R3 6970m no auto switching?

I have R3 with AMD 6970m. Today I noticed there was no auto swicthing of gfx card regardless of whether its plugged in or not. I have to switch it manually through FN+F7 or using CCC. Is that just my problem?

 

No I didn't see an option either. I prefer manual though since gfx switching has the tendency to rearrange the windows on screen.

 

Only Optimus supports 'auto switching' - at least that is my understanding. So, you would need the NV GPU with the non-3D display if you want to take advantage of load based switching of the GPU.

 

Thank you very much

 

I noticed with the 9670M if I switch to Intel IGP on battery, and then want to switch back to 9670M, it then promts me to plug the notebook back into the mains before it will do so.
Anyone else have this problem?

 

Wow I want your r3
AMD Radeon HD 9670M

That must have like 60,000 stream processors!
Core is at, what, 3ghz?

 

Man that's what I call a future proofed machine! That model was not available when I placed my order!

I don't have mine yet to verify, but I have read some comments from a couple of guys (Dookie was one of them), that there was some odd behavior when switching graphics on battery and then plugging in power, a reboot corrected the issue. Undoubtedly, something that a future driver release will correct.

 

I don't. It's just that if I switch while on battery, a window pops up that recommends I plug in the computer to somethingsomething (aka take full advantage) of the dGPU or iGPU.

Nah, mine doesn't do that. It's another user. My switches fine whether I'm on battery or plugged in. It never requires a reboot for anything. It's very convenient imo. I'm beginning to regret calling in for that replacement, cuz this one has been near perfect actually, besides the scratch which I don't notice anymore, and the 2 BSODs on day2.

 

I mentioned the reboot as I notice the clocks would stay at 400/900 until I rebooted. But it switches perfectly.

Dookie, you're clocks go back to 680/900 after plugging back in?

 

Here is a tip, looks like it works:

If you are currently on battery and it does not allow you to switch from 6970M to Intel power saving graphics.

Then goto into device manager and then disable the 6970M, you will see the screen go blank and then returns.

It should be on Intel graphics. You can double check it by right clicking on your desktop, select Configure Switchable Graphics, you will see the active GPU has changed to Intel Power-saving GPU.

I have tested, enabling the 6970M again in device manager and it switches back to the 6970M without issues.

Goto C:\Windows\System32\devmgmt.msc and create a shortcut to your desktop. This will allow fast access to device manager.

 

What is auto switching?

 

Optimus is auto-switching. It does it on its own, and you never have to click anything. You also have the option to whitelist programs so that the gpu will switch to the dGPU when you open that certain prog.

I'm VERY VERY VERY happy with switchable technology cuz of the ability to save power/battery. I'm especially satisfied that ATI has switchable too, even though it's manual. I guess it's okay that it's manual though, cuz the dGPU shuts off fully instead of waiting in standby and draining some power from the battery.

 

Something I have noticed about the clocks and voltage on the 6970M when on mains, and then on battery:
Memory = 900 MHz on both battery and mains.

Core Speeds:

Battery = 400 MHz with voltage @ 1v

Mains = 680 MHz with voltage @ 1.1v

 

Mains = plugged in, I assume? I noticed that when it goes to 100/150, it goes to 0.9v.. Is that correct?

 

Doesn't the power plan change also when you plug/unplug?
I believe if you're on maximum performance or balanced the clocks will raise if load is applied .
Be sure to check that.

 

Mains = Plugged in

The voltages will vary with power plans. I would believe there is only 3 settings for voltage, 0.9v, 1.0v, and 1.1v

What I quoted was under load, so on any plan when fully loaded, it still should be the same (in theroy).

Although saving the GPU BIOS to file and then opening it in a GPU BIOS editor will reveal all setting at which profiles that the PC may call on.

For the best part, its max gaming speed will be 400 on battery and 680 when plugged in, unless otherwise modified.

 

Can you confirm this. Choose maximum performance while on battery and apply load.

 

Yeah my quotes were done on High Performance for the PC power and Maximize Performance for PowerPlay.

Reason being, if you are going to game on a gaming notebook, most will want to to the fullest.

 

so what you're saying is that this card does not reach it's maximum clocks on battery no matter what? Hmm

 

guys come on.... There's an Option in the CCC to switch automaticaly on the GMA when your Laptop is unplugged....

 

Yes correct, you will have to overclock it with software.

A BIOS mod with increased clocks and voltages will work better I would think.

Playing on battery is a bit sad @ 400 and the battery drains fast still.


The GPU and IPG switching isn't perfect yet on battery, although plugged in works fine.

 

+1 rep for helpful knowledge Now I understand that it's not just me getting 400 clocks.