Ok i caved, quick question though? :P

Yep, its true, after swapping from my beloved MSI GT725/Advent 6555, i got my mits into a nicely kitted out m17x R3!

My quick question is with regards to the integrated and discrete graphics swapping key?

The question is, does it do out? when i unplug and put into power saver mode, it turns around and tells me that i should hit fn + f7 to trigger switchable graphics, and so i do, but i'm not sure if anything actually happens or is happening haha?

Anyone care to give an Alien Noob like me a little hint?

Cheers
Cata!

 

alright Sandy Bridge Proceesor (The INTEL CPU) has built in graphics capability that is good enough for everyday computing and minor gaming (Light RTS gaming like COH and maybe Red Alert) but it uses less power, the other card is the dedicated Graphic Card which is better for games but drains your battery. The system is making the assumption that when you're on battery mode you're not gaming. Thus.... you catch my drift?

 

Indeed i do, but why the need for a switch key if the system is automated matey?

Cheers,
Cata

 

It's only automated if you are using nvidia. AMD is semi-auto, AFAIK, in that it will switch on battery but if you also have control over what is used when plugged in. 3D apps will not switch it automatically.

 

optimus can be a pain as it thinks its smarter than you the AMD version is nice because it allows you to swap cards when you personally need it, not when the computer thinks you do

 

Switch to the Intel IGP (either Fn+F7 or right click on desktop and select Configure Switchable Graphics). Then right click on the desktop, click on Graphics Properties to start the Intel Graphics Control Panel, click Advanced Mode>Options and Support>Preferences and check Tray Icon and OK. After that, whenever the Intel IGP is the active graphics card, a blue Intel Graphics icon will appear in the tray. If the icon is there, you're using the Intel IGP; if not, the 6970/6990M is active. You can also always just click on Configure Switchable Graphics, and it will tell you which one is active, but the icon method is easiest and fastest.

 

hi Cata...welcome to the Alienware boards!

It does do something. You can check if it actually did by right clicking on your desktop on Clicking on "Configure Switchable Graphics" which will bring up the screen that shows you what GPU you are using

 

I manually just use the nvidia control panel most of the time since I don't like adding games to the list of programs I want to activate the GPU. So if I'm unplugged I go into the control panel and switch to integrated and every other time I leave it on "high performance". F7 has a function that can do that too. I get 4-5 on battery, the max I've ever squeezed was a little over 6. Not bad for a 17 inch 10lb monster. Gratz on your purchase!

 

I thought the switching was automatic?? anyway I just use the modded bios and toggle the integrated graphics if I need them

 

Maybe I will use the modded bios. And no optimus does always turn the GPU on when it's supposed to so you have to go in and assign like BF3.exe as a program it recognizes as needing the nvidia GPU so it switches it on. Well I hate dealing with that and when changes happen to the game directory(4 times with BF so far since the beta) I have to find that out when optimus doesn't turn on and the Intel graphics kick in and waste 4 mins to load or just give me a friendly BSOD. It's like that German kid getting WoW taken away meets FPS Doug in my house when that happens. The people at IKEA must think I have 10 living rooms with all the new furniture that I've been buying (jokes EA kicked me offline again with their buggy servers so I'm burning the last of my mental energy before bed)

 

ah I misunderstood you modded bios works great. you can find it here if you need it

 

Thanks everyone for the comments!

I'm in love with this thing!,

Here are my specs :
Intel Core I7-2760QM 2.4-3.4
12Gb DDR3 1333 Mhz Ram (Unknown Make)
320GB ST320 Hitatchi HDD
Nvidia GTX560m

I see the intel card/optimus feature is working nice automatically, over 5 hours on the time estimate in windows!

But i dont have the configure switchable graphics option when i right click on my desktop? i have to manually go to Nvid control pannel / 3d settings then customise GPU priority there which is fine!

And all the time the intel HD icon shows at the bottom when i press switchable graphics key that doesnt change either haha!

Certain its working as it should be though!

Thanks For all your comments again! glad to be part of this club!

 

hehehe...congratz bro!

you probably don't have the configure switchable graphics option cause you have nvidia. I have the 6990m so we are slightly different

now, i fully expect to see what OC numbers you get on your 560m

 

Haha hmmm, very tempting offer, managed to push the 4850 rediculously past the limits but bottlenecked at the core clock and a really outdated vbios, was too afraid to update it though

The 560m i'm guessing has alot of room for overclocking, and i'm guessing its the memory that will enjoy being pushed .

I will concider this brilliant suggestion! .

 

ya bro! You will get about 900 core/1800 shaders/1550 ram...so i'd say there is definitely room for improvement over the stock 775/1550/1250 !!

 

Yeah lots of potential! i will probably start overclocking when i save for a high end series ATI card! then i can push frequencies, voltage, the lot! i love AMD after my 4850, haven't had nvidia for years!

 

i'd start overclocking now lol...why waste all that potential? You don't have to go right to the limit, but it will be fun to see what that limit is, then pull back some for everyday.

 

Haha, that all depends on the Hardware !

Pushing the Q9000 in my old computer, it wasn't long before i easily blew a ram stick!

And the 4850 sometimes missbehaved, blue screened and artifacted/restarted GPU driver, it made me so angry sometimes and now i have a fully working beast! i just would like to see how reliable the machine is at stock (Early days still )

 

well, my laptop at stock is completely stable. I repasted the CPU and GPU with prolimatech pk-1 to phenomenal temps. Its rock solid.

Even when CPU is overclocked and TDP overvolted, plus 6990 GPU OC'ed 15% and 6990 ddr5 OC'ed 35%, the machine is completely solid. I don't think you'll have issues as long as you keep the machine cool