How can you tell when discrete graphics are on?

Topic, I press FN and F6 and it brings up this screen that says close these programs and click save power. I don't know what these programs are. Toaster.exe and mcagent.exe, but I'm really confused.

I have no idea how to tell when I'm in discrete mode and when I'm not, nor do I know what that thing means?

Please help

 

. nevermind

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/495489-m11xr2-optimus-test-tools.html

 

Is downloading that application the only way of knowing which graphics mode you're in?

 

The OP appears to be asking about an R1, in which case this is irrelevant.

There is an old thread that discusses what toaster.exe is: Toaster.exe. A quick google search will tell you that mcagent.exe is part of McAfee Anti-Virus software. Both of these must be closed before you can switch graphics.

 

You'll be in low power graphics mode if you see a blue square thing in your system tray. If you don't see that then you're using the 335.

 

Actually, the blue square may or may not be there in the tray. I have it disabled.

A simpler way to check is to right click on the desktop. If you see the nvidia control panel, you are in discrete mode. If you see "Graphic Properties" and "Graphic Options", you are in integrated mode.

 

I think the most reliable way of checking is look in Device Manager in the Control Panel.

 

You can also tell by the little nvidia looking icon in the system tray. If it has one green bar you are using the integrated graphics, if it's two bars you are using the nvidia graphics.

What is interesting is that I never had the message about closing Toaster.exe once when I used to use the switching method. Strange as it was definately a running process.