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

    Discussion in 'HP' started by brnkcv, Jun 2, 2011.

  1. dave1812

    dave1812 Notebook Deity

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    Another issue with the HP is that you can't switch monitor orientation to PORTRAIT. HP verified that there is no portrait function on these models. THAT is crazy.
     
  2. jiggawhat

    jiggawhat Notebook Evangelist

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    Notebookcheck seems to indicate the 6850m is worse than the 6770m...

    Also I would need a coupon for the Envy because it's at 1400 and there are no discounts

    So octacon, the reason why you are going with the Dell is because of OpenGL?
     
  3. teotuf

    teotuf Notebook Evangelist

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    yeah i just downloaded the demo for FSX today - wanted to see what the big fuss was about considering how much you liked it/are pissed about it.

    dont get the game/sim at all - but it ran fine on my 6100 without any special tweaking. about 30fps on all ultra and 1920x1080. also when its running, the clocks are 725/800 according to afterburner. donno what problem you were having, but it definitely isn't a reproducible problem on the 6100 series, most likely a specific problem to the particular machine if even that.

    [​IMG]

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
     
  4. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    Nope my 6770M has an issue unrelated to the switching and I have a dent in the speaker grill. Dell did pay for the dent but it's ugly and since I have to send it back to get another one...just not going to bother getting a replacement.
     
  5. RoundSparrow

    RoundSparrow Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, I believe it was using the 6770M... but at 100Mhz and not 725Mhz.

    There are so many layers of power management it's insane. Radeon drivers trying to manage power, HP installs a Windows 7 power manager, and Windows 7 base. Anyway, I'm glad I got it working.

    I've yet to get working radeon on Linux, trying that still. ;)
     
  6. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah back on topic. Who's going to win the race...Linux dudes or AMD?..lol
     
  7. dave1812

    dave1812 Notebook Deity

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    well, if AMD "wins", we customers win.
     
  8. jordantoine

    jordantoine Newbie

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    what's a gpu monitor that will find its way to the ATI card instead of the intel one? i've tried a few and even changed their switchable graphics to high performance but no dice so far, so hopefully somebody can recommend me one that works for them

    all i really want from it is load% and temperature

    e: if it matters i have the 6770m
     
  9. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    The Llano laptops are a lost cause for at least a few more weeks. They won't even boot Linux with bleeding-edge software because the drivers are only half-finished or lack a bootable medium that contain all the requisite code.

    Given that, I'm going to focus my research on the Intel+Radeon machines, which do have the necessary drivers (at least on the Intel side of things) to permit testing and data collection.

    All I know for the dv6z/dv6t/dv7t is that manual switching and dGPU OpenGL will both be possible, if AMD's promises for Linux are to be believed.

    Whether that can be extrapolated into a solution for Windows users, I cannot say.
     
  10. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    As someone said, the amount of power profiles this and that is ridiculous on these things. No wonder the switching doesn't work...the 6770 looks around at 20 different power management things going on and just says F- it. All I wanted was a little graphical switch that said.. 6770M ON....6770M OFF. That's it...
     
  11. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    Hence why the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) tables are so valuable to demystifying the switching protocol.

    This is what we're dealing with: https://launchpadlibrarian.net/73853119/DSDT.dsl

    Particularly this entry point...
    Code:
                Device (PEGP)
                {
                    Name (_ADR, Zero)
                    Name (_PRW, Package (0x02)
                    {
                        0x09,
                        0x04
                    })
                }
     
  12. moonbase7

    moonbase7 Notebook Enthusiast

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    hey everyone

    Im a new member to this forum a general newbie when it comes to laptops, hope you guys dont mind helping out. I recently ordered and am still waiting for the delivery of the hp DV6t Quad Edition beats entertainment laptop and even while I was researching about possible laptops to purchase, Ive only just learned about the dynamic switching issue. So before I cancel my order, I'm hoping that you lot could help advice me on this issue..

    I'm in the 3d industry and while I realize that the radeon graphics card is more suitable for gaming, I only intend to use this laptop as my work companion i.e bringing work on the go + entertainment stuff as I have a much more suitable desktop for 3d work purposes.

    However, the dynamic switching issue concerns me. Can 3d programs such as 3dsmax or maya take advantage of the Radeon graphics card or will the laptop automatically choose/switch to the INTEL HD3000 card ?

