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

I believe shorty too. It happens. CCC is very annoying and buggy on this machine. For e.g., if i try and upgrade my CCC from stock it will always just not load up on next boot. Ive spent hours messing around with it...things like my software and hardware versions arent displayed in the information tab...all little annoyances yet the SG works. So I do believe functionalities do suddenly disappear perhaps because they were not implemented properly.

In fact, Shorty's screenshots corroborate with the leaked SG PPT presentation from AMD that one of the other forum guys posted in another thread. It's the Joliet 1.0 manual switch/dynamic switch choice implementation. So it's definitely in the software...it's a case of finding a way to enable it on our laptops. CHECK HERE - > http://wenku.baidu.com/view/41fc54dd5022aaea998f0f48.html Slide 16

Dave,

"when I saw that, I thought he truly had an updated driver for the 6100 that solved my problem. bogus."

It's OUR problem...not just YOURS.

You are the most depressing guy on these forums. You dont really contribute to the conversation other than to talk endlessly about how many HP laptops youve returned. If youre not satisfied with HP and the state of SG why dont you stop ordering (and cancelling) and just move on? I think everyone here genuinely wants a fix to this problem whether it be HP or someone else that finds this solution. All this talk is good as people are interested to find solutions. All you do is say "oh it wont work", "oh this guy is lying" or, "oh did I tell you I had to return 6 (or however many - ive lost count the amount of times you raise this issue in your posts) laptops to them!". Someone reasonable wouldve just stopped ordering by perhaps the second one.

You even went as far as to request he be banned!?!? Why would someone post detailed info, spend that time doing it, for no good reason? I know some people must be seriously bored and troll forums but this is a very specific issue and not really trolling material.

In the same way you say shorty is one of those guys that post misinformation on forums for notoriety (with no proof your end - you cant attest to his experiences - do you live with him?), you are one of those guys that consistently screams negetivity and that things cant be done and how short changed you are by HP. Theres lots of these "no, cant do" people in this world - I work with a few and it's infuriating!

As a fan of starcraft (WHICH WORKS ON THE DV6, WHAT A WONDER!), I'd like to say this to you, which we say to players crying about stuff in SC:

"PLEASE DAVE, LESS QQ AND MORE PEW PEW, OK?"

And as Im sure youve heard before and almost a cliche from parents around the world (of which I am one):

"IF YOU HAVE NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY THEN DONT SAY IT AT ALL!"

 

got all excited for the starcraft quote and it was a world of warcraft quote >.<

heh but the point was made anyway. dave, the world isn't against you. you remind me of my father who thinks playing games over xbox live will give his computer viruses. he also thinks the faster the computer the more bandwidth it can suck up, etc. sigh...no. this software is buggy

 

Haha sorry - I guess it is WoW but used extensively in SC2. You should visit the SC2 forums...lots of Daves there

 

oh god I'm a complete starcraft 2 enthusiast, you have no idea..master league in every division, constantly watching streams and tournaments, i worship idra, and i have the poster with jim raynor sitting above my dresser. I even got this laptop because 6770m in the dv7tqe runs starcraft 2 quite a bit better than the xps 17's 555m

im getting off topic here lol sorry

 

Well this looks pretty promising, I doubt it is some elaborate hoax to trick up dvX owners lol, I think it will be implemented in the next couple months officially.

 

I looked as well. There are some interesting Radeon settings in the registry, but nothing that would lead me back directly to the dynamic/manual switching. It could also be a registry entry that needs to be added rather than a simple switch from "0" to "1" or vice versa. I also think that it's only a matter of time before we see it, and I have no qualms about waiting. My DV7T has been problem free despite my playing with drivers and settings. Having done more custom builds than I can count, I know what goes into getting all of the hardware and software to cooperate, and it's seldom an easy task. HP may be the easy target, but I'm guessing that AMD/ATI is also at least partially to blame. Getting the functionality of both types of switching to work at the flip of a switch may be proving more problematic then anticipated. If it were glitch free at this point, why haven't we seen a single other manufacturer implementing it on their Intel HD/6XXXm laptops? I just hope HP continues to pursue it, because it would make an already good system even better!

