Clevo P150EM graphics switching not working

So I have a XMG P502 PRO, which is a Clevo 150EM, and changed the original 7970M graphics card to a nVidia 970M card. However it seems that most of the applications don't seem to be utilizing the new graphics card and only use the onboard Intel 4400. When I run benchmarks with the task manager open I see no activity under the GPU, however the BIOS says that the video card is the nVidia. When I run Civilization 6, I can choose which graphics card to use inside the program, and that works fine (ie, the GPU shows use when I choose the nVidia and doesn't show any use when I choose the intel). So I know the computer can find the GPU it just won't. Anyone have any idea's? I've already tried a fresh install of Windows 10 and that didn't help it.

 

Probably caused by not having working drivers.

You need modded drivers, you cannot use the windows 10 drivers, otherwise u'll suffer from the problem u're describing.

 

Which drivers did you install?

 

This is just an inherent issue of nVidia as their Optimus used to be better than Enduro nowadays its not true anymore, Enduro has surpassed Optimus by ten thousand times because nVidia just do not give a #/(¤!#%(% about updating it.

Windows 10 is most likely your issue at hand here, you need to provide which GPU driver you have for both the nVidia and the Intel GPU its pretty important as some of the first Windows 10 ones just did not work at all. Also did you go into nVidia's ancient 90s Control Panel and set the nVidia GPU on maximum performance and tried to force it on Civ VI?? Sometimes the switching is really garbage and you need to force it for almost every game I had the same issue with the 675MX and the 1060.

 

To answer your questions

I used the newest ones from nVidia (397.31) with a modded .inf file.
The intel driver is (10.18.10.4885) Which I believe is the newest one.

I have tried to force the graphics card to run but it doesn't seem to do anything when I change any settings in the nVidia control panel. One thing I have figured out is that my Bios is way too old (version 1.05), and could be an issue. But now I can't seem to figure out how to flash my bios to the newest ones from Clevo (version 1.17). I made a bootable usb and have tried to boot with it from various ports but none of them seem to work. Anyone have any idea's?

 

What tool did you use to make the bootable drive?

 

IIRC, 1.05.01 was the last release for the EM series.

 

I used RUFUS.

I tried to use the HP USB Disk utility but it kept giving me a USB is write protected error.

Well when I went to mysn's website I found what they said was the last BIOS update which had a version number 0217. After looking into it a bit more it seems the 0217 version is direct from Clevo while the 1.05.01XMG veresion that I have is from xmg itself. Can't figure out the difference between the two though.

 

Could be their own modification, or just the file name. You can ask them about it, or look for a change log with more info.

 

Yeah after finally finding some time to do some more digging I found that the 1.05 versions were made in 2016, and I think so that windows 10 runs on the P150EM. But this still leaves me with the issue of not being able to use my 970M. I have tried reinstalling windows 10, as well as reinstalling windows 7, and I just can't seem to get it to work. I know the system can identify the GPU as GPU-Z reports that it is there with all of the correct info. I read somewhere that only certain gpu drivers actally work, as in allowing the gpu to switch out of idle, even if the computer shows that the driver is installed. So I guess I'll just start trying different drivers until something works. I have the newest intel GPU drivers at least.

 

You will need Prema's modified BIOS IIRC for the 9xx series, the 1060 cards would work without it.

 

Hmmmm, that's kinda annoying as I don't have it. Guess I'll have to try and pm him and see if he has a generic P150EM permabios still sitting around.

 

Bs.

Stock Bios supports it equally. You just need to right sector. I fixed it for OP, he's using the card as intended.

 

Thank you VERY much Danishblunt.

 

Calm down, I said if I remember correctly. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "right sector" but feel free to share the details.

 

The sector number in the .inf mod file.

 

As Zaque was pointing out, its in the inf file.

 

Ah that was it, use a modified INF or the Prema BIOS let you use standard drivers. It has been a while since I played around with it.

 

Ehrm no. Only a very specific private version would let you do that which Prema never released.

