Enduro Issues with CAD software (NP8268/P150SM + 8970m)

So I've been trying to use AutoCad Civil 3D on my NP8265 with 8970m, and I noticed the performance being very horrid the first time I used it. I thought it was a power thing because I was not connected to a power source at the time. Then I used it again while connecting the adapter and it still showed horrible performance. I am currently running windows 7 Home Premium which came with the laptop. Here's the log from 3D Settings:

Performance Tuner Results Log
Version: 19.0.2.00
Date of Last Tune: 5/22/2014

Machine Configuration
---------------------
Processor Speed : 2.4 GHz
RAM : 16304 MB

3D Device
---------
Name : N/A
Manufacturer : N/A
Chip set : N/A
Memory : N/A MB
Driver : N/A

Hardware acceleration is not available because not enough video memory is available.

Current application driver: Software

Current Effect Status:
----------------------
Enhanced 3D Performance: Not recommended and off
Smooth display: Not available
Gooch shader: Software emulation in use
Per-pixel lighting: Not available
Full-shadow display: Not available
Texture compression: Not available
Advanced material effects: Not available

Available application drivers and effect support:
-------------------------------------------------
Software driver
Effect support:

Enhanced 3D Performance: Not applicable
Smooth display: Not applicable
Gooch shader: Software emulation only
Per-pixel lighting: Not applicable
Full-shadow display: Not applicable
Texture compression: Not applicable
Advanced material effects: Not applicable

Autodesk driver: Not Certified
Effect support:

Enhanced 3D Performance: Available
Smooth display: Not available
Gooch shader: Software emulation only
Per-pixel lighting: Not available
Full-shadow display: Not available
Texture compression: Not available
Advanced material effects: Not available


Now this seems like not even intel graphics are being used. I think there's a potato somewhere in the laptop which is used for graphic processing because that's the best conclusion I could come up with from this log...

Any input is appreciated.

 

Check the CCC settings, Switchable Graphics section. Select "High performance" for the CAD application you use. If the application is not there, add it manually.

 

You mean this, right? I checked GPU usage through GPUz after changing it, even though it was on high performance to begin with, but I found no sign of usage on the AMD GPU. I have to point out that the high performance indicator on the keyboard lights up when I start AutoCAD, but the software doesn't seem to be trying to use it.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm starting to think that the AutoCAD software was made this way.

 

Are you sure that GPU hardware acceleration is enabled in your AutoCAD software?

AutoCAD Where In The World Is My Hardware Acceleration - IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

How to enable or disable hardware acceleration in AutoCAD | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge Network

Autocad enable hardware acceleration - YouTube

 

It's not, that's the entire problem.

It does not detect my GPU and the option to enable hardware acceleration is grayed out..

I tried updating the tuner but that didn't work either. It told me that an update is available so I went ahead and updated it. When I clicked it nothing happened but after restarting the software it showed that it's up to date.

 

or u may try open an app which can activate 8790m first then with it opened open autocat and check again?

 

Which AMD Catalyst drivers do you use? Have you tried updating to the latest WHQL drivers (14.4)?

 

I'm running on 14.4, I updated it recently.

I noticed I had some service packs that I could download for AutoCAD, and so I did. Now on the bright side, AutoCAD detects my intel 4600. But it still doesn't make use of the 8970m..

I tried that as well, no luck. I rand BF4 and made sure of the GPU usage, then ran AutoCAD but it didn't work. So far AutoCAD doesn't detect my second GPU at all.


Here's the new log:

Performance Tuner Results Log
Version: 19.0.2.00
Date of Last Tune: 5/31/2014

Machine Configuration
---------------------
Processor Speed : 2.4 GHz
RAM : 16304 MB

3D Device
---------
Name : Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
Manufacturer : Intel(R)
Chip set : HD Graphics 4600
Memory : 3838 MB
Driver : 8.17.0010.1280

Your machine contains a 3D Device that is not certified.

