dv6t-61XX / dv7t-61XX Switchable Graphics Discussion

See what I wrote here.

 

Who's time exactly has he wasted? The majority of the guys that tried his install method are the same guys hes working with to try to find a solution.

If you weren't so impatient and child-like you wouldve waited before you ordered your nth DV6. Please do not post in this thread again unless you have something constructive to say. Noone in this thread cares about consumer reviews on the costco website...everyone here knows the problems...dont need you to rehash them like a parrot.

Perhaps next time a poster asks whether they should buy the DV6 you should give them the full story as in what works and what doesnt rather then going "oh none of it works! its useless!".

 

Just thought I'd repost this thread on the HP website that someone posted on page 43. Go make an account and give HP hell!

Thread

 

These are the type of people who would complain about winning the powerball. *itches...

 

I'm not entirely sure this is true. I had HWMonitor open while I played in 1920x1080 resolution on full settings in Sauerbraten. It's not the most intensive game, but I don't think the HD graphics could even touch the full settings without dying. I was getting smooth framerates, so I think the ATI was on (Plus, the fans kicked in rather loudly).

HWMonitor didn't display any temps for the HD graphics.

Edit: I was only getting 10-25 fps. It felt smooth for being that low. Oops. Could be the HD graphics, after all.

2nd Edit: Turns out Sauerbraten is based on OpenGL. So the ATI card probably isn't running. Impressive, HD graphics. Impressive.

 

I'm not sure how it works with teh dynamic switching but if you're in windows and no 3d apps are running (in intel graphics mode) then HWMonitor probably won't show the radeon card's temperature. However if you run something that does turn on the discrete graphics and then start HWMonitor you'll be able to see the temps for it. If at any point the graphics switches back to intel, then the readings from the radeon graphics will no longer change on HWMonitor.

 

UGGHHH. I don't know why, but for some reason, when i right click on desktop now, the button to swtich graphics is totally gone. I have to go to CCC from the startup menu to be able to switch graphics. Anyone knows how to get back the shortcut when you right click on desktop? please help. thanks!

 

Not to be un-constructive here, but I somewhat agree with dave's point. Shorty did declare a "solution" that supposedly enabled the manual switching, then changed the subject to finding the solution. It would be great if Shorty can clear up any confusion that caught me, dave, and others, and give any apologies/confessions where they are due.

That said, though, I'm 100% with the way things are progressing now. Thank you Shorty, and good luck to all who are putting their efforts on this wonderful project!

 

I've got two Dv6tqe ordered.

Has anyone tried RivaTuner and its hardware monitoring to look at the sensors?

 

yeah, i have tried it with no luck. it doesn't recognize ati driver, but CPUID HWMonitor works great for me.

 

Damn, I have the exact same driver strong name but no manual switching... how about your Intel's driver node strong name? The key might lie in there...

It appears that our 6770ms share the same subsystem and are indeed the exact same hardware. So at these point that can only mean a few things: The check for manual switching graphics is deeper than the registry (vbios(likely)/bios(unlikely) perhaps), the Intel HD Graphics loads a different section of the inf (That would mean it has a different subsys from the AMD 6770m, mine has the same subsys...) or the installer detects the vbios and flags the CCC to show either the manual or dynamic switchable graphics (can be changed via registry editing but might be hard to find the key controlling this).

I have a feeling that it may truely be the vbios and it would otherwise be impossible to reconfigure without an update from HP.

 

dude, i know im really late. I have a dv6t 6100 and i had this for a day (june 15 or 16)after a windows update. I was able to switch my gpu's however i wanted. It is gone now, I tried restoring and it did not work.

 

Interesting... if this is true you are the second person who has something like that happen to them. If you used windows update then CCC was not updated. In other words you would have been using the 8.830.6.1000 version of CCC with the 8.830.6.2000 version of the drivers (this is the version if i use windows update to retrieve them). I'm trying to install the optional download from windows update as well to see if it works (although i doubt it, occurrence seems random at best), somehow i think it'll just be the 8.830.6.2000 version of the drivers, which is what the latest hp drivers are...

Do you remember if the Switchable Graphics Method page was available to you as well?