    Any help would be much appreciated, cheers everyone
     
  13. acouden

    acouden Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've bee looking into this laptop (dv6tse) due to the hardware quality and the relatively low price, but after reading this thread and others like it I'm a little hesitant.

    Some sources I've read say this problem is specific to the hogher resolution display models is this true? The one I'm looking at has a lower display but I'd want the add on option of the graphics card, but if it doesnt kick in theres no point.

    Also, does anyone have any recent first hand experience regarding this issue?

    Lastly, if I were to buy this laptop and were unfortunate enough to get one with this issue is it a sure bet that this can be fixed with software updates?
     
  14. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    if amd's july 11.7 drivers don't support it natively, i imagine there's going to be a lot of rage
     
  15. moonbase7

    moonbase7 Notebook Enthusiast

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    any help would be appreciated guys...
     
  16. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    if you do any 3d work involving opengl, you're screwed, at least for now.

    you won't be able to use the gpu's power.
     
  17. dave1812

    dave1812 Notebook Deity

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    what driver are you referring to with such a number?
     
  18. moonbase7

    moonbase7 Notebook Enthusiast

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    thanks llstarks....damn thats what i was afraid of....crap...guess i should cancel my order...
     
  19. mk4gti

    mk4gti Notebook Enthusiast

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    here ya go
    Open Hardware Monitor - CPU Temperature, Fan Speed and Voltages in a Free Software Gadget
     
  20. Bizzbe

    Bizzbe Newbie

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    Does the 6490M also not work with OpenGL applications? Or is it just the 6770m?
     
  21. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    Assuming the dv7 with 6490M I spotted at Best Buy was a 61xx, I plan to find out within the next few days.

    There was no label for switchable graphics.
     
  22. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    UPDATED 8/2/2011

    THIS IS NOW AN OUTDATED POST. I'VE DELETED MOST OF THE INFO RELATING TO THE SWITCHING PROBLEMS.

    THE RELEASE OF THE NEW BIOS FOR THE DV6t/7t-61XX FROM HP TO ENABLE MANUAL SWITCHING HAS NOW SOLVED OUR ISSUES. WILL CLEAN UP THIS POST IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.


    =====================================================================================================


    I want to upgrade my 6770m to the latest Catalyst Mobility Drivers

    Official released: 11.7b hotfix - recommend to use as it substantially boosts performance - does not fix the switchable graphics issue though :( (6/27/2011) [email protected]

    Note: DO NOT install these drivers without having installed the HP supplied drivers first. The HP supplied drivers include the Intel IGP drivers, which the official driver packs from AMD don't include
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
  23. sfawzy

    sfawzy Notebook Enthusiast

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    The problem effects all notebooks with ATI/AMD muxless design graphics regardless of the the notebook brand or the graphics card model.
     
  24. sachiel

    sachiel Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe you can add some alternative laptops for people who needs OpenGL support. Unless anything with Nvidia GPU is the best alternative as of now.
     
  25. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

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    It will eventually be fixed. If you need discrete accelerated OpenGL rendering, you'll need to go with NVIDIA.
     
  26. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    Done. A small list added.
     
  27. jiggawhat

    jiggawhat Notebook Evangelist

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    You could also add Lenovo Ideapad y570 to the list (a reduced version of the 555m, intel quad)
     
  28. ghott

    ghott Notebook Guru

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    With the 33% off coupon code...it seemed as if though the price on a nice new DV6TQE was too good to be true. Reading over the recent threads and this consolidated thread on the switchable graphics problem seems to have confirmed my initial thought.

    Stinks...I really don't want to go for a Dell XPS with crappy GPU. Wish AMD would at least release a statement saying they will fix the issue...that would persuade me to purchase a laptop with an AMD graphics product inside and just wait patiently for a driver fix.

    I'd imagine the 1080p/60fps video editting I would be doing wouldn't work too swimmingly on the Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics :(
     
  29. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

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    Doesn't your editing program support DirectX?
     
  30. ghott

    ghott Notebook Guru

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    Adobe Premier seems to be on the list of OpenGL programs :confused:
     
  31. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    To be honest, I cant imagine AMD not fixing this. It's not just an HP issue...it's an industry-wide issue. If they decide not to fix it then I think they may have some class action lawsuits filed against them. In their eagerness to rush out "preview" technology they've cut corners, which is sad but happens all the time with technology.

