M11xR2/R3 - NVidia Optimus Issues/Whitelisting Problems

which service may i ask?

 

Hey guys, I recently ran into some issues with the M11x R1 and the GeForce 335m as well.

I was having problems with the switchable graphics, the system was not detecting the GeForce 335m, and the NVIDIA display panel was not detecting it either. I was also unable to install the latest NVIDIA drivers. Problems all around the board, really.

It turns out you can fix these problems and install the official NVIDIA drivers by disabling the Switchable Graphics from the m11x BIOS settings. Please refer to the following blog post for more information: Alienware m11x with GeForce 335m – Issues + Fix | phil.winkel / blog

 

So can I just download drivers from Nvidia direct which will support the 335m and optimus and are the BFBC2 and Punkbuster issues sorted?

 

I'm having a terrible time trying to get my GPU to even kick in. I'm using a fresh install of Windows with Intel graphics (installed first) and nVidia 270 WHQL. I've whitelisted both Steam and HL2.exe for TF2, but the game crashes after reaching the "Loading" screen, and doesn't display an error (other than "This isn't the correct resolution" in the tray).

Is my Intel driver getting in the way somehow? Seems to be the same situation with Minecraft.

Edit: Issue persists across driver versions.

Further edit: I can right click -> run Minecraft using the GPU, but launching Steam games doesn't cause the GPU to switch on. Also, whitelisting Minecraft causes the game to crash, but not instructing it to launch each time using the GPU...

Finally, when I enable to taskbar to monitor when the GPU is running, Minecraft grinds into a stuttering, unplayable mess. It also seems to only occur when the program in question is in focus.

Edit 2: Full reinstall of TF2 did nothing to help this issue.

 

I'm having similar problems. I'm unable to get the GPU to work, even after whitelisting and cleanly installing and reinstalling various driver versions. My FPS is a lowly 6-14 for the StarCraft 2 introduction screen.. Other games which I have like COD Black Ops and Portal are also unplayable due to the extremely low framerate.
(I've used driversweeper to cleanly uninstall the intel/nvidia drivers before reinstallation of the intel/nvidia drivers)

I have the latest Intel and nvidia drivers installed. Driver version for Intel is 8.15.10.2342 while driver version for nvidia is 8.17.12.7061

I know that my GPU is working fine, because I just took the windows experience index assessment and my gaming graphics scored a 6.5..

Is there anything that I can do, short of reformatting my computer?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Did you install the Intel driver first? Also, that driver appears to be Dell's - have you fried the lastest 270.61 WHQL from nVidia?

 

I cant remember if I installed the Intel driver first or not. Does the sequence matter?

Yep, I have the latest 270.61 WHQL from nvidia.

 

I'd suggest trying to reinstall using the latest drivers from the Intel site first, then the latest nvidia drivers.

 

Hello i'm new in the forum, but i have the same problem with the 270 graphics driver.
The only thing i have found is that in the driver instructions is wrote:
"Notes:
Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release."

Is in the place of SUPPORTED PRODUCTS AT THE END

Now i will try with the first driver of dell, with factory settings.
Try as well unstalling the driver and restore the old one

 

Yes, it was this .
I installed factory drivers and games now run ok with the correct fps
This new drivers i think that are not supported for alienware 11mx-R2 jejej,
Someone know what is the latest driver?
Thanks

 

The latest drivers are:

Intel GMA for Intel HD Graphics
nVidia 270.61 WHQL (64 bit)

 

I'm trying to install the 270.61 drivers on my new r3 but I keep getting a message saying that graphics card isn't compatible

Anyone having the same problem?

 

I'd probably use Dell's driver for the time being, rather than the latest considering that model was just released.

 

I think that the problem is that the new driver 270 is not compatible with hybrid thechnology, so when you run game the notebook don't make good fps. REINSTALL the dell drivers from dell website and it will go well

 

I uninstalled the intel and nvidia drivers and installed the latest ones in dell's website.. however, i'm still unable to get the GPU to kick in when playing games.. sigh..

 

Ok,if you are sure that you have the good drivers, and istalled succesfully, then you can go to nvidia control panel and here, you can go to configure 3d settings, then the program configuration, select "add" and search the executable file of the game.
When you have selected it, you have to choose the graphic card, choose the high preformance chip.

Then when you play the selected game, it will run with the nvidia card

I'm looking for you answer, so good luck.

