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    W520 - nVidia optimus does not work after memory upgrade

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by dwkor, Jan 27, 2012.

  1. dwkor

    dwkor Notebook Geek

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    Hello,

    I have W520 16Gb (4*4Gb) running Windows Server 2008R2. Everything works fine - display sets to Optimus.

    I've tried to upgrade the memory to 24Gb (2*4Gb + 2*8Gb). Laptop recognizes memory just fine. Memtest+ does not report any errors. Although Windows does not boot up with Optimus set in BIOS. It stuck on black screen during OS boot.

    It starts in safe mode. Nothing particularly interesting in event log. It also starts just fine if I choose to use Discrete Graphics in the BIOS but in that mode it does not support 3 monitors..

    New SODIMMs work fine with optimus if I left 16Gb (2*8Gb) in the system

    Latest drivers, latest BIOS..

    Does anybody experience this issue?

    Thank you
     
    dwkor, Jan 27, 2012
    #1
  2. Colonel O'Neill

    Colonel O'Neill Notebook Deity

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    Sounds like the integrated graphics card is making some assumptions on maximum memory.

    Does 3x4GB + 1x8GB work?
     
    Colonel O'Neill, Jan 27, 2012
    #2
  3. dwkor

    dwkor Notebook Geek

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    Nope. Any combination that exceeds 16Gb does not work.

    Is there any way to make discrete graphics card to support 2 external monitors?
     
    dwkor, Jan 27, 2012
    #3
  4. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

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    You should be able to drive two external monitors when the BIOS is set to Discrete without issue. The amount of RAM should not matter.
     
    Thors.Hammer, Jan 28, 2012
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  5. dwkor

    dwkor Notebook Geek

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    Hi Thors, long time no see :)

    when I am using discrete graphics the card see 3 monitors (LCD and 2 external) but does not allow me to enable all of them with the message This gpu supports 2 monitors only...
     
    dwkor, Jan 29, 2012
    #5
  6. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi :)

    Yea, that is unfortunately the flawed design of the W520. It will only drive two, period. It was confirmed by the engineers on the Lenovo blog long ago. Unfortunately the comments and confirmation were erased from the blog when they "upgraded" the site. Another brilliant move. :D
     
    Thors.Hammer, Jan 29, 2012
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  7. dwkor

    dwkor Notebook Geek

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    Heh, it looks like there is the problem in drivers / DEP. If I disable DEP in BIOS, system starts just fine. Unfortunately it does not work for me either because in such case it disables HYPER-V...
     
    dwkor, Jan 29, 2012
    #7