Non-gamer questions on NVIDIA Automatic Switchable Graphics

I recently bought a Lenovo T410 Thinkpad that happened to come with Automatic Switchable Graphics. When I look at my Device Manager under display adapters I see both "Intel(R) HD Graphics" and "NVIDIA NVS 3100M". One the Lenovo website under system graphics for this laptop it shows "NVIDIA NVS 3100m Optimus Graphics 512MB DDR3 with AMT".
I didn't buy this Thinkpad configuration for the dual graphics card, I just liked the overall specs. I'm also not a gamer and I'm not that knowledgeable about graphics cards. I'm trying to understand what I might be gaining or losing with the Automatic Switchable Graphics.

One thing I have noticed is that most text seems to be a little fuzzier than on my desktop, a Dell Optiplex with a plain old integrated graphics card. Could this have something to do with the NVIDIA Optimus? Is there anything I can do to fine tune things?

If I don't game, where else might I be able to take advantage of the higher end card? Also I know the card is call Automatic Switchable, but can I manually switch from low-end to high-end on my own?

Anything else that's good to know about this type of graphics would be appreciated.

 

1. Switch on 'Cleartype' and see whether that helps? (You can access cleartype by typing 'Cleartype' in the programs and files search box under the windows start button.

2. The switchable graphics card may save some battery in some condition, personally i think the biggest value it poses, is the fact that it can support up to 4 LCD monitors when combined with the dock 3 plus.

 

Another thing that might be making your text fuzzy is if you don't have your screen set to its native resolution. Right click on your desktop and select "Screen Resolution." Now, make sure the Resolution value is set to 1440x900 (if your monitor is WXGA+) or 1280x800 (if your monitor is WXGA+). W7 should help you out by showing the word "Recommended" next to the appropriate value.

 

By the way....

Congratulations on NOT being a gamer!!!! :

Renee

 

Is Windows 7 setting your monitor refresh rate to 59 hertz?

 

It is. What should it be? The 2 choices I see under Screen Refresh Rate are 59 hertz and 60 hertz. Should I change it to 60? I am using this laptop 90% of the time connected to a 23" Acer LCD.

 

What is the native resolution of your 23" Acer? Are you using both the laptop LCD and the Acer at the same time? What resolutions do you have them set at?

 

The native resolution of the Acer 23" is 1680 x 1050 and that's what I've had it set at. I am using only the Acer monitor, not the laptop monitor.

Also lead_org asked suggested turning on Cleartype. I tried that but it makes some text look better and some actually worse.

 

Are you using vga cable or the displayport to dvi converter?

 

I'm just using VGA cable.

 

try using the displayport to dvi converter and use the dvi port on your LCD. The blurriness is probably the result of using the vga cable.

 

Possibly using vista style DPI scaling instead of windows xp DPI scaling

 

I don't know enough about the subject to be able to explain it, but it occured in the Windows Vista and Windows 7 OS changes on how they drive monitors.

You can create a custom resolution with the NVIDIA Control Panel under Display | Change Resolution. You'll want to force your monitor back to 60 hertz and there's some other timings that need to be adjusted. That's all I recall at this point.