UPDATE: been having unknown failures when installing via windows update, could be because i already have hacked up drivers installed. I'll revert to the default 8.830.6.1000 from hp and try the update once more.

UPDATE2: Okay, I've succeeded in using windows update, but the switchable graphics page is still the same. So much for that. :\

UPDATE3: I'm now gonna wipe to the minimized factory install and immediately do a windows update for the ati drivers, see if it yields anything.

 

From the official AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics Page ( http://www.amd.com/us/products/tech...hics/Pages/dynamic-switchable-graphics.aspx):

With AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics technology, full enablement of all discrete graphics video and display features may not be supported on all systems (e.g. OpenGL applications will run on the integrated GPU or the APU as the case may be). Always check with your system manufacturer for specific mode capabilities and supported technologies.

Sigh. AMD, WHY?! This, in my opinion, is a huge advantage nvidia's optimus technology has over AMD's switchable graphics, I'm surprised they'd even release a product in this state.. and with no option to manually change GPUs? damn, it's like they are intentionally digging their own grave.

 

Nvidia pulled the same crap with Optimus. I've got an Asus UL80VT and the most recent working official driver is from 2009. Both Asus and Nvidia dropped the ball on that. There are lots of other Optimus systems with the same issue, no support.

 

Wow.. damn. This is really unethical. Don't they have QA departments? There should be a certification organization set up for assuring consumers they get what they pay for, so that these damn OEMs and manufacturers take greater responsibility.

Anyway from what I read optimus at least works with opengl right? AMD's per application settings simply do not do anything despite assigning "High Performance" to OpenGL applications. Seems like the optimus set up was able to switch to the dGPU with a little help: http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/1017139-minecraft-only-using-igp-urgent.html. This is not the case with AMD's version of optimus (dynamic switchable graphics aka bacon aka powerxpress 4.0). :\

 

I have a suggestion on Brainsay's thought about the video bios.

GPU-Z will tell you your vbios version and even let you download it. If the hardware IDs are the same then the vbios may be the only thing different.

Can someone with a 6000 series post the vbios info on the Intel HD and the 6770m? (If I recall properly though, I dont think it shows anything for the Intel but I might be wrong)

Likewise, someone with a 6100 post the information about vbios version for their cards?

 

Please answer:

 

Ill try this when I get back to my notebook. I have a HP dv6 6105tx specifically.

Ifcee, create a system image if you are afraid you'll lose the ability to manually switch. It'll back up all files on your system. Google if you're not sure how

 

Not as far as I know because its looking more and more likely an option set by the video bios rather than the driver/ccc package.

 

Sorry, link comes up as a "bad request"

 

When you click the link there is a carried over ): at the end of it, not sure why. Scroll to the end of the link and delete that, then it works.

The functioning link is:

AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics Technology

 

Here are the screenshots from GPU-z on my system:

Intel HD Graphics:


Radeon HD 6770m:


Strangely enough there is no bios version on the radeon. Are other people getting this too? I can't save bios either.

 

Are you able to save the video bios with RBE?

RBE - Radeon BIOS editor

 

Nope it doesn't work. Neither winflash or atiflash was able to extract the bios.. The video card wasn't detected..

 

Ray Adams 'ATI Tray Tools' should be able to identify the BIOS but I bet it will not be able to dump it.

ATI Tray Tools

I won't know until I get the first dv6tqe in my hands.

 

That's why I never purchase the first generation of a new technology that deviates from traditional design.
Something bound is going to screw up and the support is definitely going to be limited.
But I appreciate those who did, their experiences improved the next generation significantly.

 

I wasn't aware the notebook I purchased contained the new dynamic switchable graphics.. I was at a local pc show when i bought it and the model on display was the 6000 series, which had working manual switching graphics. The salesman assured me that it was the same just a different product number.

And for that reason the store that booth was from has agreed to replace my notebook with a 6000 series one.. I'm just not sure I wanna change it without first verifying that the 6100 is not capable of somehow enabling it (muxless stuff sounds pretty cool).

Cool I'll try this later on and post the results.