 

Wow...

Please do the following IF you have the abillity to do so:

1) if you find ANYTHING interesting code wise, post up a line of code and where you found it. Be specific so others can retrace your steps.

2) I agree that it is a drivers or settings issue that HP is still trying to resolve. if they know they are not selling laptops because of graphics issues they will eventually solve it in updates. The question is when and how long or if the new season of updated laptops is out already.

3) you are responsible for your own actions! The smartest thing said here is "I will wait for HP to get drivers ready, which should be in the next few releases." If you do not know xml,vb, c, assembly ect, I might suggest leaving it to people who do.

4) Lets move these posts to being more methodical and effective. Here I will start...

__________________
Following up on others posts I started to do some Digging trying to find these CCC options in the installation files. I have been unsuccessful as of yet, but I did do some more searching after reading that intel graphics drivers are also in the SP53025 install. I came across some settings located in these files:

C:/swsetup/sp53025/packages/apps/intelmedia/winw764a/mup.xml

-This file is designed for windows vista and 7 it allows you to turn off update options on a specific driver (8.15.10.2342) it might be usefull to modify and allow different options during installation.

C:/swsetup/sp53025/packages/drivers/display/w7_inf/B117078/ atiogl

-This file has some binary settings for different programs associated with it and the open gl requirements. This might be a very usefull file for those having open GL issues on specific programs. I have no idea what each bit means though.

C:/swsetup/sp53025/packages/drivers/display/w7_inf/cw117442.inf

- Score! This file is the installation inf file fore the ATI display driver. going through it you will see multiple options for the 6770M card point to the ATI2mag_Vancouver_PXAI as the settins requirements and multiple sup assemblies. Anyone know what these subassembles mean for the 6000 series and 6100 series? Looking forward down you come up with the values loaded for these configureations including a registery tag named ATI2Mag_mulituvd_Softwaredevicesettings

I did some more digging. HP released the same drivers for the 6000x series and the 6100x series graphics cards for both the ati and intel units. Does anyone know if the intel graphics cards or ati cards are different between the two units? If so this info is needed.

There is more here, but I really need to look at the file in something else other than notepad. Too much to follow and catch whats going on without digging some more and more knowledge of what is different between the two versions.

 

ow boy! found some interesting settings for voltage and clock speed adjustments... hmmmm

And tv tuner settings, and memory and cpus used, and and and! lots of trouble I bet

Side note: That presentation slide 14 shows ati never ment for the power xpress 4.0 switching to use the DGPU for open gl or any "unknown 3d app". Does seam odd, does ati have a hard time with open gl code? Looks like a managerial reasoning in ATI to eliminate customer issues. This presentation leads me to believe that buying this laptop for major use of the graphics card with open gl software may not be desired. Now on the other hand I think manual controls and switching graphics cards is reasonable to try and include all of those "uknown 3d app".. If we can get a good team of engineers together we might be able to modify the drivers to include open gl support on the ati, but that may be a long stride to take.

 

Here is a quote from someone on the HP site, who purchased a unit at Costco: "I just wanted to let everyone who is using the dv7-6143cl purchased from Costco for $874.99 I am having the same issue as everyone else in this forum: a major problem with switchable graphics. I upgraded the BIOS, upgraded the video card to the latest drivers, upgraded ATI Catalyst Center to the latest version, placed the app I wanted to run on the discreet graphics to High Performance (in Catalyst Center), and no luck.



By the way, I am trying to run X-Plane v9 but Intel HD Graphics is the graphics it is using.



I will be returning this computer to Costco. I am not going to even bother calling support since I do not have the time to talk on the phone with an agent who will not give me a satisfactory resolution.
"

 

wow, looks like we may be on to something here! nice work shortysclimbin! I'm unfamiliar with inf file structure though.. will have to mess around with it for a while before I'll get any results. I am experienced with C, C++ and C# (which is what CCC is programmed in) I'll post if I find anything on that end.

