Sager 8760: Switchable graphics

Hey I have a new Sager 8760 with an ATI 5870. I know that this card supports switchable graphics with the integrated intel graphics. How do I switch? Thanks!

 

I don't think the 8760 has switchable graphics, at least the sager site doesn't have anything to indicate that it does. And if a notebook has switchable graphics you can be sure that it will be plastered all over the description that it has them.

 

The 8760/8790 Does not support switchable graphics, regardless of which video card you have. Maybe in the next major refresh. (Don't ask when that is, cause nobody has any idea when that will be.)

 

That's stinks are there any third party programs that would allow the switch?

 

It can't do it, the hardware does not support it, There is only one graphics card in the machine. It won't work even if you had one of the core i5 or i3 with built in graphics. No there is no third party software.

 

What made you think it could be done in the first place?

 

With only a 3 cell battery, I doubt Clevo will be bothered to implement graphics switching in 860/870 to squeeze that tiny bit more out of a 3 cell battery.

 

This laptop don't have onboard video.

 

With lithium polymer cells it is more about the size of the cells not the fact that it is only 3 instead of more.

 

the 3800mAH battery is abit more than twice my cellphone's battery as well.

 

Thanks for the replies. I thought I might be able to do it because since the 5870m supports switchable graphics and intel naturally has onboard video on the motherboard it would make sense that I'd be able to make it happen. I was pretty sure I couldn't but I wanted to make sure.

 

Even though i5's and some i7's have an IGP and the 5870 supports it you need a chipset that can support it as well. PM55 does not, for example. So, I guess we could address all the complaints to Intel or Clevo for not using a different chipset.

 

Three cell battery? That explains a lot. Clevo could fit a 12 cell into the d900f but not this? Why not? Not to moan or anything I'm just curious

 

The cells are lithium polymer instead of lithium ion. Basically you only add more cells to get to the voltage you want with lithium polymer and just use larger cells as they are rectangular in a pouch as opposed to round cells in a metal can like normal batteries. I'm sure using fewer larger cells instead of more smaller cells in parallel is cheaper as well. That being said the battery is rather small in total Wh as well, but I guess that is part of the price you pay for a more compact lighter notebook.

 

Interesting! The battery on idle lasted almost exactly an hour (low brightness) which is pretty dismal especially when taking into account the low idles of the i7 820 and 5870. But the performance definitely makes up for it.

 

Lets say the laptop did have intergrated graphics..how much battery life as an estimate would we gain?

 

I would guess maybe 45 mins more on idle

 

Acer new timeline x laptops feature core i 3/5/7 (only the models with integrated graphics) and 5470 or 5650 gpu

A 9 cell 13 incher core i 5 440m and 5650gpu lasts about 12hours with the integrated IGP from the cpu and 5650 deactivated.

 

They use a different chipset, HM55 not PM55. The HM55 is designed to work with low-power CPUs while the PM55 is for mainstream.