No 3D Output with nVidia Optimus, WHAT THE HELL?

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I just got an XPS 15 with GT 525M and Optimus. Under the nVidia control panel you can configure which programs use the dedicated gpu and which use Intel Integrated Graphics. For some reason though, PowerDVD and TotalMediaTheatre DEFAULT to Integrated and you can't even select the GT525M! Integrated graphics don't support nVidia 3D Play or 3D in general . There are settings and advertisement's galore for full 3D support over hdmi 1.4 and you can't even do it? PowerDVD won't boot a Blu-Ray with 3d period, and TotalMediaTheatre boots with 3d but the TV doesn't detect it and therefore when you turn the glasses on nothing happens. Everything I have is 3d compatible, I play 3d Blu-rays on my PS3 but that doesn't support lossless audio and 3d at the same time so I want to use my laptop for 3d movies.

 

Shouldn't the intergrated graphics be disabled if you arent using it?


* I see. I understand why you have two GPU's running. I just read the first post linked, last. It could be a driver issue? Or not currently supported with the current software.

 

you cant do 3d if your card is using optimus, since that inevitably the output is done via the intel card

 

Can you disable the Optimus and just use the Nvidia GPU alone?

Im sure it wouldnt dramaticaly decrease battery life that much?

 

I got it to work when outputting to the tv only, and not in extend mode. However, only TotalMediaTheatre works. PowerDVD plays audio but you just get a black screen. TotalMediaTheatre won't send lossless audio and 3d at the same time though it seems, even though when i hit info it says "DTS-HD MSTR PASSTHROUGH", my receiver only says "DTS" (just like the PS3). I'm getting quite frustrated with this to say the least

 

as I said to output the video the nvidia gpu send it through the intel one, thus the monitor wont output 3d, what you can do is to try to find out which port can I/O directly via the nvidia gpu, however this seems unlikely to happen

 

I think i read somewhere that the Intel IGP could not handle the two 60 Hz streams required for Nvidia 3D.
Non Optimus notebook doesent have this problem.

 

Afaik the only 3d compatible xps's are those with no optimus, like single gt525m/gt555m.
Those with optmius cannot take advantage of the 3d.

 

Im sure its possible that you can just turn off Optimus, my bet is it will be in your battery options or power saver options depending on what the lappy calls it, read the owners manual or try giving Dell a call. About the DTS-HD, the PS3 also supports it so if your amp is just saying DTS its most likely just lumping all DTS under one header, again consult your user manual for the amp and see, because if what I said isn't the case your not hooking something up properly or you don't have the right setting selected.

 

You cant turn off Optimus.
It sends the Nvidia video output over the Intel IGP and if you try to disable the IGP you get a black screen.

 

First off, no the PS3 can't decode lossless audio when viewing 3D content, only 2D...and my reciever does distinctly show "DTS HD MSTR" when watching 2D content, but only "DTS" when playing 3D on the PS3 or PC. Secondly, when I use the TV as the primary monitor (projector-only setting, laptop screen off), I am able to click on nVidia 3D Play and go through the 3d setup and the TV detects this and the "turn glasses on" window pops up, so it DOES work just the software is all messed up. Yes it is true, you can only do 3D in 24Hz mode (but that's how every movie should be watched in it's native fram rate, there's no need for 60Hz support). PowerDVD like I said, plays the audio but I get a black screen for video. TotalMediaTheatre I got to work but I only get lossy DTS core audio. Initially under the 60Hz setting, TotalMediaTheatre still worked but the video would only show up on like 1/3 of the screen, it was really wierd I'd never sceen that before (I was in full screen mode, 3d will only work in full screen anyway but it looked like I was in PiP mode).

Anyways, it DOES work, I think I just need to do a bit more configuring, and figure out how to bitstream the hd audio with 3d. I could of course select PCM, but there's not really anyway to tell what the reciever is producing. Yes, in the "info" section of TMT or PowerDVD it shows DTS-HD but I would prefer to bitstream so I know for sure.

