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

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

There kind of is. It's DirectX.

Macs are the only reason why OpenGL still exists. If it was just Windows, then DirectX would have easily taken full control.

 

Linux.

You're right, but that was kind of my point. I'm well aware that the majority of the PCs in the world support DirectX.

 

i'm pretty sure that's just because i'm using the demo version that i can't see that option. there are a number of people with the 6100 version and have DX10 preview enabled.

 

I just got my laptop...what are the updates that i need to perform....and how do i update my CCC ?

 

Go here start at Audio and work your way down installing any updates you need. When you install the AMD High-Definition Graphics Driver it will update CCC. Since you got a quick ship might not need updating.

 

that's excellent news. which folks (here? or another forum?)

 

OK...for anyone who wants to give it a try. I modded the latest AMD drivers for the Envy 17. They were written for the HD6850, and I made sure that all entries for switchable graphics and the HD6770M are there. I have a Pavillion dv7t being delivered next week and this will be the first thing I try, but if one of you wants to PM me, I will give you the link to download. I compressed with Winrar...just extract and run setup...the rest should take care of itself very nicely. Modded ATI / AMD drivers for a long time with my Dell and for my son's Pavillion I modded Nvidia until they just made mobility drivers available for all models.

Now...here is the CCC panel you get. The switchable graphics in the Envy are designed to run the AMD card while plugged in and the Intel card when on battery. One can even choose to selectively disable either card "all the time". All a matter of preference. As far as opengl...don't know if the Envy drivers would be any better...looks like the files were all the same.

Here is the CCC applet you get with these drivers for switchable graphics. I think some of you have seen it before


If this works for you there is also a way to upgrade to the latest Mobility Radeon 11.6 drivers and keep switchable graphics in tact...One other feature. I worked on battery for a few hours...and plugged the machine back in...a pop up asked me if I wanted to switch over to the discrete GPU...told it YES and it automatically switched back to AMD GPU.

PM for link if you want to give these a try.


----EDIT-----

OK, someone is willing to try them..teotuf is gonna let us know how it went. I merged the parts of the 6770 .ini and 6850 .ini so both chips were able to install. Drivers are slightly older than the Pavillion ones...and as you see...the CCC is from the Envy, with manual switching as well...

 

People said that this laptop would have problems with Adobe products (specifically photoshop), is this still so? If so can people elaborate the problems this laptop would have with photoshop

 

Let me ask a question. Would the opengl problem effect Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9? Those programs both come with the Envy and are fully operational...

 

I use LR3 and PSE9, so if the graphics issues affects those two apps I'm still looking at deal-breaker issues with the DV6, even if I can get FSX to work with DX10 on the Radeon.

 

The HD 3000 is very good integrated graphics. As long as you are not a professional who engages in 3D advanced graphics, I think you will find integrated more than enough for Photoshop + premier etc.

 

I was just about to buy the dv6tqe this past weekend and saw the reviews on HPs site, which then led me back to this thread Definitely concerned...my main reason for getting a new laptop was to use more capable hardware for video/photo editing (for events like CES). The dv6tqe w/ 1080p screen seemed like it hit a strong mix all around (2nd gen i7, 6770m, etc) for a good price ($1050~ after coupons). Definitely interested to see what HP does (if anything) or how the community gets around the limitations it sounds like it has by default...

 

@BobMitch, cant you just upload the driver?

 

strongly second this. unless you are doing some crazy radial blurs constantly, or doing 3D modeling, photoshop runs just FINE. I've had no problems with CS3, and if someone is using Elements, even less potential for problems. If all you are doing is non professional photoshop tasks, this is NOT a reason to avoid the dv6t, IMO

 

As soon as teotuf lets me know how it went...I will post the link...Promise! I don't have my Pavillion yet...only my Envy. Once I get confirmation that it is all good...you can all share in it...

 

doesn't work. the installer doesn't recognize the 6770m at all, and manually updating the inf files from the package keeps the dynamic switching scheme.

Spoiler

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What's odd about that...I removed ALL references of the 6850 and put in the entire 6570, 6670, and 6770. I will go through it again...Here is the .ini file modded...converted to text so you can read it. Wish I had the Pavillion already delivered to see what is happening. Odd that the switchable graphics screen would appear....must be a setting...will do a line by line comparison to see...didn't see it the first time. Not sure why the card not recognized...

