M11x graphics drivers (General Discussion)

what's he got running? does it save battery life and switch seamlessly? or just display a logo.

I'm sorry i'm not trying to be negative. But, the M11x hardware isn't set up for optimus, that's all.

 

Well there is still the issue of the multiplexer that is part of Hybrid Graphics and not Optimus. There is a DisableHybridMux setting in the drivers however.

Here is my assumption. The Nvidia confidential overlay is due to the multiplexer. Chances are they are or were testing Optimus as a potential upgrade for Hybrid Graphics, or since they had the hardware already they just used what they had. This happens a lot in the tech world. It is very 'ignore the man behind the curtain'. Nvidia has also been known to do this a lot in the past. Geforce and Quadro arn't really all that different?!, ATI PhysX?!, etc., etc.

This is why I have always called this a proof of concept. Fact of the matter is that it does work. Install it. Try it yourself. It works.

Still needing people to do extensive testing and confirm the power issues BTW. I am getting somewhat conflicting reports.

 

Try it yourself.
Explain about the hardware and why it will not work. Really, seriously. I would like to know. I keep hearing this but no one ever explains it. I would love to stop wasting my time if someone can explain it in a way that makes sense and what is happening to make it work to the extent that it is. Try the driver though. Take a look at what happens and how it functions.

 

Okay, I have the newest Nvidia drivers installed using lksing78s method and so far so good. I can switch between both graphics modes using FNF6 like normal and the nvidia chipset is not in device manager when in igp mode. When in nvidia mode I tested out Metro 2033 and it plays much better. It doesn't display the upgrade your drivers at startup message anymore and the framerates are higher and more consistent! Battery life seems about the same as before and all in all I am very pleased with this! Thanks lksing78!

 

yeah kudos to lksing78, i also just upgraded the m11x using his method and it worked like a charm. Looks like users can place any version of the nvidia drivers in the dell driver package and have it work!! this is great.

 

see! o ye of little faith, lol! maybe, just maybe, nautis is on to something gr8 too!

 

this isn't about optimus, its about upgrading the graphics drivers on the m11x ;P

 

From what I'm getting, "Hacking" Optimus onto the M11x allows you to install drivers without having to jump through hoops or begging Dell to have drivers that play nice with BOTH GPUs. All the other stuff that comes with Optimus is just icing on the cake.

So yeah, Optimus is actually VERY relevant to updating the graphics drivers. I'd test it myself, but I'm usually too busy with schoolwork and a job to have a serious gaming session to meddle with the settings.

 

hmmm just had another read.

Looks like A Hybrid solution runs through a series of Multiplexers first, then the Integrated GPU = Discrete GPU whereas Optimus does not.

Here are a few figures to help people understand more precisely what goes on.




I think the main challenge would be to bypass the MUXs whilst still keeping the bridge active as there is no connection between the Display and PCH (as there is with Optimus). I think the main reason why people are experiencing power problems is because to keep the connection live on hybrid graphics, both solutions must be powered in order to be able to dynamically switch without flickering of the screen etc.

This video demonstrated what I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0nxEr62so0&feature=player_embedded

 

Yes, this is all good and exciting, but what about the initial misconceptions expressed on the first page of this thread? No one corrected them? This was answered by the original drivers/utilities.

The guys who started this thread thought there was some kind of problem preventing them from using BOTH a key combination AND the tray notification icon. Click the notification icon and then click "How do I set the graphics mode?" and you will see this:

Pretty self-explanatory. Don't ask me why nVidia only allows one method but, well, there you have it. It's not a "problem," it's by design.

Except that other Hybrid Graphics notebooks can power down the discrete GPU without a reboot (or so I have heard). I see no reason to bypass the multiplexer if Optimus is already software-only. My understanding is that it should work completely ignoring the mux as long as the GPU responds to being told to shut down.

 

Wow hold your horses cowboy..
right now only 197.16 and above (but not all ATM ),can be fuse with Dell/Alienware driver like the method i use..
And to make life easier ,just stay tune to this thread for a while
until we can see Dell/Alienware release it's own official update driver.

 

I want to upgrade my graphics drivers, but would it be best to wait for the official driver, or would it be safe to use lksing78s method? What about the .exe in nautis's signature, is it all I need to install the drivers? Or should I just wait?

