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    Howto: Disable Optimus in M17xR3

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by lash444, Jun 11, 2011.

  1. lash444

    lash444 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ** I am not responsible for you harming your computer**

    Alright, well I haven't seen anyone post this so I figured I would be the first to speak on it here.

    You can disable Optimus, and run with just the Nvidia card on the M17xR3. Those of you who get the BSOD when installing the newer nvidia drivers can do this to install the latest ones without issue. This will disable the integrated Intel display.

    First, search for Insyde's M17xR3 A04 bios. I'm not goign to link it. If you can't find it, and get through the steps of installing it yourself, then you probably shouldn't be attempting this. Someone else may put together a better step by step.

    Flash the bios. It opens up some other options that may be detrimental if you change, so be careful! Within the bios you will find a Graphics tab -> Integrated Graphics ->Enable/Disable. Toggling that will turn off the intel graphics card and just run the Nvidia card. For me this has allowed to run the 275.XX drivers when previously on my 60hz screen they caused bluescreens on boot.

    Anyway, I hope this helps a lot of you who either hate optimus on the M17xR3 or just want the latest nvidia drivers. I havent had long enough to test the stability of doing this, but thats why I am posting here...to let others help test.
     
    lash444, Jun 11, 2011
    #1
  2. lash444

    lash444 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I should warn people that this caused my windows installation to reinstall my hardware drivers. I also had to set AHCI from Raid for my Sata because the flash reset everything back to defaults!
     
    lash444, Jun 11, 2011
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  3. mrm2x

    mrm2x Notebook Consultant

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    This means you can only disable the integrated IntelHD via the M17xR3´Bios when using this "modified" Version but not the offficial one ?!
     
    mrm2x, Jul 10, 2011
    #3
  4. Imoq

    Imoq Notebook Enthusiast

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    That is correct.
     
    Imoq, Jul 11, 2011
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