M11xR2/R3 - NVidia Optimus Issues/Whitelisting Problems

Yea when I heard about Optimus I thought it was pretty much touch-free, but people on here are talking like every game you have to go and add to a list and do other configurations. How would that ever be more convenient than just hitting 2 buttons?

Hopefully Nvidia gets it worked out, or adds manual switch, or both.

 

so i've been hung up on 3 times trying to fix the shipping and the coupon that didnt get added to my order...

 

did you get the new black? post pics please cause i think that ill be the 1st one

 

Nvidia maintains its own list that gets updated online, so you don't have to do everything yourself.

Even without that, it's more convenient to add a program to the list once than press the button combo twice (on and off) every time it launches.

 

This is directed to hondalife. Its unfortunate that you are having issues with optimus . Mine is due to arrive in early July and I was wondering if they included a display port to VGA cable in the package.

 

Nope, just the M11x, Power adapter, manual, and install DVD.

 

Honda major rep if you can test O/Cing on the GPU? MSI afterburner should work fine. I am betting we can get the score close to 8K if there is a decent amount of headroom.

 

No time today. Have to finish work then head home. Hour and a half commute + wife = No playing with my new toy tonight

 

I agree. What a complete nuisance... adding each exe file separately. I dont think thats faster than manual switch... IF THE MANUAL SWITCH WOULDN'T BUG AND STUCK THE FAN ON !

 

Yeah! An Alienware without problems/glitches/bugs is not an Alienware at all.

That's why we have this community! wow, sucks for me i really placed my bet on optimus to be optimal in performance. I guess not, for now.

 

Is this the New Driver? it was on another thread.. I hope this one works


NViDIA driver 257.21

 

*Emphasis added by me*

Just wondering, how did you get your Core i7 m11x-R2 so quickly? I thought they didn't go on sale until late last week, and most people are getting estimated delivery dates for early-to-mid July.

The only fast track option (48 hour delivery) I can find is the Core i5 variety - what am I missing here? Please enlighten me someone!

 

Eh? He ordered it. I ordered mine Tuesday and got it today. Optimus sucks giant balls and non dell drivers will not work, otherwise, I like it.

 

lol that's a bummer but not surprising considering its brand new tech. As like everything else when its new drivers are not refined for this yet be patient.
Nvidia has a history of not having smooth drivers out the door with anything in my experience.

 

So Dell is quite a bit ahead of their estimated delivery dates then? Or is it really just dependent upon your configuration and a bit of luck? Did you forgo the custom nameplate? I wonder what would make them quote delivery by next month when they are actually churning them out within a week.

Dell actually beating their delivery estimates by several weeks just surprised me, that's all. Thanks for the help.

 

Wow, sounds like getting the benchmarks is gonna be a PITA. See what happens when I get mine tomorrow. Assuming I don't miss the FedEx Driver.

 

Just run the benchmarks using the stock drivers.
It will be interesting to see what it can do fresh out if the box.
Hey, it's better than nothing

 

You should be able to right click and choose which GPU you want the application/game to run with. You should also be able to tweak/set this through the Nvidia control panel. If those are not available to you I suggest reinstalling the Nvidia driver or using a new one.

 

But you found the nvidia optimus setting in the control panel right?

 

Yes, it just does not work with some games at all in any way. NV are aware and dragging their feet, seems each release of drivers fixes a few games. You manually adding them does not work with some games (PES/FO3/GTA).

Secondary issue is the new nvidia driver (yes for optimus) do not install on the r2, it cannot find the 335m and refuses to work.

So we're screwed if you like certain games, even though it can run them, because optimus doesnt give you any control over what gpu the system sees, and because the fixes for that come from NV, and they dont support the r2, and dell offers old drivers. I'm sure it will be sorted out in a few months, just sucks because it is so incompetent - if they couldnt get it working 100%, why not offer the manual 'RIGHT NOW USE ONLY THIS GPU FOR EVERYTHING' option?

 

That sounds retarded. I always thought it would just be an extention of the Nvidia control panel, where you go in and add games and are able to to force AA or AF to any games you want!


It cant have anything to do with your battery settings? its se tto full power - is there an option maybe somewhere, where you can just run on the GPU constantly, and not the integrated graphics? just like you enable max brightness, you should be able to permanently equip the GPU.

ALT + F6 like on the R1!

 

No, all power settings are at max, gpus setting at max etc... does not help, you cannot shut down the intel graphics and go discrete only. No control, much much lamer than fn-f6.