 

use the program : traypwrd3 . what brand is your card?

 

That doesn't do anytyhing. Also the optimus bug has been fixed in april by intel, you just need to download the latest intel graphics driver.

 

ok then I will try to my second p150em the 680m from alienware.

 

Hi there !

I'm sorry to bump here, but I have the exact same issue as Zaque, Clevo p150 EM and a brand new GTX 970M, and I can't install Nvidia driver, I tried with two drivers, 397.64 and 398.11, with modified nv_dispi.inf I got from LaptopVideo forum. I get the installation to begin but it failed every time during the graphic driver install... I did nothing with the bios because I really don't know what to do with it, I just installed the new gpu (with all the thermal pads and the thermal paste), everything seems to work just fine, no freeze, temperature ok...
Maybe Zaque you can explain to me what I did wrong ? Or maybe what you did to get it done ? A big Thanks in advance !

 

Ok well, turns out I didn't understant very well how to disable the driver signature enforcement. So I did it properly (for win10 users, hold shift and click "restart" then choose the right option) and I managed to install the latest driver for nvidia, and now I see my GTX 970m in the device manager. Woohoo.

But now, I launched Photoshop CS6, and guess what ? It still doesn't detect my GPU, just the Intel chipset (HD 4000, something like that).
So, worried by all the words "bios" and "flash" I read in the threads about Sager/Clevo and new GPU, and considering the fact I was to unexperimented to run blindly into flashing some bios, I took a look into my bios, just to see this line : VGA Card : empty.
Oh my...

Does it means windows now detects my new gpu but this was a complete waste of time since I didn't flash the bios in the first time?
If yes, does anyone with this kind of could tell me how to do that please ? I read some things about that but the more I read the more I get confused and the more I stress...

Many thanks in advance !

 

Have you tried a different program? Does the nvidia control panel load?

 

It is normal that bios will show you "vga card: empty", also if you use 8970m or 1060 from msi you'll get the same status.
You must try to choose a different "item/line/string(whatever you call it)" from the graphics card list corresponding to 970m when editing the nvcvi.inf file. I think your problem is incorrectly matched sections for the ID of the card.

 

if the card works in games and such, then all you have to do is to add photoshop to NVIDIA instead of intel in your NVIDIA control panel.

 

Hi Meaker ! Thank you for your answer ! I just tried to launch a game (Arma III) and the card stays inactive. I just installed the driver, so I don't have the GeForce Experience panel, but I do have the control panel. I set it up to "High-performance NVIDIA processor", I tried different things (like to force use of gtx 970M for photoshop) but nothing seems to work.

Hi Kothletino, thank you for your answer ! I didn't edit the nvcvi.inf file. Just the nv_dispi.inf, well don't get me wrong, I used a all-made file I found on a forum, because this kind of editing is waaay beyond my knowledge. But when I searched for how to install the Nvidia driver, I came across this page which gave me a good clue on how to achieve my goal. I didn't do it though because I couldn't figure which section to choose for the line I wanted to add. I had the gpu model code, laptop model and manufacturer codes figured out, and I didn't find an existing line with the laptop manufacturer (5105 in my case) and the gpu model code at the same time. So I couldn't guess a section code.
So you think I should still edit the nvcvi.inf ? Do you have any clue on which section code I could use ?
If I have to do that, I guess I'll have to do a good old DDU, then re-install Chipset driver, then Nvidia driver, am I right ?

Hi Danishblunt, thank you for your answer ! I forgot to mention that I already tried that, both Global settings and Program settings are set to "High Performance Nvidia Processor". I tried several times on Photoshop, it still detects only the Intel chipset, and the same for Arma 3, the lack of FPS (~15 in low settings) speaks for itself !

A big thank you for your time ! I'm still pretty confused but at least none of you wrote the words "flash" or "bios", so I guess the solution could be more easier and less stressfull for me !

 

Bad driver path, bad card or incirrect vbios.

