My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

Yeap, but it won't save more power than Hybrid Power does AFAIK.
Just the same thing but more streamlined.

 

I'm willing to be a test subject for Optimus testing on the new Z11 series.

Just give me some instructions

 

Like I said previously, I think the first step would be to get the stock Intel drivers to work on their own.
The Nvidia Optimus drivers effectively work as an "add-on" to those.

 

So as far as I can understand Zoinks should remove Z's hybrid GPU drivers and install only intel display drivers. After that he shoud try to install Optimus drivers.

In theory even Vaio F or CW with i5 or i7 and 330m GPU shoud be able to run Optimus drivers. I wonder if Sony did something to prevent this

 

I'll try now.

1. Set the tri-switch to Speed (both adapters only show when the tri-switch is set to speed.)
2. Uninstall everything
3. Install the latest Intel drivers
4. Install the Nvidia Optimus driver pack

For #4, the nv_disp.inf now appears to be nvram.inf. What's the best course of action here to get the installer to recognize the card? A little CTRL-C/CTRL-V for the pci\ven bits?

 

#4 is a 'driver update.'

Is it complete, or only for upgrading drivers without uninstalling the old ones?

 

Looks complete. Runs on it's own.

 

The hybrid drivers might interfere with Optimus, especially if both adapters only show in "Speed" mode. The problem is that Optimus outputs from the IGP, but in Speed mode the Sony would output from the dGPU.

 

Where's Nautis when you need him?

We've been IM'ing on ways to do this. I think he is reviewing some registry exports I sent over.

Anyhoo, I'm giving it a go.

 

Maybe I'm lucky.

I can install both drivers and have output from the Intel side, but the nVidia side is there but doesn't do anthing (powermiser appears working though ).

Laptop is a BenQ Joybook S42.

I used a modified inf from LV2G, though. If I use the above one as is, it says that my operating system is not supported. I am running Windows 64-bit. :|

 

Question is if Win 7 can even see both adapter without hybrid drivers because of multiplexer. Also I wonder if multiplexer will output from IGP by default.

 

The multiplexer would only be on the outputs of the cards, which shouldn't have anything to do with how Windows 7 sees the adapters. I don't think the multiplexer would create a driver issue, except that it needs to be kept to outputting from the IGP all the time for Optimus.

Ideally, removing the Z's hybrid driver would default it to IGP output, as igorstef has said.

 

Well, something happened.

Device manager, in SPEED mode after installing (EDIT: uninstalling):


Installed the Intel HD Driver


Copied the following from the Sony driver's NVMVSZ.INF

Code:

[NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.0]
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = Section003, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D
%iILKGM0.0% = iILKM0, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_905A104D

[NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1]
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = Section004, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D
%iILKGM0.0% = iILKM0, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_905A104D

Into the nvam.inf in the Optimus driver dir

Code:

[NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.0]
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.01% = Section069, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A35&SUBSYS_12521043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.02% = Section069, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A35&SUBSYS_12721043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A72.01% = Section073, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A72&SUBSYS_13321043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A74.01% = Section075, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A74&SUBSYS_12A21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0CAF.01% = Section069, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CAF&SUBSYS_12B21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = Section003, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D
%iILKGM0.0% = iILKM0, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_905A104D

[NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1]
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.01% = Section070, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A35&SUBSYS_12521043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.02% = Section070, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A35&SUBSYS_12721043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A72.01% = Section074, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A72&SUBSYS_13321043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A74.01% = Section076, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A74&SUBSYS_12A21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0CAF.01% = Section070, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CAF&SUBSYS_12B21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = Section004, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D
%iILKGM0.0% = iILKM0, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_905A104D

Installed, rebooted and now have this in Device Manager (machine only boots when AUTO is selected in the tri-selector):


View from the Nvcpl


I'm guessing this is the multiplexer setting you folks were talking about


I did a real simple test with FurMARK. It shows that the Renderer is the Intel, but the GPU temp and util for the Nvidia showed activity


What can I do to further test?

 

When you start any application can you chose from context menu to use NVIDIA GPU? In Optimus demonstration video they were showing little utility application that will display currently active adapter. Do you have any games on new Z?

