Alienware M11x R1 Switchable Graphics?

Hi, I was recently shopping for a M11x and I found a super duper deal on it on Dell Outlet. (699$ 4 gb Ram, 250 HDD 7200RPM, + 15% off = 594$!!!! ) Its the R1 version so it has a Intel Core Duo Processor at 1.3 Ghz with 1.8 overclocked. But one thing I was concerned about was that I heard that the R1 didnt have the switchable graphics and only the R2 had it. Can anyone clarify this for me? Does the R1 have switchable graphics? Thanks!

 

the R1 has a manually switchable card (way better)
the R2 switchs the card by itself, but sucks up alot more power.

 

Okay thanks.

 

Fn+F6 also labeled Binary GFX. 1 of 2 things will happen, Either the screen will go black and then relight up meaning you switched graphics. Or a window will pop up labeled performance something, with a list of processes that need to end before it can switch the cards.

(Toaster.exe is one that I always have to kill. Anyone have a solution for that?)

 

It's caused by Dell's backup safe program, you can disable it by typing RUN>Services.msc disable it from statrtup.

 

You can also try add to the whitelist. Copy, edit and then save as a .reg file using notepad.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\Hybrid]
"WhiteList"="PWMUIAux.EXE, Access Connections.exe"

Note that this can result in instability if the program does actually use certain parts of the GPU (which the 'please close this program' notice is trying to prevent in the first place).

 

Okay thanks guys. This is a big help.

 

Quick question.. I'm having this same issue and I was wondering.. what is the service called exactly under Services.msc? I'm trying to find "dell's backup safe" or "alienrespawn" in there but I can't seem to find it.. Is it called something else? Also, mcagent.exe is another issue I'm having from the getgo. Anyway to change mcagent.exe to NOT get into the way or is it just normal for mcagent.exe and cannot be changed? Both of these pop up with I'm trying to use FN+Binary GFX. Thanks in advance!

 

Right click on "Toaster.exe" in the processes tab of task manager and select go to services. You can then switch this to stopped using the previously mentioned method.

 

I did that. It just goes to the Services tab and doesn't highlight/clarify which service is connected to "Toaster.exe".. anyone know? I know that the program connected to it is alienrespawn, but I don't see a service called that.

 

just wanted to let u know the M11x Intel Core Duo Processor at 1.3 Ghz with 1.8 overclocked it's not 1.8 OC it's 1.6 or 1.7 i'v been reading 1.7 is jut for show and it's OC to 1.7 XD

 

M11xR1 over-clocks to 1.6Ghz it was suggested it over-clocked to 1.73Ghz.

However with the efforts of unclewebb and others it looks like the fundamentals place it at 1.6Ghz.

M11xR1 multiplier stays at 6 so CPU is only 1.6

 

Interesting stuff.. but does anyone have an answer to my "toaster.exe" service problem? =[

 

I just wanted to note that aside from this there is an easier way.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\Hybrid]
"ShowManageBlockingProgramsUI"=dword:00000001

This adds a link to the Hybrid Power taskbar icon "Override blocking programs" which is basically a point and click whitelist/blacklist application.



Open it. Click Add.. Find the executable of the app you are trying to unblock... click "Don't Block".

 

CTRL+ALT+DELETE

Find Toaster.exe

End Process

Done switch graphics

 

@Nautis: Yes thank you! I did that override using the regedit. That one is the most simple one. Mucho thankies! =D Would this cause any problems as far as GPU/hardware problems..? Or would it just cause program instability? I don't really care for that AlienRespawn thing anyways.. how do I uninstall it anyways? xD

@Scottyballs: This has been said multiple times (plus this wasn't exactly my original question) and I've already done it before; my question was, how do I make it so I don't have to manually end Toaster.exe EVERY single time I reboot. Plus, this solution is pretty obvious since it tells you how to end a process right there from nVidia xD I'm not an idiot thanks =P

 

I haven't played around with the whitelist/blacklist much . What I think happens is if there are certain things that might be being accelerated by the NVIDIA GPU it blocks the program. I assume the drivers guess at this and the override of course overrides this. If you unblock something that is utilizing this acceleration, there is a possibility it could cause program or system instability. I have unblocked some things and have never had a problem. I doubt something like toaster should cause issues. I don't have an alienware notebook so I can't speak on how to uninstall it.

 

Oh sorry not sure about that I ended it one time and its never came back Knock on wood !