Anyway, talked to the staff at the store I bought the notebook from, earlier today. They are willing to exchange it for a 6000 series with the same specs to solve my opengl issues. But i'd rather keep this new muxless stuff if we find some way to enable the switchable graphics method page, it is the future of amd technology after all

 

Bransay,

an inf file is just an information file used to store settings data that the C, vB, java ect code searches to access values to given tag names. Since most manifactures combine drivers into packages to cover many models of like hardware configurations and features they write the inf file to switch on or off options dependant on this.. sometimes things are switched off because "you didn't pay for that." and it is very easy to go in and turn it on since you already have the hardware and paid for the base software. These features also allow hp and other assemblers (yes they just buy package pieces and put them together with thier design) shut off options or cut the nuts off of systems to have more longevity in thier systems or to make them more stable in ALL conditions.

 

Can someone explain why the DV6T-6000 cannot do the dynamic switching vs the 6100? I actually hate getting prompted to do the switchng.

 

erm actually i think the inf file is parsed and used to configure the sys driver files.. yea and since its stored in the windows folder after the driver is installed it may be read by the drivers as well.. but i always thought it was only used to install the drivers :\ not too sure how windows uses it. err what does vBulletin have anything to do with driver files? lol

 

LOL Visual Basic and I think you may be right. I have played with a few settings now and am reloading... I still have yet to be able to determine why the models are different with the same code.

Deus- You vary well may be able to have the option. It can be looked into, we will need some files from you at some point to figure it and our issue out though... I may also be able to enable other features too. time will tell. it may just be a waste.

 

Here is a quote from someone on the HP site, who purchased a unit at Costco: "I just wanted to let everyone who is using the dv7-6143cl purchased from Costco for $874.99 I am having the same issue as everyone else in this forum: a major problem with switchable graphics. I upgraded the BIOS, upgraded the video card to the latest drivers, upgraded ATI Catalyst Center to the latest version, placed the app I wanted to run on the discreet graphics to High Performance (in Catalyst Center), and no luck.

By the way, I am trying to run X-Plane v9 but Intel HD Graphics is the graphics it is using.

I will be returning this computer to Costco. I am not going to even bother calling support since I do not have the time to talk on the phone with an agent who will not give me a satisfactory resolution."

I was actually seriously considering purchasing that same laptop from Costco (it is a great deal), but now you guys have me scared. Should I go ahead and take the plunge hoping that HP/AMD/ATI will get this figured out, or just wait? One nice thing about buying from Costco is they have a 90 day return policy, so if this issue isn't solved by then, I can just return it.

By the way, does anyone know if the Costco laptop has the full HD screen?

How is it possible that HP could even ship a laptop with a problem like this? You would think they would have seen this issue during final development and quality testing.

Thanks all

 

That's what I asked HP.

 

HP is going to get this figured out or they will have a sh*t storm on their hands. I'd buy it and like you said...you have 90days. I'm not a gamer so the issue doesn't really effect me all that much. I bought it more for video and photo editing.

 

It actually affects you much more directly. Most editing applications use OpenGL. I just installed Adobe CS5.5, and confirmed that I can't get it to work with the Radeon, even when apps are set to High Performance. This might be the last straw for me, as I bought this computer mainly as a mobile workstation.

I will stick it out for another week or so though, and will only return when my 21 days are closer to running out. I hope we can get this fixed, or at least get HP to release a fix.

 

Might have just found something very useful..

Apparently there are 2 powerxpress configurations in the inf file. The one you get depends on the device id of your 6770m card. Here are the 2 sections in the inf. I wonder whether installing a modified inf will cause the switchable graphics to go manual on the 6100 series..