Good news is that we can see both adapters and output is defaulting to IGP. As far as I can see only thing we need now is somebody who knows how to play with inf files.

 

Nearly melted my eyeballs going through most of this thread last night, very helpful. I finished up a Windows 7 32bit clean install and managed to get everything up and running pretty flawless with the exception of the hybrid switch. Running the intel driver right now, so no biggie. Unless I missed something, there is no 32bit hybrid driver right?

Nautis anything I can do to help along a 32bit driver that works with the switch? I know you mentioned you were eyeballing them a week or so ago. I'd throw in $50 for your time (I don't think thats against the forum rules - if it is sry!)

 

Hahah tis my life story. Sorry to have disappeared on ya Zoinks. Back now. I am looking at the registry stuff you sent me and am building a proper optimus driver INF for you now. Very exciting those screenshots. I will send you a driver soon.

Being that I am so unreliable with this stuff (and after all it is a hobby) I don't take donations. Thanks for the offer though. I was working on a utility like the Mobility Modder to automatically build Hybrid Graphics drivers. (Pick the source folders and it auto builds the drivers) Anyways since that is a slow work in progress I can probably give you instructions on how to do it. Let me know a nvidia driver version you would like to try.

There are 32bit windows 7 drivers for the old (VGN) Vaio Z version 186.84. Let me try to find a link for you. EDIT: Here you go Official 186.84 Windows 7 32bit drivers for the VGN Vaio Z.

 

Really seems like it is working judging by these screenshots. I emailed you a new INF to try. You also may want to make sure updatussetup.exe is run. As I said in the email the reviews use a nvidia provided test tool. (We probably won't be able to get a hold this optimus test tool without contacting a reviewer.) You can try 3dmark like Nvidia shows in their optimus comparison video. You can also try to set each "Preferred graphics processor" and test for the benchmark or game you are testing and check the performance difference. Is the light next to auto still light after removing the hybrid graphics drivers btw?


The proper changes to the INF should be:

Add the following lines:

Code:

(this one really is not needed as it is for Windows Vista) Under [B][NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.0][/B] add
[B]%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = [COLOR="Red"]Section069[/COLOR], PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D[/B] (end vista code)

Under [B][NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1][/B] add
[B]%NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01% = [COLOR="Red"]Section070[/COLOR], PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D[/B]

Under [B][Strings][/B] at the bottom add
[B]NVIDIA_DEV.0A2B.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M"[/B]

The iILKM0 stuff is for the Intel drivers and is not needed in the nvidia driver INF.

 

I follow ZoinksS2k instruction end up at very slowly boot windows and then show welcome screen follow by blank screen. This occurs in every graphics switch mode button.

I must hit F8 to run windows in 640x480 then it show welcome screen at 640x480 but when go in to desktop it at 1920x1080. The nvidia control panel seem like your screen shot excepet no optimus demonstration text but when test performance every settings that i make the reslts seems like only from intel graphics so can you tell what version of file that you use

For mine i use
GFX_Vista_Win7_64_15.17.1.64.2086_PV_Intel
189.42_optimus_notebook_win7_64bit_international

 

Nautis, thanks for the assist. You and I both have time consuming hobbies.

I was going to do this tonight, but I had some "cereal time" this morning.

I did basically the same steps, but with Nautis' nvram.inf he sent me last night. I didn't modify it like I showed in my previous post.

I'm seeing basically the same results from my attempt yesterday.

BTW, the 2x64GB SSD's in RAID 0 make rebooting almost pleasurable. HOWEVER, running with this graphics driver combo has introduced a 30 to 45 second delay to the boot sequence. We'll need to fix the delay for this to be a workable solution. This happened both times I've done this.

I'm still not sure of a good way to evaluate if this Optimus working or not. Launching apps does not invoke a dialogue where you can select a specific GPU. This is available in the "Manage 3d Settings" and in the "Program Settings" tab.

 

Can you get the context menu to appear like it does here?
As for whether or not Optimus is working, have you been able to get something to run on the dGPU?

 

Nice, missed that.