Again, I don't think the 3D play software would be PRE-INSTALLED if this lappy couldn't support it, not to mention the XPS in most configurations if not all now has Optimus, and 3D is shown on the product page and talked about quite a lot.

I have done a TON of research so I'd like to think I'm fairly knowledgable now when it comes to TV's and home theatre recievers. I just bought a Samsung PN50C7000 and Yamaha HTR-5063 both of which are hdmi 1.4.

 

yeah I will be avoiding that optimus then.

Bad news bud.

 

Well thats a failed design, whats the point in that? they should be 2 seperate switchable graphics cards, theres no mods on the net that get around this issue?

Thanks for updating me on the ps3 info, thats good to know, makes sense with the dated hardware it ahs, im surprised it even crammed 3d in with an update!! Its not even like 3d is that good yet, and who knows the potential harm re-focusing your eyes may do, only a few movies have done 3d well and the rest seem like pop up books.

 

There's no doubt in my mind that 3D is here to stay, it's no gimmick in my opinion. With the right setup it is very Immersive, 3D Blu-ray is much different (and better IMO) than 3d in the theatre.

Like I said the 3d does work, it's just a pain in the and I'm not sure if you can get lossless audio. It seems you have to hook the 3d display as your primary monitor though, because if you try to enable 3D Play in extended mode nothing happens.

Everyone keeps saying it's amazing that the PS3 can do it because its "old", but the h/w in the PS3 is more than capable of doing 3d and losseless audio at the same time.

 

Well thats good to know, I do agree with your 3d statment, went to a local tv store and saw the nasa video in 3d and it was spectacular with the glove floating around the screen, but I still feel like it doesn't do enough to give an added depth, not until its a Head mounted display or something that uses your full natural field of vision.

 

I might as well ask this here: My frame-rate in Bad Company 2 seems to vary extremely. When I had my SXPS16(Mobility 5730) I was able to play at 1280x720 with low-medium settings and never drop below 30FPS. Now with my XPS15(GT525m) it ranges from 20-60fps. The only other game I tried so far is Starcraft II and that seems to run great, 40-60fps at 1600x900 on medium detail. Is it my CPU that is constantly changing clock speeds that's causing BC2 frame rate to be sporadic? I know that game is a lot more cpu intensive and I heard the 2630 throttles turbo boost above 90 degrees? I am going to be testing out Mass Effect 2 and Just Cause 2 to get a better idea tonight. I know the GT525 isn't an amazing mobile GPU, but I should be able to play any game at 720p on low and sometimes medium I thought. My max temps while playing SC2 for half an hour were like 86 C CPU and below 80 C on the GPU. In the XPS 15 the GPU doesn't seem to go beyond 82 C, but the CPU was between 93-96 C while playing BC2. I am amazed the chassis is still very cool compared to that of the Studio XPS which had lower temps but was nearly melting!

 

It's not a failed design. "switching" graphics cards like you say is not a simple affair. Optimus is the only way to allow switching of GPUs without having to restart Windows. And the only thing that it prevents (for now) is some 3D stuff. And the VAST majority of people will be better served by the better mix of battery life and performance from Optimus than will be inconvenienced by the lack of 3D vision.

 

AMD can switch without restarting, the rebooting days are gone, unless you are an aw user

 

Indeed. AMD can switch using a MOSFET switch, and the output from the computer is coming straight from the active graphics card. AMD's implementation is the absolute best, it's just that I don't see it implemented that often...

 

The reason that you can't use 3d with optimus is because the although the nvidia card does have its own frame buffer, it can only output to the external ports (only HDMI at that afaik). For the internal display, when the nvidia GPU is used, it passes on to the intel IGP and displays through that frame buffer. The intel frame buffer isn't capable of that sort of bandwidth, hence no 3d.

You might be able to do the non 120Hz hack on it though so you would still only be sending 60Hz through the intel IGP. Bear in mind that it would look like 30Hz, though if you're watching films then that should be enough. It's only a theory though, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't work.