'll be ok.