 

You installed a driver with a bad sector, that's why this is happening for you.

 

Ok, so, bad sector means bad section code in the nvcvi.inf ?

 

yes.

 

Ok, thank you very much @Danishblunt !

Last question, as I explained in a previous post, when I searched for how to install the Nvidia driver, I saw this page where the editing of nvcvi.inf is explained. The author says " Make sure that the 'Section###' part of the formatted IDs marked is the same as an already existing Device ID inside the .inf with a GPU Model Code that is the same as in your Hardware ID".
The problem is : I can't find any ID with the GPU Model Code corresponding with the Hardware ID.
In my case, the GPU Model Code is 13D8, and my Hardware ID is 5105.
And in the nvcvi.inf I have :

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.0376.1558% = Section041, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_03761558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.0870.1558% = Section043, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_08701558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.5281.1558% = Section045, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_52811558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6400.1558% = Section055, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_64001558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6540.1558% = Section047, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_65401558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6541.1558% = Section049, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_65411558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6555.1558% = Section045, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_65551558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6780.1558% = Section047, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_67801558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.6781.1558% = Section057, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_67811558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.7481.1558% = Section045, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_74811558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.7500.1558% = Section051, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_75001558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.7502.1558% = Section053, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_75021558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.7700.1558% = Section051, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_77001558
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.7702.1558% = Section053, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_77021558 

I reckon the closest ID which could fit is the third line for me, but I only think that because the Hardware ID in this line starts with the number 5 (5281). And I must admit I'm not too sure of my reasoning here.
Any clue ?

 

You basicially have to do gueswork.

 

Ahah ok ! Thank you again for your time @Danishblunt , I really appreciated your help !
And thanks to all contributors of this topic, you have been very helpful !
If I find a working sector for this driver I'll post it here so people in my case could find it !

Thanks again !

 

Ok, problem solved !
For those in the same case, I strongly recommend to read --> this topic. (I hope it's OK if I link another forum here, it's for people sake).
And --> this article

Two or three things you can bear in mind :

- Now, you have to extract the Nvidia driver with 7zip, not by double-clicking on it.
- You have to replace a file named nv_dispi.inf in the "Display.Driver" file (which is in the folder you just unzipped) by a modded nv_dispi.inf (the version of this modded .inf must fit the driver version obviously).
- You have to edit the file named nvcvi.inf (if you own a Clevo computer, otherwise it's another file but the links above tell you which file you have to edit according to the brand of computer you own) in the same folder. Myself, I deleted all the lines under [NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0...14310] and all the lines under [NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0] and I added for both a line with my device ID and the corresponding laptop manufacturer. It looks like this :

Code:

[NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0...14310]
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.5105.1558% = Section002, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_51051558

[NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0]
%NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.5105.1558% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D8&SUBSYS_51051558

-Same thing for the string :

Code:

[Strings]
DiskID1 = "NVIDIA Windows 10 (64 bit) Driver Library Installation Disk 1"
NVIDIA = "NVIDIA"
NVIDIA_A = "NVIDIA"
NVIDIA_DEV.13D8.5105.1558 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M"
REG_BINARY = 0x00000001
REG_DWORD = 0x00010001
REG_EXPAND_SZ = 0x00020000
REG_MULTI_SZ = 0x00010000
REG_SZ = 0x00000000
REG_SZ_APPEND = 0x00010008

- Last thing, once you replaced the two modded .inf, you have to restart your computer holding shift to be able to choose the advanced boot option, which allows you to start the computer with driver signature enforcement off. It won't work otherwise.

I hope it will work for you !

 

Good information man! did u ever tried THIS for me the best place with even the modded driver for just install.

 

Well thank you very much @andrewff2 for your link ! I had to go through all this process again because of a stupid windows update, and instead of editing the files as I did last time, I just downloaded the stuff from your link and it just worked like a charm !

Thanks again !

 

Interesting, i'll check this for 1060 vortex in my p170em.