[ati2mtag_Vancouver_PRAI]
FeatureScore=E6
CopyFiles=R300.Miniport, R300.Display, R300.DXX, R300.OGL
CopyFiles=R300.Mppxy
CopyFiles=r300.CFNext
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXPassthrough
AddReg = ati2mtag_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Vancouver_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Post_EG
AddReg = ati2mtag_MultiUVD_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_NONPX_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_ProxySettings_DX10
AddReg = ati2mtag_ProxySettings_DX10_PXAI
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXAI
AddReg = ati2mtag_Vancouver_PX
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_DX11
DelReg = ati2mtag_RemoveDeviceSettings
DelFiles = R300.DelFiles
RegisterDlls = TMM.RegisterDlls

[ati2mtag_Vancouver_PXAI]
FeatureScore=E6
CopyFiles=R300.Miniport, R300.Display, R300.DXX, R300.OGL
CopyFiles=R300.Mppxy
CopyFiles=r300.CFNext
AddReg = ati2mtag_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Vancouver_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Post_EG
AddReg = ati2mtag_MultiUVD_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_ProxySettings_DX10
AddReg = ati2mtag_ProxySettings_DX10_PXAI
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXAI
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXOnly_Discrete_Mobile
AddReg = ati2mtag_Vancouver_PX
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_PX_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_PXAI_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXAIOnly
AddReg = ati2mtag_DX11
DelReg = ati2mtag_RemoveDeviceSettings
DelFiles = R300.DelFiles
RegisterDlls = TMM.RegisterDlls

 

Good point... well it gets here next week and we'll see it they get it figured out before the 21 days runs out. If not just return it and find something similar.

 

Just a curiosity...Costco sells unit for $875 and when I price exact same model through HP website, total comes to $1185 (this is minus the true HD screen, $150 option, because I don't think Costco unit has true HD screen). If Costco unit has true HD, then delta is even worse with total price on HP website being $1335.

How can Costco sell it for so cheap? Or to put it differently, how come HP website is so much more expensive?

Thanks

 

I have the auto-switching, and only have
ati2mtag_Vancouver_PXAI
in my registry, not
ati2mtag_Vancouver_PRAI

This is unfortunate as looking at the entries it adds, I thought PXAI was the one we wanted (the discrete option sounded good).

I'll keep looking around.

 

Differences between the two entries:

[ati2mtag_Vancouver_PRAI]
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXPassthrough
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_NONPX_SoftwareDeviceSettings

[ati2mtag_Vancouver_PXAI]
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXOnly_Discrete_Mobile
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_PX_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_Mobile_PXAI_SoftwareDeviceSettings
AddReg = ati2mtag_PXAIOnly

 

If you haven't already done so I'd go hammer this thread at HP....

New dv7-tqe 6100 CTO - Will Not Switch to ATI Graphics (6770... - HP Support Forum

 

Costco buys in bulk for everything. What coupon are you using? There's a 30% off coupon floating around out there.

 

When I try to run a benchmark in 3dMark 11, when it's done it's saying I'm using Mobile Intel HD Graphics and I'm getting a score of P1579. I know my 6770 is enabled because I was just playing some Mass Effect 2 and Crysis 2.

 

Otocon thanks! I just posted up. Need to add more members in that ASAP! talk to a forum runner and get a stickie going.

We may have something for the manual switching mode, but I fear Open GL support is going to go to the wayside or need manual editting. I may return my laptop because of this. I bought it for photoshop and webpage work..

Chris, where in the registry was those files? I need locations to remove them and have a fresh start... ATI has CRAPY removal schemes..

 

so...at around post #11, you declare the graphics issue is fixed with your list of BS steps you supposedly took, and NOW, at post #18 you are going to send it back. hmmm...thanks for all the time and trouble you caused me and others on this forum with your clowning around.

 

Hello otacon...Thanks for response. Yes, I realize they buy in bulk, but even so that is still a huge price differential. Anyway, doesn't really matter I suppose. Good deal is a good deal.

Regarding coupon, sorry, I don't know anything about that. Where do I get it and when does it expire?