 

This thread is making me freekin' paranoid. I'm getting close to the 21 days for returning this and getting my money back. This was going to be a desktop replacement for me and it seems to be a pretty damn solid computer for that. I pretty much just play a few games. For RIFT, the FPS is really no better than my 550be and 8800gts(320) hooked up to my 1080p monitor. I guess it's the raedon vs nvidia issues for that.

WOW actuallly runs better on the dv6 for me. That said, older games/emulators/indie games such as Minecraft pretty much won't run all that well on the DV6 due to opengl issues?

Also, I read earlier that all the adobe CS stuff dosen't use the raedon card? FOR REAL? This sounds like a BAZOOKA to the foot in terms of drivers and anyone who wants batterylife with a decent discreet gpu.

Currently I really really like this computer. They keyboard is nice, all the specs are pretty damn nice, I like the screen and the battery life a LOT. It would be perfect with the manual switch option as everyone else has said.

Anyone think the openGL thing will be rectified? I bought this because of the manual switching and for the most part it is fine for me at the moment, but some games, photoshop and older/indie games, should I be worried?

Sorry for rambling

I have a couple of days before giving up on it and sending it back.

 

Well, thats true.

Originally, we thought the dv6/dv7 6000 would have the dynamic switching implemented. But was disappointed when it was released, then surprised us when it creep right back in a month later with the 6100.
Didn't expect it to fall way behind against Nvidia.

 

I've had a bad time with OEMs not updating drivers, and this notebook is of no use to me without OpenGL as I play indie games and develop games myself that are based heavily in OpenGL. My last notebook was a dell and they never updated the drivers past the first 2 releases. This was 5 years ago before ATI/Nvidia started supporting notebook graphic cards with drivers. If the current situation is that we have to depend on the OEM (hp) to provide the drivers and that their tech support is so clueless when we contact them chances are this product might just be "forgotten".

So unless we as the community can find some kind of solution I'm afraid that this machine might be one of those early prototypes that the business people over at HP just had to get on the shelf to make a few bucks off unfortunate people like us who got our hands on it during this time frame.

p.s. One of the reasons I considered this notebook was because AMD claims the 6770m support up to OpenGL 4.1, and that it was the best value at its price range. This is not true with HP's setup of the dynamic switchable graphics, as even the modified intel does not report that it has the same level of OpenGL support as the discrete GPU (since powerxpress runs opengl only on the iGPU anyway).

 

Next years AMD Fusion APU's (Bulldozer cores) can not come quick enough...

 

The grass is always greener I guess. The issue is if you can't get a lot of programs to work with the discreet gpu that SHOULD work. That is where the issues are happening. Honestly, reports from people with Photoshop and all the adobe stuff pretty much makes me want to just give up (openGL).

Am I too paranoid? does the discrete gpu really not run with photoshop?

 

I purchased a dV6t yesterday (at $518 off it was a financial steal). With all the specs it was a great deal.

My question is should I hurry up and call HP for a refund, or wait and see if mine is not suffering the same problem. Also, I've only gotten a dozen pages in (started at page one) has there been any sort of resolution to this problem? Any way to manually switch cards?

I use Photoshop for work and school along with video editing (Adobe Premier and Vegas) along with playing some newer games (Star Craft II, Fallout) and old school games as well.

Basically is my $75 graphics card going to be a useless piece of scrap metal and I should go ahead and clock out of HP and get my money back, or is there a chance this computer that looks like a beast of a machine on paper have a chance to work?

I will continue reading a researching on this matter but as of now I am running a old single-core desktop (my old laptop simply died) and in need of a powerful computer for work and education.

Also, I know that is affecting the ATI 5650 but is it also happening with the 6770M? As I read on a page awhile back that the 6770M would kick in as long as it was plugged in.

 

Mine works for everything Im running game wise. It just wont work in benchmarking tools but I dont care. I run fraps and I tried each game with the exe on high perf or power saving and it was night and day. So its working for me. I dont run photoshop so that sucks for you guys for sure. I would take it back within the time frame to do so and not bank on HP going out of their way to fix it.

 

That's the smartest thing anyone has said in a while. I always say: don't buy something based on promises--buy based on what a product can do the day you get it. You never know if shortcomings are going to be addressed.

