new 880m wont keep settings changes to use nvidia gfx

so... had issues with new install of samsung 840 ssd. forgot to switch bios. still in raid mode. so at some point i'll be reinstalling everything ... AGAIN.

my issue.

nvidia control panel. new beta drivers that everyone is using.

i can NOT get it to use the nvidia card
change it in the settings... and it just reverts back. frames are flippin awful.

alienware support is not real helpful.

bios did not look like an option was available to TURN off the haswell crap.

any way to fix this? or is this gaming machine now a paperweight.

and yes. i have the power supply plugged in.

 

if the laptop is not running anything 3D it will default to the intel IGPU: this is basic stuff, this is optimus.

if you want to set to the nvidia GPU then press fn + F5 to manually switch between the intel and nvidia GPUs.

 

Or you can also right click on the game and ask it to run with the nVidia card each time.

 

Can anyone confirm that for the most recent Alienware machines (e.g. m17x with 880m) that the fn-f5 to "disable" optimus is still an option. I'd like to purchase, but want to make sure this is still a feature of the newest versions of the m17x. The customer support was of course very helpful in answering this question :laugh:

 

If you get the 120hz screen it is always off just so you know.