Thanks

 

coupon code here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/586715-ack-cant-find-33-code.html

 

Trying to wrap my small brain around all this. When I get my dv7t next week and I wipe it clean with a new install of W7 Ultimate, install the latest Intel HD drivers (one's posted on HP's website are not the latest), latest ATI drivers from AMD's website and if I still don't have manual control would it not be a hardware issue at that point? You'd have a gender neutral laptop wouldn't you? Wouldn't have any HP software on it. Is this "dynamic switching" built into the BIOS? I'm going to give HP some time to iron it out but if they can't it's going back before the 21 days. It would make me ill to waste a W7U key but I get them for $15 so no big deal..lol

 

Okay i've installed hacked up versions of the drivers I made. Basically I forced it to use the PRAI version instead of PXAI and lower down the file I made it use the MUXed version instead of the MUXless (ML) version of the intel drivers.

Funny thing is.. with this hacked settings the driver installed and started up just fine.. leading me to believe that this notebook is capable of manual switching just as much as the 6000s. I even verified that I was running my unsigned and modified drivers (via Driver Node Strong Name) everything checked out fine.. however, CCC still shows the same Switchable Graphics page.. no manual switching.

ARGH. Maybe theres something in CCC that has to be changed to for the correct UI to show up. Anyway it's late where I am, gotta get to bed.

 

I had run across the same thing Brainsay, modified the INF in the same way as you, sorry I didnt see your post before to let you know.

 

Is there a physical output for the GPU or is routed through the IGP like Optimus?

BTW, how is Linux support?

 

Does anyone have any open GL games that currently run on the radeon graphics card? If so can you give me the open gl version and full name of the exe file?


Also, I went in and adjusted lines 3921, 3922, 425 (commented out) after doing a little test this afternoon. I was able to uninstall the software and reinstall it with some of my "ome" settings . I just now need to find the right combo of what we need. The 6000x did they have any auto switching? Was there issues with it and open gl? I am trying to figure out why the change. so much info is needed from others. Thanks

Sorry I didn't post earlier too! I did the same thing and some changes didn't take effect! Turns out the regestry stores all this data. Are you guys doing a complete ATI wipe and removing all the stuff before reloading? Its in there we can get it

 

LLStarks,

That is correct. I have no idea on linux support, but I would say... um crappy if HP has control of the video drivers. you would need to make your own

Dave who is 18 but acting 12.... Please do me a favor and go back to picking your nose and drinking out of your juicebox. I did have it working after install, but it reverted back to not after a few starts. I am now working on fixing the code. Much more than what you have done complaining on the posts and clogging up bandwidth. Hmm.. Maybe I'll talk to a moderator to get you banned.


PS- post up info on what you did so I don't need to repeat it tonight lol

 

I think it would help if we have the driver node strong name of a 6000 series computer. That way we can check the sections of the inf that correspond since both use the same drivers but have different features enabled. For anybody with a 6000 series, pls open device manager go to display adapters, dbl click on your 6770m select the info tab and choose driver node strong name from the drop down. It contains everything needed to see which parts of the inf were installed

 

dv6t-6000 Quad with 6770M -- driver node strong name

oem32.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Vancouver_PXAI:8.830.6.2000 ci\ven_1002&dev_6740&subsys_1657103c


I'd like to get auto-switching working on mine... manual isn't exactly a land of milk and honey either. With IE9 open I can't switch one way or another, since it uses the gfx processor This is pain during, say, a big file download when you want to multitask a game or whatever.

Also, sometimes it thinks it has switched when it hasnt, and a few other buggy behaviors.

 

I just updated my dv6t 6000 to the drivers released earlier this week on HP's website... during a "custom" install I noticed something called "PX Profile Update".. which looks to me like PowerXpress Profile update. Think that component may have anything to do with it?

 

Mine is listed as the following: (6100 series)

oem29.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Vancouver_PRAI:8.830.6.2000 ci\ven_1002&dev_6740&subsys_3388103c

Going through the inf I find that it lists both PXAI and PRAI for my model number... That is semi promising.