 

It really depends how much time you're willing to spend on this stuff. If you don't wish to be messing for hours with drivers just stay with the stock if you need battery life, or go into the bios and select discrete and use 197.16 if you need the performance more than the battery life.

Edit: After trying for longer than I'm willing to admit, I now have switchable 197.16 drivers! Great job lksing78!

I had everything installed, but it didn't have the taskbar icon/switching functionality with the default Windows driver that it automatically gave the Intel gpu, so I pointed to the directory with the modifications from the device manager and updated (or possibly just installed an older one, not sure which is newer but that's irrelevant) the Intel drivers, and now it's all good.

 

looks like everyone is getting a result from lksing78's method, which is great, i really want to try it as well, but with the Official Driver from Nvidia just around the corner, it's making me 50/50

just wanted to know, did you guys think the later to be released official Driver from Nvidia will not only fix the switching problem that didn't completely turn off Discrete upon going to IGP, but also fix the bug that when using Fn+F6 you cannot switch from the icon tray /vice versa ?

 

Sorry.. Official driver from Nvidia?

 

So Nautis, by running the link in your sig does that install everything I need to update my graphics card on my m11x?

 

I followed these instructions and received a blue screen error during driver installation, which forced my system to restart. It started in integrated graphics mode, and from there I was able to install the drivers.

 

... or did it work? When running Nvidia graphics, the device manager says the driver version is 8.16.11.8855 and the driver date is 12/28/2009.

 

What does ur Nvidia Control Panel /Help /System information says?

 

Not sure any M11x users have tested it honestly. EDIT: Scratch that just checked LV2G and an M11x user has had a problem installing them. Working things through with them now.

Its best to check Control Panel -> Device Manager -> NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M -> Driver Tab -> Driver Details -> and look at the actual file version for each file. Or what lksing78 said.

 

That explains it.

 

I think im gonna just wait for the official alienware/dell drivers to come out, I'm not great with directions....

 

You guys are needing to sign the driver for 64bit correct?

I would always recommend official drivers over unofficial. Lets hope the dell drivers are 197 series.

 

I am curious, why do you guys insist that optimus works on the m11x when it's a well known fact the machine doesn't support it?

I just came here to post about what the Dell engineer said to me about new drivers coming out. But this discussion of how optimus works and is software based is new and confusing to me. Have you gotten the battery switching to work seamlessly like optimus is designed?

If so, great! If not maybe we can close the chapter on that.

Looking forward to these Dell drivers but in the meantime 197's are working great

 

the nvcadm.inf from the original Dell drivers still states 188.55 version. editing it to 197.16 will render the installation unsuccessful. gpu-z and nvidia control panel will show 197.16, but device manager and dxdiag will show 188.55.

but hey, as long as my games run smoother and i can still switch between discrete and IGP, who cares?

 

Wow interesting, seems we really lucked out with this install method working. I'm just glad to be running anything other than 188.55

 

No more message pop up tell me that my graphic driver is out of date whenever i play Batman..To the Batmobile now..huhuhu

 

err i meant from Dell, which i suppose also from Nvidia?

i was referring to Nickbarbs post here

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=471057&page=8

as far as i know, the driver that is mentioned there is for the switching problem?

 

Using lksing78s method, you don't need to sign the driver, which is awesome!

 

err i meant from Dell, which i suppose also from Nvidia?

i was referring to Nickbarbs post here

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=471057&page=8

as far as i know, the driver that is mentioned there is for the switching problem?

 

Wow. I find it fascinating that windows does not reject the drivers. I assume the version string must have something to do with it. I am really interested in figuring out what is going on there.

Ah ok. I was going to say Nvidia will not be releasing Hybrid Graphics drivers so don't get your hopes up. Looking forward to seeing what the new drivers will be.

 

has anyone noticed that after lksing78s method, on start up for windows 7(64) the "save power" screen pops up right as your desktop is displayed?

 

Using lksing78s method, when in dedicated mode do i simply uninstall the driver for the nvidia 335 or do i have to uninstall the nvidia control panel as well

 

Because it does work.
Well known fact?
The only well known fact is that the M11x didn't come with Optimus out of the box.
Nautis has proven that it will work on laptops that didn't come with Optimus originally, including the M11x.