    The question now is when...how quick can they fix this?
     
  32. jiggawhat

    jiggawhat Notebook Evangelist

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    Adobe Premiere might support directx, from what I read on adobe web site


    By the way I recommend changing

    to OpenGL programs that will use Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics

    especially since the HD 3000 is more than adequate for most photoshop and other 2d programs
     
  33. ghott

    ghott Notebook Guru

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    Thanks guys.

    Maybe I will reconsider my decision on the HP DV6TQE. It seems like such a great laptop for a great price.
     
  34. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    Done. Thanks for that.
     
  35. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    It is and Im sure it'll be fixed. Doesnt mean you cant fire a few angry emails at HP and AMD once you get your laptop though! I encourage you to :)
     
  36. RoundSparrow

    RoundSparrow Notebook Enthusiast

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    That's what's frustrating with Linux. A virgin Windows or Linux should have NO KNOWLEDGE of switchable graphics. If we remove the pre-load software that is doing that....

    But it's all so damn integrated that I can't even get drivers (on LInux) to load and use the basics of the 3D of the card.

    In simple terms: when connected to AC power, I want the option for easy Radeon-only. This should be painfully obvious to HP and AMD.
     
  37. brownm339

    brownm339 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Awesome thread man. I needed something like this seeing as I just got my comp and was confused as hell by the long thread. Thanks!
     
  38. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    Well, I got a chance use bumblebee on the my XPS with fedora.... works really well. Now if they can get the automatic load balancing :). Oh well, at least works very similarly as the windows variant without restarting x server.

    -------

    Well the simple AC graphic switch is decent but it have some problems, there are times it would lock you out of switching on either direction if unlucky. You can reduce the odds of hitting that problem of closing all the apps and then reload them after switching.
     
  39. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    Another inexpensive option to consider if people need a more powerful card for OpenGL doing the work is the Lenovo Y560p:

    Not the best laptop in the world, but it'll do in a pinch, roughly equivalent to an uncustomized dv6tqe:
    FRYS.com|LENOVO
    $679

    Has an ATI 6570 card, does not use the Intel IGP at all. Also has the i7 2630qm
     
  40. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    The XPS comes with the Nvidia GT 555M which performance wise is almost identical to the 6770M. The 6770M is slightly better at gaming while the 555m is better with programs. My DV7T is going back for an unrelated 6770M issue and I ordered an XPS to replace it. With $520 in coupons it came to $70 more than what I paid for the DV7T.
     
  41. jiggawhat

    jiggawhat Notebook Evangelist

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    Now this thing needs a sticky so people will see it -_-
     
  42. gundam83

    gundam83 Notebook Enthusiast

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    well that's a relief to see adobe cs programs will run on integrated
     
  43. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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    AMD has promised, at the risk of false advertising, that both discrete GPI OpenGL and manual switching will work on Linux.

    For more than a week, I've been trying to figure out why they won't apply this to Windows.
     
  44. jordantoine

    jordantoine Newbie

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  45. acouden

    acouden Notebook Enthusiast

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    is this problem isolated to the 6770M, or would you run into the same problem with the 6490M?

    Sorry if you answered this question above, I'm kind of naive when it comes to computers, so I'm not totaly grasping this, I just don't want to purchase a computer that doesn't do all its supposed to.

    AC
     
  46. jiggawhat

    jiggawhat Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm fairly sure you get the same problem with the 6490m, there's no reason why it would work for the 6490m and not the 6770m
     
  47. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    If what bsoft says is correct about muxless design (and to me it seems logical) then on the muxless cards it will be difficult to find a way to switch manually. For muxed cards I'd say yes...and youre looking at the 6xxx series in this case...not the 61xx.

    I have however edited out bsoft's comments about Linux support as I think it's not clear at all at this stage whether manual switching will work or not.
     
  48. Pooman

    Pooman Notebook Enthusiast

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    Have you tried right clicking and running the openGL program by changing the compatibility mode...Which program are you having issues with??
     
  49. LLStarks

    LLStarks Notebook Evangelist

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  50. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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