As more graphics cards and 3D display drivers are tested, they are added to a list on the Autodesk website.

You can check for updates and download the latest certification list at any time. Run the 3DCONFIG command and click the Check for Updates button.

Current application driver: acaddm10.hdi

Current Effect Status:
----------------------
Enhanced 3D Performance: Available and on
Smooth display: Available and off
Gooch shader: Available and using hardware
Per-pixel lighting: Available and on
Full-shadow display: Available and on
Texture compression: Available and off
Advanced material effects: Available and on

Available application drivers and effect support:
-------------------------------------------------
Software driver
Effect support:

Enhanced 3D Performance: Not applicable
Smooth display: Not applicable
Gooch shader: Software emulation only
Per-pixel lighting: Not applicable
Full-shadow display: Not applicable
Texture compression: Not applicable
Advanced material effects: Not applicable

Autodesk driver: Not Certified
Effect support:

Enhanced 3D Performance: Available
Smooth display: Available
Gooch shader: Available
Per-pixel lighting: Available
Full-shadow display: Available
Texture compression: Available
Advanced material effects: Available

 

I found this link that may help you.

AutoCAD uses the wrong graphics card | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge Network

 

Still nothing. Also several posts in Autodesk forums mentioned similar issues.

I cannot force the GPU to work on this software..

 

Hum. Is there any updates to autocad or the config files for autocad where you can get it to recognize it?

Sounds like it's a limitation in the software itself.

 

I don't think so, I have already downloaded all possible updates for AutoCAD. But I agree that the problem is mostly from the software. I'm wondering if others with similar GPUs experience the same issue. I'm wondering if it's also the same for the Nvidia counterpart. So far all I could find was people complaining about this issue but not a single helpful answer, or even somebody reporting back positively..

I think if this is the case I might end up selling my other laptop (NP7330) and then get a Dell m3800 instead. But I don't want to go there...

 

There are a few CAD programs unable to work through optimus/enduro, it's always best to check, though of course not obvious.

 

I know now, I guess it's my fault for not doing my homework. I only looked at the very impressive CAD benchmarks for other programs but I didn't look the Enduro compatibility issue thoroughly.

Although I'm wondering if the lack of support for these programs is intentional because the problem seems very well known over at the Autodesk forums, and it has been this way for some time now..

 

Since, as you mentioned, the problem is well known to Autodesk, there's always a chance of it being fixed with a software patch.

Patience is a virtue?..

 

Trust me I'm as patient as I can be, and I'll be sitting here waiting patiently for as long as it takes.

I just hope that my CPU won't fry in the meantime ^^

 

The dual card machines do not use enduro/optimus (they can be ordered with a single card). But otherwise all clevo/sager machines use optimus/enduro.

 

There isn't any 15.6" option though, so it's quite a big tradeoff for me..

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I'll try to make up my mind about all this soon.

 

Yes as far as I am aware there is 15.6" consumer machine with an AMD card that lets you bypass enduro.

 

Did you try disabling ULPS in Windows registry?

 

That won't impact which chip is used.

 

I gave that a shot, but apparently Meaker is right. There is no apparent change after editing the registry value to 0.

I'm thinking maybe if Enduro itself can be disabled from the vbios maybe there's a way.. but I guess the laptop won't post then?

 

It may but you wont have any display outputs.

 

I'd give it a shot for the heck of it, but t's too much of a hassle if I want to go back. I'll revise my options and see

 

No seriously, it's a 100% chance of failure, you will have no ability to drive any display.

 

Oh.. then I'm all out of ideas.

I'm curious though. What is the reason behind this?

 

Routing display outputs to anything else increases cost.

 

In what sense it would.. mind elaborating a bit? Or link me to any reference because I'm clueless ^^

 

Well there is a PCB routing cost to get outputs going to different places, you have extra firmware development and testing. It's also more difficult for users to understand that what port their monitor is plugged into changes the behaviour of the system.