Switchable graphics - is it working?

Hi. Just ordered a Lenovo T500 the other day. I love very aspect of it except for maybe I wish it had a backlit keyboard like MBP. The dinky LED is great for pitch black environments though.

Anyways, switchable graphics....hmmm.
Right click on corner -> select Intel graphics.

Im looking at my battery meter and there is no improvement. None at all. So...I load up my fav gangbanging game - Cod4 and it runs smoothly (just to see if it is on discrete or onboard - and since it ran smoothly im assuming its discrete). So...I went to the lenovo site and loaded up the latest driver for Vista. Still..same results. So how are you guys determining whether onboard graphics is actually working?

I realize that there isn't a HUGE battery saving feature but every ounce of juice counts when you're on a 8hr flight.

Note: I obviously was running on battery power when I did the test.

 

Btw my set up is:
T500
WSXGA+
2gb ddr3 (2dimm)
80gb 5400rpm HD
Ati 3670 w 256mb + Intel onboard graphics
9 Cell battery
Windows Home Basic (for now)

Plan to upgrade to Vista business pro 64 soon. And also a pair of 2x2048MB DDR3 ram.

 

sorry it is all T400 % 500 are able to do switch from ati 3670 >< onboard graphic? b/c i didn't see anything about it XD

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.
All T400/T500 that have discrete graphics are suppose to have the option to run onboard (intel) graphics to save battery life.

With the T400/T500 that dont have discrete graphics can pretty much disregard this thread.

 

On mine I don't select between Intel or ATI graphics, the choice is between energy saving and high performance. Left-click on the battery icon (the Lenovo one, not the Vista one), and the option for switchable graphics is there.

It should make a difference in battery life, I gain 1-2 hours by switching.

 

ty generator i will try to find the icon ....

 

Just left click on the power meter and this option will show up.

 

I figured it out. You have to download the Power Manager software (latest on) AND the power manager driver at the lenovo driver page.

Once those are installed, just left click the battery icon on your taskbar are you will see the option to switch graphics card.

I really think lenovo should have had this option already LOADED for the end users.

 

It wasn't pre-installed for you? That is odd, it was for me (and I'm sure many others), or did you do a clean install?

 

The power manager software was preinstalled but it did not have the switchable graphics option. I almost gouged my eyes out trying to find it.

It then appears after I got the lastest power manager software + power manager driver.