PBL21 and NVIDIA Optimus

Hello,

I've got PBL21 with i5-2410M CPU (HD3000 integrated GPU) and NVIDIA GT540M. Many sites mention Optimus techology on this model, f.e. Anandtech review or AGear vendor (overview section):
AnandTech - CyberpowerPC's Compal PBL21: The Shark's New Teeth
COMPAL PBL21 Custom Built Laptop, Cheaper Laptop

Moreover, in BIOS release notes for an old A00 version there are statement in summary: "Implement Optimus feature and Set SSID for PBL21 Optimus and PBL11 DIS only".

So I expected to have both GPU active but in fact I doubt about it. I can't install drivers for Intel HD, AIDA64 says about it "Graphics Controller Status: Disabled", in NV CPL there are no option like "preferred GPU" in software section, Optimus tools give me very little info too. So, is HD3000 really works? Can I control it?

I'm interested in intel GPU because of low power consumption and technology like QuickSync.

Some questions I have:
- how to enable HD3000?
- is there any way to use QuickSync in this configuration?
- if I get out NV card (just thought), will HD3000 enable automatically?

 

well I am stuck with this as well. Only windows 8 was able to recognize the intel hd chip but that was with WDDM MS drivers. When I loaded up Nvidia drivers, Intel HD was GONE.

 

This was my experience as well, but I had Windows 7 installed. I have had Lenovo laptops with the ability to switch between intel and ati/nvidia grahics, but it was controlled through a combination of hotkeys and software. If Optimus is truly supported, Compal should provide appropriate software to facilitate this. But as we have seen, support is very low on Compal's priority list.

 

I found a driver update that refers to Optimus here...
Index of /Notebooks (Drivers)/15C11 - 15C36 (PBL20 - PBL21)/Update drivers/VGA/NVIDIA (15CL36)/V8.17.12.6601 (Logo)/x64/Display.Optimus

if you go to the parent directory you can download the entire driver update zip.

I have not tried it yet though.