 

hi, yes, i've done that already.. but it still doesnt work.

do u think it could be a hardware issue?

thanks for your kind help

 

So i am have been having similar issues with my m11x r2. When i start to play league of legends it runs fine with around 80 fps for around 12 min and then it drops to 20 and 14 fps and changing the graphic settings in game does not have an impact. I have whitelisted everything concerning league of legends and still there is an issue.

So from what i am reading all i have to do is get rid of the newest Nvidia driver and then install the dell one and it should work? or do i have to get rid of all of my nvidia drivers updates?

 

mmm....loohz, what version of nvidia drivers you have?I'm from spain,and i don't know if my driver of dell website is older than yours. If you can post a screen!

Also make sure that you have:
1)correct drivers(sometimes, when you uninstall the drivers that you don't want, when you restart, windows automatically install the same drivers without the nvidia control panel(verify that with the version of you nvidia control panel if you have), also check in windows control panel=system=device manager=display adapters.Check that you uninstalled all things and programs of nvidia software, and uninstall over the device manager the driver
2)Directx ,is unusual, but sometimes generate problems(check the version, update as well)
3)If you have the correct drivers of nvidia, check if you game is add, is selected the good graphic card and also CHECK in the program configuration that is ENERGY CONTROL MODE is set to maximum preformance o to preformance.
4)set the 3d settings in high preformance and not in 3d quality.
5)Temperatures of the notebook make a high influence on the preformance of a game. Try to run the game with the notebook elevated from the back or with a cooling station or deck.

check this first, and answer with news!!
For tomfooolery, read point 5)!!
If someone know about the topic please help helping other people!!!

Luck and answer!

 

I thought about that, but for every other game that i play it does not shutdown. Could this also cause the league of legends fps to drop after a few minutes?

If anyone else is having this issue please help

 

With what other games are you comparing?Sometimes is not the GPU that generates the heat, it's also the cpu. This is one reason for why when you set low details in the game or even with high settings, it happens the same, after some minutes he fps go down. Try checking you cpu temps, cleaning the fan system carefully.
What configuration do you have in your alienware?
Also eliminate some overclock if you are doing it.
Check as well the bios revision and write down with specs

Waiting for answers...

 

Thanking Kampos, but i figured it out. It is 100% the cpu and gpu temp that is causing my issues. When i used my roommates cooling pad all of my problems went away. I was shocked that i have not really seen this issue on the m11x forms, but i did not look very hard though thanks again.

 

Well, i'm happy!!! Try using compressed air for cleaning the vents or( if you have experience) open the notebook and clean the cooling system carefully. It must work correctly and you will be able to play game without a cooling pad.!!

 

[Apps] Nik Software Silver Efex 3.0
This plug'in use NVidia GPU like Photoshop CS 5 Extended.
You need to disable (in the nvidia control panel) the Nvidia GPU for Photoshop CS 5. If not, Photoshop crash on loading.
You must use Intel GPU.

 

Anybody have an issue with Optimus mis-identifying an executable? It's thinking the launcher.exe for the WHS 2011 app is the launcher.exe for DC universe Online. Not a big deal as I doubt I would play DC Universe Online on my m11x (so I set it to use the IGP) but still kind of annoying.

 

You should be able to manually add the correct launcher for DC Universe in the Nvidia control panel.

 

The issue is that it uses the NVidia GPU for the WHS Launcher unless I set the DC Universe to IGP. For this specific instance its not going to be an issue. I was more wondering if there was some way to specify that that specific executable isn't the one it thinks it is.

 

Lately I've noticed that no matter what I do, my Nvidia card will not kick in. I can whitelist my applications and even change the global setting to run the Nvidia GPU, and it sticks to Intel HD. Even Empire Earth 2 runs like crap now, much less BC2 and SC2 (lot of 2's...). I've reinstalled drivers several times, after cleaning them up with Driver Sweeper, as well as even upgraded to the latest beta drivers just for the hell of it.

Anyone else have this problem, or better yet fixed it?

This seems to be after taking my computer to IT services at BU to have "worms cleaned out." Stuff even McAfee didn't spot (please). If you go to BU, avoid having them clean up your computer if you can. I've already left the school for good so I can't exactly bring it back to them.

 

Sorry, I misunderstood your original post. I had that issue before with a game previously but I installed a new drive with a fresh install of Windows and haven't had that issue since. I'm not sure on how to fix it.

