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    P150HM - Optimus or Switchable Graphics options available?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by alystair, Aug 2, 2011.

  1. alystair

    alystair Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm in the process of selling off all my hardware to buy a well spec'ed P150HM as it seems to be everything and then some. However, it seems battery life will be on the 'cons' list.

    Unless there's an option to have switchable graphics with the 6990M? That'd be one heck-of-a-plus if possible.
     
    alystair, Aug 2, 2011
    #1
  2. Justin@XoticPC

    Justin@XoticPC Company Representative

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    Welcome to the forums! Hate to be the bearer of bad news but unfortunately there is no IGPU, there is only the DGPU so this unit will not get the best battery life.
     
    Justin@XoticPC, Aug 2, 2011
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  3. Anthony@MALIBAL

    Anthony@MALIBAL Company Representative

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    The discrete GPU on the P150HM is wired directly to the screen. Optimus requires the Intel iGPU on the processor to be wired to the screen, with output from the discrete card piped through there. (Also, optimus is Nvidia only).

    There is currently no option for switchable graphics on the P150HM/P151HM1 due to the way Clevo designed the graphic output. :(
     
    Anthony@MALIBAL, Aug 2, 2011
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  4. cutegigi

    cutegigi Notebook Enthusiast

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    i read somewhere (on this forum) that optimus will actually lower down discreet GPU performance by about 10%. Thats why for performance line (with GTX and above) no optimus is currently offered. This can be seen in both ASUS and MSI gaming line also (not sure about alienware though)

    Since this forum search function did not works, my apologies for not providing any link to the original statement.
     
    cutegigi, Aug 2, 2011
    #4
  5. Xerloq

    Xerloq Notebook Evangelist

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    A side note on the search: go to google, type in notebookreview and your terms, and you'll most likely find what you need.

    Works for me.
     
    Xerloq, Aug 2, 2011
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  6. mythlogic

    mythlogic Company Representative

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    That what you read on the forum was wrong. There is no performance hit typically with Optimus, its a straight DMA copy. The worst you might see is a little latency as that copy has to happen, but performance not so much.
     
    mythlogic, Aug 3, 2011
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  7. rhayes2011

    rhayes2011 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nvidia's optimus page Optimus Technology there is a whitepaper that clarifies shows how optimus works. ATI does support switchable graphics but there are issues
    here is what NVIDIA says are issues(this is from the whitepaper.)
    "
    The Issues with Switchable Graphics
    Although NVIDIA‟s Switchable Graphics technology provides a dramatic increase in battery life for notebooks featuring discrete graphics, several hurdles and limitations are evident:
     Manual Mode Changes – Every time a switch between integrated and discrete graphics mode is desired, the user needs to manually change the setting. If users forget to enable the GPU before launching a game for example, they need to quit the game and enable the GPU before re-launching the application.
     Transition time – Due to the multiplexer and driver load and unload process, there is typically a delay of 5 to 10 seconds or more to switch between integrated graphics and the discrete GPU.
     Blocking Applications – Often applications “block” a mode switch. 3D and video applications and games like Solitaire and Minesweeper would cause a block. Each must be closed before the system will permit switching between the integrated graphics and the GPU. If users forget to close a 3D or video application, they often
    10
    would not realize the graphics mode did not change back to integrated graphics as expected.
     Screen Flicker – As the system switches between the integrated graphics and discrete GPU, the screen flickers due to the driver load time and multiplexers. This can be an annoyance or cause panic as users might assume there is a problem with the system.
     Increased Cost – Switchable Graphics relies on extra digital logic including multiplexers and additional display interfaces, therefore BOM cost is higher than a standard platform.
    "
     
    rhayes2011, Aug 3, 2011
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  8. Hedgeson

    Hedgeson Notebook Guru

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    GTX 560m is compatible with Optimus, but it's not currently widely implemented.
     
    Hedgeson, Aug 3, 2011
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  9. mythlogic

    mythlogic Company Representative

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    That is for switchable graphics, which is different from Optimus. Optimus DOES run everything through the iGPU.
     
    mythlogic, Aug 3, 2011
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  10. rhayes2011

    rhayes2011 Notebook Enthusiast

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    hmmm your right. homer simpson moment 'D'oh'
     
    rhayes2011, Aug 3, 2011
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  11. mythlogic

    mythlogic Company Representative

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    No worries,

    We've had this debate a few times on this forum :p I've posted the full technical explanation and possible future solutions also, but I don't remember where those threads ran off to :)
     
    mythlogic, Aug 3, 2011
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  12. rhayes2011

    rhayes2011 Notebook Enthusiast

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    LOL, being piped thru the IGP brings up a whole slew of question for me. that white paper on the optimus page, when you go to the right page(another homer moment here lol) shows a graphic of how it works, which is a good idea. just too bad other companies only support the switchable.
     
