m11x R3 optimus vs manual predictions?

What do you guys think Alienware is going to do? What do you want them to do? I myself prefer manual over optimus as all I am hearing lately is issues with games not being run on the nvidia gpu with optimus on the R2. IE Mafia 2, before the patch company of heroes, etc.

 

I can't see why they would go back. I am sure they will manage to add a manual option to optimus anyway.

 

No way they go back. Optimus is only going to improve.

 

I think optimus would be great, perfect in fact, if you could simply do FN-F6 to LOCK the GPU in the on position, lock it in the off position, OR have optimus control everything. A toggle, if you will.

I'm honestly shocked that you can't manually override it one way or the other, and I think that would solve so many bugs with people having optimus not enable for a game, or not disable after a game. Sometimes its nice to have a button to push to make things work until they are officially supported.

 

Wow so far its still 50-50. anyways regarding optimus, you can force the gpu to be on but apparently in the case of mafia 2 that didn't work either.

 

I'd just like them to have the issues we are currently having on some games fixed first

 

Definatley would prefer manual you can then switch on the fly if you want dedicated or integrated.

Some older games run fine on integrated and then of course you can save on battery.

One of the reasons I kept my R1 I'm sure someone has said on the forum you either have optimus OR manual on/off you cant have both.

 

Not that I have one, but I think they should expanded the ruleset/profile application. They should include both plugged in & battery options that way you could choose to run this application/game on Nvidia if plugged in, and Integrated if unplugged. This would give back some of the control people are wanting.

I am sure someone will come up with a software toggle to at least disable/enable the Nvidia GPU/Optimus. They have already started adding a hardware switch to notebooks ( see the video here).

 

Optimus is still young and I think it needs time.


I think there are other things people would like to see more in a R3 revision of m11x(a brighter higher quality screen... maybe 12''?), better hinge design, a higher clocked culv?

 

I absolutely see no reason why they would go back to manual switchable graphics. nVidia is going to be putting their future driver development and support towards Optimus, and not switchable graphics.

Having said that, I think that the "next generation" of M11x is going to be several years away... we will really need a major revolution in base hardware components before it is worth their time redesigning the M11x. We would need new mobile Intel CPUs and new mobile GPUs.

I do think that an M13x is much more likely to come out before the M11x R3. That would be awesome to see, if they can keep the weight down below 5.0lb.

 

For a R3 I would keep optimus but give the option of running it like a manual switchable graphics if technically possible. Plus, of course, I would try some improved design for hinges. I would probably give the option for a matte screen. Ah, and I think the screen should be 12.1" or, at least, no more than 13.3" (I would say that 12.1" is the best choice). The rest is perfect in this machine.
...
Well, in my dreams I would also add a trackpoint mouse to the keyboard

 

As with any new tech, it will go through baptism by fire. But in the end, I will prefer anything that is automated. Convenience is a major selling point, and although manual may seem more convenient, when you really weigh the options and alleys, Optimus wins because it's future proof embodied.

 

I personally dont see an M13x coming out unless as a replacement for the M11x. 11.6" to 13.x" is not a large enough gap to justify having both models available.

That being said, I would really like a 13.x" gaming notebook. No optical drive, though. I want that space filled with battery or used to allow better cooling for higher performance parts.

Oh, and whatever dell does, the M11x R3, or M13x R1, it NEEDS TO HAVE A BETTER SCREEN WITH ANTI-GLARE.

 

Optimus is the future. AI based hardware performance is only going to get better! A computer can optimize graphics/CPU better than any human when the time is right and software is more reliable.

 

I prefer Manual.. Contrary to what others say It's like a car choice. Some will say the newest automatics are faster than a standard. But I still prefer a Standard for performance cars. Just like I want a standard, Switchable graphics for my notebook or computer.

Too many things in life telling you what you should think, wear, say, eat, purchase, etc... I dont want my computer telling me how it will perform and when, I want a computer that's going to perform when I WANT IT TO!...

You can either ride or DRIVE... your choice...

 

Hear, hear! Well said. And I agree... well I don't have my m11x (yet) but I chose the R1 model because of the graphics. I know that Optimus is the way of the future and all, and that all the issues will probably be smoothened out soon enough, but I think for now I'd rather switch the graphics on my own (and save battery life while I'm at it) =). Plus, I like the sound of "old reliable."

 

I wouldn't say that this is a matter of future proofing. Most of the great things about optimus is marketing about convenience. In fact, it is about taste, like glossy x matte, 16:9 x 16:10 and now automatic x manual switch. In particular, I am old school (matte and 16:10) and I prefer to have more control (less bugs), so manual switch. I also like my car with manual gearbox

Anyway, if there is a way to get both, great (why not?).
Otherwise, my vote is manual switch.

 

I, for one, would prioritize fixing the damn hinge design... even if it means using the buggy Optimus. I voted manual, cause I like manual better. But it does seem more likely they'll stick with Optimus. Oh and if they could add manual switch as an option to Optimus, then everyone would be happy.

 

Given the choice, I'd rather have manual as well. Marketing for Optimus have you think that it's saving you oodles of battery life by automatically switching for you. Please... any power savings is going to be minuscule when compared to those of us who'd use manual switching intelligently.

If hybrid weren't such a pain regarding driver updates then it would be my choice hands down. Not because Optimus doesn't work, but rather because I prefer hands-on control.

 

I prefer Optimus with manual option, if it is impossible manual is better...

 

Seems like a software fix could be had for overriding optimus on-demand. Maybe if I get this laptop I'll work on one.

 

The AW rep who frequents NBR said that their engineers said it's not possible.

 

so i think i will stay with manual

 

which is bs. The engineer probably said it can't be done like the R1 does it, i.e., by disabling one or the other completely, since the IGP is always on with the R2. There's no reason they can't make a manual switch to turn the 335m on and off though because that's exactly what Optimus does already--but based on running programs instead of some sort of user input. Given that it does it already, there is nothing in terms of the hardware that prevents a manual switch. Here's a good metaphor: nVidia drivers (can) automatically switch anti-aliasing options based on the running program, but you can override it to use one global AA setting for all programs in the nVidia Control Panel or equivalently override it with a global setting from the taskbar with NVTray. The software side of Optimus is laid out exactly like the AA controls, except they left out the global override option.

(It's probably obvious this is a sensitive issue for me because I believe nVidia has only not included a manual switch only due to the fact that they are marketing Optimus as a successor to manual switching, so including it could make it seem less like a full successor, which prevents companies from adopting it. In other words, to sell more, they're ignoring what is best for users. I object to it the same way I object to DRM; it's good for the company by doing what's bad for the owner, and it prevents the owner from doing what they want with what they own.)


On the thread's topic, I don't see them leaving off Optimus on the R3 unless they switch to a discrete GPU that doesn't support it or a new automatic-switch system comes out to displace Optimus.