 

It's not uncommon for the list to reflect a different name for the game or application associated with an executable. It also doesn't negatively impact the settings and works for the intended application.

Also, white listing launchers is very much useless. The game executable is what matters.

 

The issue is that it is identifying an executable that isn't a game as a game. The WHS launcher runs constantly which meant the Nvidia was also doing so.

I also didn't white list the DC Universe launcher it's the executable that they have in there by default apparently.

 

Do I need to wait for Dell to release specific graphics drivers for my r3 or what? Youtube vids keep going blank when I switch to full screen or move the scrubber. I updated the Intel drivers and the problem remains.

 

Anyone have any idea on what to do now? Trying to get GTA4 to run but it wont..

 

Ok... I installed the newest drivers from nvidias website, and CSS used to open up with the dedicated gfx card, now steam gives a message that my intel integrated card isn't in there database and may or may not play the game meaning my dedicated isn't working... What the is going on..??

 

Sorry if it has already been said, i just dont want to go through 60 odd pages, but i have the R3 with an nvidia gt540m and i have no pixel or vertex shading or hardware & TL. Is there a driver that will update this at all? Thanks in advance.

 

Is it possible for someone to consolidate the actual posts which help resolve issues with these 2 systems??! Do I really need to sort through 64 pages of posts?

I have an issue where whenever my Optimus takes processing responsibility the system begins to lag horribly to where I have to shutdown- this is on an m11xR2- uninstalled drivers, updated drivers, custom drivers, the works... no resolution found. Currently running without any nVidia drivers installed, and I am able to make my system at least operational- however, I am obviously missing out on processing power from the nVidia GPU.

Another issue I am seeing- is after my system comes out of standby/display standby, I get snowy vertical lines about an inch wide separated by about an inch each- with a total of about 5-6 lines? Only Intel driver installed, no nVidia driver. This was occuring as well when the nVidia driver was installed.

Any thoughts? And please someone consolidate these posts- maybe this thread should be locked and a new one created with useful tips.

 

What you saw is called artifacts. It usually happen if GPU is too much overclocked or the GPU is faulty. Since you didn't overclock, it's highly possibility the GPU is faulty. Contact Dell support immediately to fix the problem.

 

I have the same specs and all my Steam games are running smoothly...

 

could you please provide information on what nvidia/intel drivers you are using?

 

GTA4 is very playable on the 275.33 drivers with any sort of overclock and throttlestop. I got 30-40 FPS on medium settings, with view distance low. Turning off shadows really smoothed up performance (the shadows look blocky and ugly anyway)

 

Does the 335m gpu show up in gpu-z or hwmonitor so you can monitor the temperature, or is the integrated INTEL HD the only gpu visible and i know that does not give a temp.

 

The 335m does show the temperature and other info in GPU-Z.

 

When I right click on my desktop, the nvidia control panel doesn't show up? Why is that? Wah wah I can't play games..

 

Try restarting your computer to see if that makes it show up. You can also right click on the game or game shortcut and select the Nvidia graphics chip.

 

Nah that didn't work and NVIDIA doesn't pop up...but, Idk if this has to do with anything. Awhile ago in desperation to make my computer go faster...Idk what I did, but I remember clicking something, and then unchecking a lot of boxes. Then it made my task bar go grey...something with colors. I forget how to get there and make everything go back to normal. Sorry if you didn't catch that, I'm not really tech inclined xD at all. But yeah, none of that shows up. I just have the Intel thing...oh and I have Nvidia PhysX in the all programs place...Idk what that is either. lol

 

What M11x version do you have?

Do you know how to reinstall drivers? I would try that and see if it fixes it.

 

It just says Model Alienware M11X. So idk what version it is xD. And how do I do that? If it requires a long explanation don't bother with it, don't wanna bug you that much xD

 

Go to the start menu, right click on "Computer" and select "Properties" from the menu. Tell me what it says under processor. I can tell you what M11x revision you have then. If you have the r1, you don't even have Optimus, and you would use a keyboard combination to select the Nvidia processor.

 

Alright here's what it says:
Genuine Intel(R) CPU
U7300 @1.30GHz 1.30 GHz

 

You have the r1 version which doesn't use Optimus. To enable your Nvidia gpu, you push FN + F6 I believe.