NVidia Optimus on ZBook 15 G2 with QHD+-Display / Windows 8.1

I recently changed the OS of my ZBook 15 G2 with QHD+-Display from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1.
Now I'm only able to use the dedicated NVidia graphics card, the integrated Intel graphics even isn't shown in the device manager. I'm also not able to install the Intel graphics drivers, the installation cancels with the error message that my system doesn't meet the minimum system requirements.
Does anybody know if NVidia Optimus is generally not available on ZBook 15 G2-models with QHD+-display, similar to the Dell Precision m4800? Unfortunately, I didn't bother to look if it was activated and usable under Windows 7.

 

There is a bios option to enable and disable optimus on the Zbook 15 and 17 if your machine supports it. It is in the third tab, under "Device options" or something similar. It is the same menu that lets you change between AHCI/RAID SATA modes and enable virtualization and hyperthreading support. If the option is missing, it probably isn't support on your machine, which is unfortunate... if you do find it there, it should be ok to switch it to enabled without having to reinstall again, but you may need to install both the Intel and Nvidia drivers again. Hope this helps!

 

This option is definitely missing as I already suspected. There is a gap at the place in the BIOS-menu where it should be. That's bad news... because it is the second major drawback of the QHD+-display. The first is that you cannot upgrade the models featuring a QHD+-display with a WWAN-card because they are not equipped with the necessary antennas. Reportedly, there is not enough space for the antennas in the frame.

 

Interesting, those are the same limitations as the Dreamcolor ZB15.

 

That is very disappointing. There is really no reason why it shouldn't be supported. This revision did away with the funky 10-bit LDVS connector that the Dreamcolor panel needed. It should be using 4-channel eDP for all display options now.

Just to confirm, is this the option that is missing from your bios? I took a screenshot of mine to be sure.

 

Yes. The complete section between "Intel HT Technology" and "Smart card reader power setting" just isn't available.

I've already contacted HP (Germany) for further information. But I fear the only info I get will be that Optimus isn't supported with QHD+-panels. That's very disappointing.

 

I can confirm that switchable graphics and QHD+ screen is not compatible for what ever reason. So my laptop will go back to HP because the battery life is horrible and will re-order with lower resolution screen. I honestly do not see one reason(I am a senior development engineer focusing most of my work on video/image processing work using FPGA's) and use similar technology in our products (Haswell CPU + nvidia GPU). As somebody mentioned all screens are eDP and as such no need to convert eDP to LVDS as Dell did with their M4800 implementation. In dell's case they could not use the eDP port from the Haswell chip to drive the panel and had to connect it directly to the eDP port on the nvidia card.
This is the latest response from HPwhich does not explain at all why it does not work and the hints of the reason do not make sense because the available bandwidth is there to support this setup => connect panel to eDP and use nvidia gpu when needed through the PCIe pipe. Dell does it with their M3800 product so do not see any reason for this.

So this is what they sent me:
"Morning Wim,

I hope your vacation is going well. Just providing some feedback on your question. Engineering received feedback from R&D that AMD and NVidia’s graphics designs and particulars are under IP, so they could not share much with me. Basically the ghist is Hybrid graphics is not supported with the QHD+ displays is due to limitations of Intel supporting it with the current hardware. This is not to say that the issue is specifically with Intel, NVidia or HP, per se, it may just be (in my opinion) a limitation in how the current generation of hardware components work together.

Just to close the last loops, I’m following up with HP internal groups to make sure our external documentation is clearer so that it’s clearer for readers to understand Hybrid mode is not an option with the QHD+ models. Have a great Christmas!"