 

Interesting, I'm trying to find if anyone can confirm it's fully functioning, ie autoswitching between the intel and the 335m for battery life savings and horsepower when needed? do you have any more information on if you still get the 6 hours of battery life that you would get on intel graphic IGP mode with regular drivers?

 

no one has yet gotten the nvidia card to fully power down using the optimus drivers... and vice-versa, when using the nvidia, and the intel not powering down. as seen here, people are working on it

 

The Intel part never powers down with Optimus. Nvidia might not shut down properly getting conflicting reports. Though if it doesn't then it really wouldn't be any different than Hybrid Graphics on the M11x currently would it?

 

I can also say that lsking's setup works ok. I have installed and ran 3dmark with only cpu oc and my score is 6483 which is good. Driver must be working properly. I can switch between integrated as well. Thanks!

One quick question.. Do we as 335mGT owners have to worry about powermizer? If so, how can we disable it for certain? I want 100 percent pure performance when needed with no dips! Thanks, StevenX

 

There is a new tool PowerMiser Manager. I haven't used it so let us know how it works.

 

Doesnt work. Error message "nvidia registry key not found". I downloaded it earlier today and ran it as admin as well. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

Bah ok try PowerMizer Switch 1.2

 

Think that may work.. thanks!

 

hey guys i'm having some trouble maybe one of you coulod help. i wanted to OC my machine last night so i kept trying NST, And EVGA but they didn't work, so i installed the new drivers from nvidia's site, the ones for the 335. not one of the hybrid or optimus ones. just the regular video drivers and switching works fine and everything, the 335 shuts off after the laptop is put to sleep just like normal. and now i can OC without a problem using evga or NST

but now when i try to play games it says it can't start physx and that physx is missing. i checked gpuz and the physx box isn't checkmarked. did i just screw my system up. i keep looking for the dell drivers but i can't find them. what should i do.

 

I reccommend installing the dell stock drivers. All OCing I've done has been on the 188.55 drivers for the M11x. You can see it in my screenshots in my sig. Just roll back your drivers. Or do a system restore.

 

k i did a system restore, but now evga doesn't work, am i missing something???
are any of the hybric graphics drivers worth it??

 

None that I've seen. I'm waiting for dell to release some as they are currently working on them. Make sure your settings in the Command Center are on "MAX" performance for the GPU and that your M11x is plugged in. Also be sure that your on switchable GPU's or discreet and that your set to "increased performance" so the 335M is whats operating. I know it's redundant to say, but the OCing tools wont work on the integrated card and some people over look it. Also from what I've seen it won't allow you to OC on the battery.

 

oh ok, i didn't realize that the battery power settings actually mattered, and since i can't do it on battery i can't test now, I'll try when i get home. thanks i knew i was missing something just couldn't figure it out.

 

lol, i figured thats what it was. Perhaps checking the command center and setting the battery setting for the GPU to "Max Performance" will work. I found it out by trying to OC and thinking to myself..."I just did this 5 min ago, whats going on??" Then I realized it was unplugged.

 

yeah, oddly enough the drivers i had let me overclock on battery but i had no physx. so yeah useless. outa curiosity whats the benifit of all these other drivers on this thread? is just the whole optimus automated switching thing. i imagine that would kill battery life a little. cuz when i stream it works better on the gpu instead of the igp so i imagine optimus would turn the gpu up for that kinda stuff even though you can use the igp.

 

Optimus is just automated switching, which I don't like for the idea you mentioned. Other drivers at stock clocks produce better gaming FPS from what I've seen. I havn't done too much gaming so I'm not sure. But the eliminate the GPU switching. The 197.xx drivers can only be run if you keep it set to "discreet gpu" in the bios, which for me kills the reason I got the M11x. The current problem with the 188.55 drivers is that when you are on the discreet GPU and switch to the IGP, then the 335M is still drawing a little bit of power. To have it shut off completely the notebook has to be restarted, or put to sleep. Otherwise it takes a little toll on battery life. The perfect solution to me is a driver that allows one or the other and when one is not in use it completely shuts off the unused gpu.