Back to the drawing board...

 

Bobmitch, I've been (and still am) speaking with Alex Deucher, AMD's open source developer.

Manual switching, for lack of a better term, is already partially present in the vanilla Catalyst drivers. How complete this support is and whether this applies only to fglrx, I'm still not sure.

 

What I focused on with the mod was to make sure that the drivers would recognize the 6770 AND install the Envy CCC. What could possibly possess HP to have two separate systems for both machines? I agree with all of you...and If I can get the Envy setup on your machines...it makes life so easy. You can even disable one card in favor of the other, whether on power or battery. I am going to have to take it line by line...takes a long time making sure all is right.

 

It's not a healthy ecosystem when you design laptops around a proprietary OS technology.

Say what you will regarding OpenGL being less cutting edge with features, but there's no reason to play favorites at the hardware level.

 

Are you sure these modifications actually do anything and aren't just useless buttons that bring up popups that say the card is active. Intel cannot be disabled.

I'd like to see hwinfo screens of before and after these switches are said to happen.

I don't doubt you, but if you've worked it out, congrats.

 

No. With the Envy...When on power...the main gpu is the AMD. If I have the battery in and pull the psu from the machine...pops up and asks to activate the "power saving" gpu. Say yes and then check which card is active and you get Intel. Do the reverse and same happens. Remember...I have the Envy 17 3D...the other tell tale sign is that the AMD refreshes at 120 HZ vs the Intel at 60 Hz. Mind you that these drivers are also for the NON 3D Envy, so the 60HZ refresh rate is there. The refresh rates are two fold. If on the AMD...you get 120 HZ because the monitor does 120. If the monitor does 60...you get 60. I can also tell because AMD does DX11, where Intel is only DX10. Hwinfo32 always shows Intel as gpu0 and AMD gpu1. I can also manually change cards and see the setup change....card changes and refresh changes. By default the drivers should recognize that your monitor does 60HZ and set that. There is something "different" in the installation of the CCC...it can't be hardware.

 

As far as I know, the Envy 17 2xxx series has a mux because the card is so powerful. High-end muxless graphics wasn't even possible until Nvidia figured out how to do it with 460M and the newer 560M/570M/580M. Even then, muxless is not the default implementation. I doubt AMD has replicated this work yet.

All muxless HP laptops explicitly say "BACO" in their quick-ship PDF spec sheet. I can deduce from the 6630M in the new 14 that it will have BACON.

 

Here's something interesting...

Vostro 3450 driver

Version: 8.840.7.3000

 

I can't do movies of the switching...but I did a sequence of photos that will show certain numbers. Mind you, even 3DMark 11, which will NOT function with the Intel graphics, recognizes the AMD 6850 as Intel. Here is the picture sequence

1. AMD GPU in 2D...notice the low clocks
2. AMD GPU in 3D...clocks much higher...energy saver, even with Nvidia
3. Intel GPU in 2D
4. Intel GPU in 3D
5. Manually switch to Intel

 

6. Manually switch back to AMD 6850
7. Intel graphics and 3DMark 11
8. AMD GPU and 3DMark 11


I can switch back and forth at will. I can disable one or the other GPU. There are telltale signs when one GPU is on and the other is off. In particular, my Envy is a lot warmer with AMD. I just don't understand why HP wasn't able to implement both ways...but maybe muxless is a part answer. Also...ran 3Dmark11 with the AMD...look at the card detected! I really believe that it is because the Intel is integrated into the CPU. Perhaps one day....bios writers will be able to do the same with switchable graphics as they do when they allow you to disable onboard sound for a sound card

 

isn't that like the dv6t 6000 version that has the mux?

 

Strange. I was going to say that your machine was muxed but looking at your 3DMark results it seems that it's reporting your Intel HD - telltale sign that a muxless setup is there i.e. intel always on so 3DMark mistaking the iGPU as the one it's benching.

 

Are these switchable graphic drivers? I assume the interest here is the opengl fixes for the Intel card? Anyway we can mod these drivers to use on our DV6s

 

No clue about the fixes, but they're the most recently versioned drivers I could find that are intended for dynamic switchable graphics.

 

Still quite out of date. The latest CATs are 8.871.

