NVIDIA Optimus Issue with Adobe Flash on Dell XPS 15 - L501x

I felt that this issue needed its own thread so that it doesn't get drowned in the other threads.

If you have a Dell XPS 15 laptop configured with Core i5 processor and NVIDIA Optimus enabled GT420M, then you will notice some flickering with flash running on youtube,vimeo,hulu or any other video using flash. Some people suggested using laptopvideo2go drivers to solve the issue. Unfortunately those drivers disable Optimus. Only Dell's driver makes sure that Optimus works fine.

I have made a video of this issue which you can find here.

The temporary fix for this issue is to disable Hardware acceleration for flash so that Intel's HD graphics renders the video.

People with the quad core i7 processor and GT435M card need not worry about this issue because they don't have Optimus.

Any fixes, suggestions, comments etc. are welcome.

 

Felt that I needed to bump this up. Sorry if its a bad thing.

 

Does the i3 processor have optimus and will this issue affect the i3 XPS 15?

 

Yes the i3 can have optimus since it has integrated graphics and it will have the same effect unless there are different drivers for it.

 

I am watching a review of the Canon 7D camera from cameralabs.com on youtube. I am not getting the problem you mention, even in full screen. I have the i5-560 processor and nVidia 420M graphics card. I don't know why you are getting your problem. Maybe it's a problem with your internet connection?

 

Did you check if you are using your NVIDIA card to render the video or the integrated intel graphics? Try to find out using the GPU activity icon in the notification area.

Also check if hardware acceleration is enabled or disabled in Adobe Flash. I would be surprised if you don't have the problem because I have many people having the same problem with this configuration.

 

The parts that flicker are the overlays, they disappear (the ESC from full screen and the volume controls) after a few seconds.

 

I talked to a Dell Tech support guy who said,

Try disabling hardware acceleration in Flash or start your browser to use the NVIDIA card on launch.

I asked him: So why am I doing what Optimus is supposed to do automatically?

No answer from him except excuses and also that other Dell owners aren't complaining about the issue.

Thanks Dell.

 

Instead of disabling the hardware acceleration, why don't you guys set up your browsers to use the integrated intel graphics? I use that for everything and the hardware acceleration works fine without any flickering or anything. There is no reason why you should need to use the nvidia chip for flash stuff, the intel graphics aren't that bad at hardware acceleration.

 

I'm experiencing the same issue.

Will try to disable optimus for webbrowsing to see if it works.(like someone mentioned it should be fine on intel graphics only plus it will probably save battery life that way)

EDIT: I selected Integrated Graphics and no more flickering!

 

How do you disable the nvidia card for web browsing?

 

Go into your nvidia control panel and set your web browser's preferred graphics to Intel Integrated. I've just set mine to integrated as the global setting and choose nvidia specifically for only a selected few programs, like games.

 

Has anyone tried the Flash 10.2 Beta?

Adobe Labs - Downloads: Adobe Flash Player "Square" Preview Release

 

Considering that Flash 10.2 Beta is highly experimental at this stage, I guess I don't want to screw anything up. I wouldn't try it.

 

I've been using it for the last few days and it has no issues, some Flash I can notice less cpu utilization. There's an issue with full screen but other than that it works fine and doesn't screw anything up.

 

Contacted Dell Support through Twitter and response is better. They said product group is now looking into this issue.

Just wanted to check, does anybody have issues during DVD playback? They asked me this but I don't have any such problems. Was wondering if anyone in the forums had issues? I could tell them or direct them to this thread.

 

I can't find this option in the nvidia control panel.

Can you tell me where exactly it is?

 

It's under Manage 3D Settings. The only thing there under this menu item. This is with the official Dell drivers for this laptop. If you're using some other drivers from another source, it may or may not be there.

 

Ok so I got the reply back from Dell.

They directed me to this thread in their forums and basically said the issue is over.

XPS 15 (L501X) Video Overlay Flicker in Full Screen Internet Video (Hulu, Youtube, etc) - Laptop Video Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

Unbelievable! I sent them a message back on their forum telling their fix is unacceptable and asked them to update the video drivers.

Lets see what they respond with.

 

I have an XPS L701X with Optimus (NVIDIA 435M) and have the exact same issue. When flash video is in full screen the overlays flicker like crazy (volume bar, navigation, etc.). It is not the video itself flickering. But it is very annoying. And yes turning off hardware acceleration "fixed" it for me, it only did because it turned off the Nvidia card. Not exactly a fix.

That being said, why is the dedicated card coming on for flash video anyway!? Optimus is a great idea, but in reality it needs a lot of work. It wastes battery coming on for flash video, but then won't come on when I am trying to play games online that use the Unity Player plugin (Tiger Woods 2010 Online).

Now to try and contact Dell and Nvidia...if anyone has troubles please do the same. Hopefully they fix it as otherwise this is a great system..

 

Is anyone using IE9 for playing youtube videos?

I have flash player square for IE 64 bit installed and youtuve videos will run but will stop playing if 720P or 1080P is selected.

Anyone experiencing the same with IE9 and youtube?

 

I had the same issue and this fixed it for me, cheers!

I've switched IE to use integrated graphics by default and the issue is resoved. Don't see why you would need the dedicated graphics for youtube anyway, it runs fine on the integrated graphics even at 1080p.
I'm sure this will be fixed in a driver update for the nvidia cards when it comes out. (if ever?)

 

Hi!
I have also a probleme with flash, but not exactly the same :
When I have the last Flash driver installed on IE or firefox, on youtube, I can not see the toolbar of the video (resolution, volume, duration, full screen...)
Same think when I manage to go to full screen by clicking where is suppose to be the fullscreen button.

I read on a post to right click on the screen, and to un check material acceleration. BUT second probleme : when I rigth click on the video, the "parameter" option is grey and not clickable. Someone can explain me why??

Then I read here to use Integrated graphics for browser... I did that throw the Nvidia Panel. It work, I can seen the control bar of the video. But When I switch to Full screen, the resolution goes automatically to 420, and the image freeze!! not the sound, just the image. And that for any definition above 320, full screen or not! Like if the integrated graphic chip was not able to decode the Video . My configuration is :

Dell XPS 15
Core i5, 4Go Ram
Nvidia Geforce 420M
W7 64 bit

Can anyone help me, on either one of these problem?
Best thanks !!