    rhayes2011, Aug 3, 2011
    #12
  13. mythlogic

    mythlogic Company Representative

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    We just wish it was both. Give me switchable AND Optimus, that way if I want to turn that off (Hi Linux) (Yes I know about the software that the community is working on) and just want the dGPU wired up then we can... But alas thats more expensive (like $3 a board) to put the proper MUX's on the board so we'll probably never get our way :p
     
    mythlogic, Aug 3, 2011
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  14. rhayes2011

    rhayes2011 Notebook Enthusiast

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    well there is also board logistics like room, more traces etc that go into adding that mux in. but at least its only a commercial mux.
     
    rhayes2011, Aug 3, 2011
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  15. orca3000

    orca3000 Notebook Evangelist

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    ThinkPad W520 can do that.
     
    orca3000, Aug 3, 2011
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  16. alystair

    alystair Notebook Enthusiast

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    Too bad there's no way to internally install a ghetto secondary graphics device inside the machine and switch during reboots that can be used for everything but intensive 3D.
     
    alystair, Aug 3, 2011
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  17. aduy

    aduy Keeping it cool since 93'

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    ill get my 15 dollar radioshack soldering iron heated up and see what i can do.
     
    aduy, Aug 4, 2011
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  18. mPhilipose

    mPhilipose Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is underclocking the GPU in BIOS a viable option?
     
    mPhilipose, Aug 4, 2011
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  19. koji126

    koji126 Notebook Guru

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    I'm curious about this too actually.
     
    koji126, Aug 4, 2011
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  20. mythlogic

    mythlogic Company Representative

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    If you do it in the video BIOS yes, but no guarantees you don't fry something ;)

    You will have to use something like nibitor to edit the video bios.
     
    mythlogic, Aug 4, 2011
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  21. TheHansTheDampf

    TheHansTheDampf Notebook Evangelist

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    Sorry to bump an old one,

    It appears to be available now to the P150HM or am I mistaken?
    I'm confused ~
     
    TheHansTheDampf, Oct 1, 2011
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  22. Mr_Mysterious

    Mr_Mysterious Like...duuuuuude

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    Optimus is not available on any Sager/Clevo models other than the NP5160 and the NP5165.

    Mr. Mysterious
     
    Mr_Mysterious, Oct 1, 2011
    #22
  23. TheHansTheDampf

    TheHansTheDampf Notebook Evangelist

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    TheHansTheDampf, Oct 1, 2011
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  24. Mr_Mysterious

    Mr_Mysterious Like...duuuuuude

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    Lol wow...someone needs to edit their webpage, lol.

    Mr. Mysterious
     
    Mr_Mysterious, Oct 1, 2011
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  25. Anthony@MALIBAL

    Anthony@MALIBAL Company Representative

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    It seems they made a mistake on that one :confused:

    The P150HM, P151HM1, and P170HM all are non-Optimus models. The discrete GPU is wired directly to the screen which bypasses the onboard graphics needed for Optimus. Only the W150HR and lower offer Optimus, albeit with lower tier discrete graphics options.
     
    Anthony@MALIBAL, Oct 1, 2011
    #25
  26. shishkabob

    shishkabob Notebook Enthusiast

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    Have Cleavo/Sager resellers heard anything from nVidia regarding future Optimus implementations? It would appear to me that sometime soon, maybe in the next Gen of models all the GTX5XX series laptops by Sager/Clevo will have Optimus? Are there any reasons why Sager/Clevo would not implement Optimus with their higher end GPU's?
     
    shishkabob, Oct 2, 2011
    #26
  27. TheHansTheDampf

    TheHansTheDampf Notebook Evangelist

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    It's weird from a consumer point of view i agree. There are probably a lot of B2B relations, exclusives etc. Maybe Dell has a deal with them for Alienware exclusive for certain builds or something. I think it will be hard to uncover the deeper reasons behind that.

    But I really hope they have it in the future soon too!
     
    TheHansTheDampf, Oct 2, 2011
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  28. Pman

    Pman Company Representative

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    It wont happen until the revision in the early part of next year

    The chassis is not designed to incorporate the optimus tech

    It really is as simple as that
     
    Pman, Oct 2, 2011
    #28
  29. TheHansTheDampf

    TheHansTheDampf Notebook Evangelist

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    TheHansTheDampf, Oct 2, 2011
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