 

The latest WHQL is 11.6 which is 8.86 (8.85 OEM) which came out like a couple of weeks after 11.5.

The dell driver that LLstarks posted is 11.5 (WHQL/OEM 8.84). So it is not that much out of date anyways.

 

it being out of date probably doesn't matter much if all the necessary switching bits are present

all that should be needed is an inf mod for the 6750m/6770m that doesn't do anything to destructive to the rest of the driver

 

Anyone game for a go at the .inf? I would do it but am not as technically minded as some of you

Btw the driver is for the Vostro model that has the AMD 6630 in it. I should imagine the drivers work for us too when modded.

 

Yeah, with all the points - I think I "get it" now. I just remember a time, not so long ago, when serious gaming wasn't an idea conceived for the mobile profile. Izzy just needs to catch up on the times. Notebooks were for the working class nobody and gaming rigs were mucho-expensive, monster-like constructs with pretty lights and PSU's that could power a small town.

Used to have one. Man was she pretty. I think my wife was jealous.

 

Quick question, is this laptop worth getting ? Or not ?

I'm looking to spend around 800$ before tax. With the 30% off coupon I can fully load it for around 750$ Or is there something else that is better and for around that price ?

 

If you are an avid Minecraft player, probably not.

For anyone else it should be a good purchase. It's about as good as you can get spec-wise for the price.

 

When a fix is found to enable manual switching, will the fix be applicable to all the graphics cards or only selective ones like the 6770?

 

Well just got out of a chat session with HP about sending my laptop back for a refund. My 6770M is broken..not related to the switching issue but I mentioned it to him and this is what I got:

Agent (Shayne T.): "This is just an isolated case, Jameson."
Agent (Shayne T.): "HP has already assess this issue,"
Agent (Shayne T.): "But since, you have encountered this concern, we can actually process an exchange for your notebook PC."
Jameson D*****: "I want to return it for a refund please."
Agent (Shayne T.): "We do ensure that HP uses product qualification and certification to ensure that our standards and customer expectations are met."
Agent (Shayne T.): "All specifications are built to HP standards and conform to standards across the industry."

Doesn't look like HP is going to do a d@mn thing about it. Hopefully AMD will.

 

Just called to cancel the dv7t Quad Edition I had ordered 3 days ago.

I told the rep that I had read about the Open GL / Graphics Card issue and that it was the sole reason I wanted to cancel the order. The rep indicated that they would put in a cancelation request but could not promise that the factory would be able to cancel the order. If the cancelation fails then my $ is tied up for several weeks preventing me from getting somethng else. Grrr

A week ago rotten thieves broke into my house and stole my HP DV9700 so I am stuck on an Acer Web Book until I get something else. Ugh, I was so excited about getting the dv7t. That is until I read this thread.

I want to thank the community for preventing my future disappointment.

Well, good luck to everyone that is sticking it out. Hope a fix comes soon.

 

Are you a hardcore Minecraft player or something?

 

I wouldn't have cancelled until you got it in your hands to play with. I ordered one and I use OpenGL for Adobe, CAD, and 3d software but I also game. Im hoping they fix it ASAP but even then I think I will be fine.

 

So can someone tell me what OpenGL is used for? Becuz I havn't had any problems gaming with my dv6t, and switching the graphics was easy as well.

 

It's been explained over and over again, but the answer is that OpenGL is rarely used as the sole renderer for Windows games anymore. D3D is king for the Windows platform, so you won't generally run into issues playing newer games.

 

*wishes people would read the FAQ because it's even stickied in this forum"

TLDR: If you play modern games you will be fine. If you use 3d graphical applications, you will not be fine.

 

im still not aware of the full extent of the problem here. i mean it really can't be that bad if they're not even addressing the problem right? sorry im not very tech savvy. I've also just purchased a dv6t quad core so should I just return it?

 

What do you do with your computer? Any specific graphical programs? Then we can figure out whether it will affect you or not.

 

Honestly, for the incredible majority of users, it's a complete non-issue. Full-blown Adobe CS suite (not Photoshop Elements or Lightroom, we're talking the multi-$100 pre-level Photoshop CS and family), or older OpenGL based games are pretty much the sticking point. Don't use those? Then your laptop has no issue.

Like jiggawhat said, what do you do on your laptop?