If this had fn-f6 and no optimus it'd be the best laptop I've ever owned.

 

^ I assume not even in the BIOS for discrete only? and then just install any nvidida driver you want?

 

I'm floored by the fact that the latest driver doesn't support the R2. I think there was a general consensus that with Optimus we wouldn't be reliant on Dell drivers. What was that belief based on? Has anyone contacted Alienware for clarification on this?

If it turns out that we're stuck with relying on Dell drivers and no means of forcing GPU selection then I consider that a major step backward from the R1.

 

I figured out the problem acutally. I wasn't paying that close attention since I was at work. My R2 won't post with a 1.66 OC, so it just restarted itself at the normal clock. I probably had a process running that I didn't my first run, which resulted in the lower score.

 

I've tried drivers for other optimus laptops with a simlar configuration and nothing works. Kinda bummed. I did find a workaround for fallout and it worked great. Still can't get the Witcher to work. Not much of a community for that game so I don't think anyone will pay much attention to looking for a workaround. Hopefully the Nvidia update will fix it. I love that game.

 

that sucks. I believed stupidly that a solution that Nvidia developed would be supported better than the R1 solution. How wrong was I!

Neil.

 

did anyone of you opt for a soft touch stealth black? is it possible for you to post a picture of your laptop so we can get a glimpse? thanks in advance.

 

I'm sure a solution will be found eventually to manually change gpu's. It's early days and early adoption of new tech will always have kinks.

 

I did, but can't use a camera at work. Software company . I'm sure someone will post them soon. It really is nice. Doesn't get fingerprints like my m15

 

You're a lot more hopeful than I am. If AW had planned on incorporating a manual switch they'd have done so from the outset.

 

No bios option.

 

It looks like a DSi, sorta. or like a car that is primer black. feels like very very hard rubber.

 

Optimus will not have a bios option like Hybrid Graphics because of how it works. With Hybrid Graphics there is a direct route from the Nvidia GPU to the Multiplexer out to the Display. With Optimus that connection does not exist instead what happens is the output of the Intel part is basically hijacked to display the Nvidia output instead.

With that said I am sure a program can be written to force either the Intel or Nvidia part to be the primary. It has already been done on the new apple macbook pros.

 

I was really hoping that Optimus would be awesome. I guess in the long run, not for now.

 

Hard to base how "awesome" brand new tech is based on a few opinions. Early adopters always run into a few kinks. Give people time to learn how to use it properly and the companies a bit of time to iron out any early kinks.

 

WoW loads, but the screen flashes a few times and kicks out to the desktop. Clicking on the taskbar to get back into the program shows the same issue and just kicks back to the desktop. Tried on both the stock and new Nvidia drivers.

 

thanks for the updates honda.. man no WoW is kind of a bummer.

 

After a reboot the stock drivers allow WoW to work. I'll have to try messing around with the new Nvidia drivers

 

i guess i based the "awesome" on publicity and marketing.. I should've dug the details first.

 

is there a list of games that would run the 335m in the optimus settings?

 

Things getting stranger. Installed the Stock drivers ontop of the New Nvidia drivers. Now the Witcher is working. Not quite sure if it's a side effect of the Fallout 3 fix. But hey, it runs great now.

 

This thread is talking about installing the new nvidia driver,

havent tested it yet but you guys with an R2 here can try.

How do you install Nvidia Drivers on M11x R2

 

That driver hack works, give it a shot

 

I will, as soon as dell ships out my R2!

so, what are the improvements? does the optimus settings in the Control Panel show up already? and can you right click an exe file with the "run with GPU" option?

thanks

 

You have to set that option, but yeah. Just being able to use the driver calms me down, since NV will eventually fix everythnig and we wont have to wait on dell drivers.

 

i was uber-worried when i read this thread, and i dont even have my R2 yet!
thanks for confirming. +1.

rep you tomorrow, they said i repped too much

 

So let me make sure I understand you guys correctly.
Since the Optimus is not working properly on R2, I need to uninstall the original driver. Download the new driver 257.21 and then replace the nvdm.inf with the Nautis's version. Please let me know if I missed something. Thanks in advance.

 

Ghost, I would just do a full re-install of the OS. You can use this tool Microsoft Store: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Help

You will need a 64 bit Win 7 home premium 64bit OS and a 4GB flash drive. This way if there is any bloatware and you can be sure you get a clean install with the new Nvidia drivers.

 

Thank you sir. If the new driver gives me problems, I would consider performing a full re-install. +rep