M17x R3 with AMD GPUs may soon get automatic switching

I found out that newer models of the HP dv6t qe, which used to have manual switching like the r3, are shipping with PowerXPress 4.0 ,ie AMDs automatic switching technology, like Optimus. So there is a chance that newer r3s may also ship with powerXpress 4.0 instead of manual switching like earlier ones. Here is thread about the HP problem - http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/583203-dv6t-7-switchable-graphics.html
And here is article on PowerXpress 4.0 - AMD PowerXPress 4.0 aka BACON vs. Nvidia Optimus - Notebookcheck.net Reviews
So just a heads up as AW might also soon be making the change, and according to the HP forum this has loads of issues so this is not good news. So if this tech is implemented could users like me who have manual switching end up with this via a driver update.

 

actually i like the manual switching, who knows what kind of bugs we will get with the auto switching.

 

Yes even I love the manual switching on mine. I was just curious if AW has gone down the HP path, also i thought if they had not this might alert potential buyers that manual switching may soon no longer be available. According to the HP forum auto switching has a lot of issues . Someone there also said that AMD plans that all laptops with a switchable AMD GPU in the 6000m series will have this by the end of this year. The new Sandy Bridge Dell Vostros are also supposed to have it(according to notebookcheck) even though the Dell website does not mention anything about it, so chances are AW might also be getting soon.

 

i haven't heard any news about it, hopefully they will keep it as it is.

 

Yeah I hope so too, for their sake, nobody wants a gaming laptop with auto switching.

 

I agree, manual switching FTW, but I bet PE will eventually get fixed

 

I like the manual switching. Since I use this as a desktop replacement, I just keep it on dedicated graphics most of the time anyway, only to switch to integrated if I should unplug it to watch a movie in bed or something.

 

Everybody likes manual switching, I am just worried that with a future Bios/Catalyst update we might end up with auto, is that possible?? And can they even do that, i mean some one could file a lawsuit saying that he bought the laptop because of its manual switching and now AW made them change to auto switching?

 

What they can probably do is give you the choice if you want Auto or Manual ..

I dont see a need for the AMD GPU whilst on battery but i dont want games/apps getting confused on which GPU they should be running on like the Nvidia side.

So yeah ill take manual .

 

If all it'll take is a simple PowerXpress 4.0 download to implement automatic switching on existing M17xR3 then it should be possible for someone to write code that gives the option to disable it.

A notebook that already has manual switching has the extra MUX and unlike an Optimus setup can still bypass the IGP.

 

Agreed completely. 1) It doesn't take much time to hit Fn+F7 or right click to switch. 2) You have total control of it. 3) The GPU actually shuts off when you switch to the IGP (you can hear the fan shut off when you switch over).

When I first ordered my R3, by a recommendation from a friend, I picked the 460m Optimus. That was before I knew anything about having 2 video cards in one computer. Now having owned this 6970 switchable unit, I appreciate the control over the gpus, cuz I'm pretty sure there's some programs out there that don't automatically "switch" even when you need it.

 

^^ True, Optimus has plenty of issues, and AMD PowerXpress has even more. And everybody prefers manual switching apart from reviewers, they usually list AMD manual switching as a negative.

 

Agreed....i have just suffered with Optimus (and inadvertently with Dell.... trying to move me from the Optimus M17's to the ATI CCC) and autoswitching...sheesh NVIDIA what were you thinking.......

 

PLEASE NO AUTOSWITCHING AMD!!!! as much as i hate AMD do not make the same mistake as Nvidia!!!! i am not looking forward to my m17x with 560m this summer XD but im still going to enjoy it

 

AMD will continue to offer manual switching as an option, and an extra mux will still be required for systems that want to support Eyefinity....e.g. enthusiast gaming notebooks.

Rage3D.com : AMD PowerXpress 4.0 & Interview with AMD's Asif Rehman [ AMD PowerXpress 4.0 & Interview with AMD's Asif Rehman ]

 

So well since AW is a high end machine, they will never sacrifice EyeFinity for the 'convenience' of auto switching, that means AW will keep offering Manual switching, good news. Thanks Phinagle, +rep.

 

Man, my friend recently bought a hp for a good price but it had auto switch and was on intel most of the time. Had to return it.

 

I like my manual switching VERY much.