Optomec- Thanks! we will see what we can do.

Optomec's model number ONLY corresponds to the PXAI in the code. I have no idea if the hardware supports it.

 

Yes, I was reading up on the px power settings. It may have a lot to do with it as well, but I have a feeling its an option that can be turned on an off with the newest updates. I am working right now on trying to get the older drivers for your laptop and installing them on mine

 

The physical connection is the biggest concern for me as well. Looking into the interviews with the BACON developer and the slides that went along with it, I'm worried that in muxless hardware there may not be any physical connection. IIRC manufacturers can choose mux or muxless... I don't know if you can support both.

As for linux, there was I believe a Phoronix interview that mentioned the muxed version was supported in linux, but that it required a restart of X (no support for muxless / mixed from the sounds of it) as well as a reload of OpenGL drivers.

 

jeez, looks like optimus and bacon support on linux will be piecemeal at best until wayland forces everything to be reevaluated

i can't believe i'm saying this, but i guess a bumblebee optimus solution is my only choice now

my what a difference a few months make

 

[Phoronix] PowerXpress Support Notebooks Under Linux

Here's the article. It sounds like google might be sponsoring work to allow hot swapping drivers (and therefor gpus) on the fly in X, but to me that still sounds like muxless wouldn't work unless one of the modes you switch to is 'possibly both on muxless'

 

Linux support is spotty at best. With Ubuntu 11.04 and Fedora 15 there existed a kernel race condition between the radeon and i915 drivers, which would freeze your boot process half the time.

The only way to get a consistent boot was to blacklist the radeon module. Then, if you wanted to use vgaswitcheroo to power the chip off, you needed to modprobe radeon in rc.local and then echo OFF to the switch file.

That would get you working on the intel graphics, anyway.

11.5 linux drivers dont support the 67XXM chips. I haven't tested the 11.6 yet.

 

The help in CCC says

By selecting the appropriate GPU, you can reduce power consumption or even improve system or application performance. Use the Switchable Graphics page to select a GPU using one of the following methods:
•Dynamic Scheme—Lets you assign different applications to different GPUs. For more information, see Assigning Applications to GPUs. When you select this option, a set of 3D application and video settings become available in the Control Center application for each GPU so that you can configure them individually. For more information, see 3D Settings and Video Settings.
•Fixed Scheme—Lets you delegate all graphics responsibilities to a single GPU. With this method, you can manually change the GPU selection or configure your system to automatically switch GPUs based on power source (if supported). For more information, see Manually Selecting a GPU and Switching GPUs Based on Power Source.

If your computer supports both selection methods, use the Switchable Graphics Method page to specify the one that you want to use. For more information, see Selecting a Switchable Graphics Method.

Note: Multiple methods are supported only on Windows® 7 systems that contain an AMD integrated and AMD discrete GPU.


that last bold bit isnt very encouraging.

 

Buy it from Costco. The 1600 by 900 is a good screen. Plus you get 90 days to return it no questions asked. Let me put in perspective. Three months ago I bought the 480m i5 from Costco. I returned it and then I found the i5 samsung rf511-03 last week for an even swap. Then I was in Costco a few days later and found the dv7-6143 8th ram i7 2630 etc and swapped it out no questions asked. But because it was only 875 instead of 999 for the samsung I bought a 1.5 terabyte hdd with 3.0 for 110 and still had a few bucks to spare. If this graphics issue never resolves or newer tech comes out I've got 3 months. I've gone through half a dozen laptops in the several years as a member and only had to buy two of them. It's totally worth it dude. 90 days. They even remind you it's ok to return it within 90. They get a full credit from the vendor. My relative works there. I never buy electronics from anywhere else period!

 

are the dv6tse or 6490m models affected too?

 

6100 Series:
stock windows update drivers

oem26.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Vancouver_PXAI:8.830.6.2000 ci\ven_1002&dev_6740&subsys_1657103c

 

Is there a way to tell which graphics card is currently being used?