Look at Apple. It took them two and a half YEARS to implement cut & paste, for gawd's sakes. And when I got my first Touch, wifi was a PITA for many months, until they came out with an update, but who knows--it might have continued to be a problem much longer than it was. That was a case where I elected NOT to return it, but to do the workaround, which was to turn WiFi ON/OFF/ON again, to get it to work. It wasn't a dealbreaker. The issue I just had with my DV6 was definitely a dealbreaker, as the Radeon didn't kick in for one of the main apps I wanted the laptop for. That makes the decision to send it back pretty darn easy.

 

At this point in time any software that utilizes OpenGL will not switch to the 6770. Hence any software product in Adobe Creative Suite will not use the 6770. HP's forums are getting hammered from upset customers so they are obviously aware of the issue. How long it takes them to fix it? That's the million dollar question. I get my dv7 next week so they have 2 1/2 weeks to fix it, if not, it's going back.

 

Thank you. I called them and they said they'd have my money back in my pocket in three days. So if you've ordered a customized dV6t from HP within a day you can get your full money back.

 

Good info. I'm willing to give them a little bit of time. In all honesty and pessimistically though I don't see them fixing it in my 21 day time frame. It's unfortunate because hardware wise these are great laptops for the money.

 

If it was solely a software problem, HP would have fixed it rather quick.
What makes me think it might be a hardware issue is that HP is offering a 33% coupon specifically for the sandy bridge dv6 quad edition. So soon after release it looks awfully suspicious.

I may be totally wrong on this tho. and I hope so because this deal is awesome ... unless of course it's discounting faulty units...

 

Yes, I was wondering why the 33% off, too.

check the discount I got a few days ago (but I cancelled).

 

Actually, HP always release a 33% off during the summer for the dv6, whether in coupon or in cashback , so to me, it's pretty normal.
Just this year is a bit weirder since now you got multiple naming scheme for the same dv6 than last year

 

In doing a lot of thinking about it since I placed my order on 6/12 this issue isn't a deal breaker for me. For someone who uses say Adobe products every day for work or something I can see how it would be. HP/AMD will get this fixed at some point (stop laughing people..lol). They can't pass the ball forever. You're still getting a heck of a lot of hardware for a very good price. I use Photoshop occasionally but other than that it won't impact me much.

 

AMD Game Forums - PowerXpress, OpenGL and AMD 6770m

More places for your venom

 

So someone wanna TLDR this for me?

From what i gather:

You used to be able to switch GPU manually.

AMD/HP/Whoever removed it, now it just does it on its own.

It wont switch to the 6770 for OpenGL apps = people angry.

Is that all? Has HP done anything yet? When you click configure switchable graphics, and select high performance wouldn't that make it use the 6770?

/noob

 

Has anyone tried the following?

Boot up your computer and boot up the application that you want to use with the 6770m. Alt-tab out and look at your process list and add every single process that is opened to high performance?

Just wondering...

 

Found this little tidbit of info (credit AMD forums)

AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics technology requires either an AMD “A” series APU or an Intel processor, plus an AMD Radeon™ discrete graphics configuration and is available on Windows® 7 Professional, Windows® 7 Ultimate, Windows® 7 Home Premium, and/or Windows® 7 Home Basic OS. Linux OS supports manual switching which requires restart of X-Server to switch between graphics solutions. With AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics technology, full enablement of all discrete graphics video and display features may not be supported on all systems (e.g. OpenGL applications will run on the integrated GPU or the APU as the case may be). Always check with your system manufacturer for specific mode capabilities and supported technologies.

 

Hello everyone. I'm thinking about buying a dv6tqe for college. I want to play new games like SCII, and upcoming shooters like MW3 and BF3. So, what I want to know is how good is the auto-graphics switching? Will it be able to tell the difference from SCII and Google Chrome (random example)?

 

SCII, BC2 and Black Ops all switch fine for me.

Google chrome uses the IGP, and other than the half second lag when it switches from deicated to integrated, it is unoticeable.

 

thats pretty funny.. of course it only mentions dynamic switching and doesnt rule out the possibility of having the option to do both dynamic and manual switching