Ayup


Edit: I ran FurMark in both modes. Performance looks on par with that you'd expect between the Intel and Nvidia GPU's. There were NO screen flickers when switching, looks seemless.

Edit 2: 3DMark05 does the same thing. Craptastic performance when selecting the Intel, reasonable on the Nvidia.

Now, if we can just get the reboot delay problem resolved....

 

Incredible! First TRIM support in the Intel RST drivers, now Optimus support...can this laptop do any wrong?

-Peter

 

Ok, so we have the reboot problem.

Add issue 2:

 

USB 3.0

 

igorstef opened a dedicated thread for the Z11 and Optimus (rightly so).

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=6048498#post6048498

I won't be posting here any longer.

 

Yeah probably for the best. Great work Zonks you are doing amazing things with the new Z. This tread will continue on discussion of Hybrid Graphics drivers for the old Vaio Z and maybe the new one.

 

Thanks Nautis, if you could give me something in the way directions, I'll charge ahead and hopefully have some 32bit drivers for people to use. Pick any version, I don't have a preference. I'm writing up a guide for a clean Windows 7 32bit install, thought I'd try to contribute to what seems a very good forum.

FYI I'm working on the new Z - amazing computer. Very impressive so far.

 

I have to re install my Vaio Z next week since I will exchange the HDD with a SSD.
Any suggestion on the graphics driver? Should I still stick with the Sony Win7 default? Or is there a "better"/updated option...
Thanks in advance!

 

I'm using the "Nautis_9166_1994" package and it's great, much better than the original one from Sony. No issues at all.

 

Is there already an solution for 32bit systems on older z machines?

 

Thank you!
Can you provide me with a download link or any sort of that?

Thanks in advance!

 

With my best knowledge, skill, and ability I tried to develop hybrid graphic driver, but I FAILED. Switching problem is present in all nvidia drivers that are newer than 191.66. I am just guessing that current nvbridge_int.kmd file cannot be corresponded with newer functions of newer drivers, but since I am not aware of programming field, it is not an accurate information but just a rough guess. Maybe Nautis will figure it out, hopefully. We want 195 or newer because it will support graphic acceleration for adobe flash 10.1.

 

I think the easiest way is to upgrade to 64bit

Here you go You'll need to install them in test mode and sign them.

 

Thanks a lot.

Is this programm sufficient to do the job (sign driver + test mode):
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Files&go=cat&dwn_cat_id=34

Which file do I have to select to sign the drivers?
Thanks in advance

 

Not sure if its an issue with nvbridge_int or not but yes this is one of the reasons why I have not released new drivers. The new 2### series of Intel drivers also do not work on our old Vaio Zs. The last 195 driver I used would switch to Intel but would not switch back. Hopefully just a settings issue that I will stumble upon. I can send you a list of settings if you want to test.

Yes it is. You will need to sign two files:

Code:

c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys
c:\windows\system32\drivers\igdkmd64.sys

I have not done 32bit drivers for a while as I have been trying to get the new ones to function properly. I don't have a 32bit os on here any longer so it is difficult to test to see what works.

 

Thanks a lot

Will keep you posted on my experiences with the new drivers and my setup. However, I do not expect anything bad

 

For some reasons, after installing the drivers, the switch does not work and I get both graphic cards (intel and nvidia) in the device manager. Switching from stamina to speed or vice versa has no effect. The green light next to the swith on either side does not light up... any suggestions... :/

In the context menu on the desktop I always get nvidia.

 

Did you try to switch the graphic cards through the icon in sys tray? After I did it once, the light came up and the switch started to work as well.

 

A reboot fixed it

Just to make sure: The Intel Graphics Driver Interface is still the same as in the native Sony drivers, right? I remember that Intel released a driver with a nicer control panel... didn't they?

 

Well isn't it that 2### series Nautis is talking about? That doesn't work with our Z (yet)...

 

Yes that would be the 2### series of Intel drivers. I would love to get them working right. The issue with them seems to be that they only use the VGA out when setup in Hybrid Graphics. Oddly they work fine when Installed on their own. I have been trying to find a way to force the LVDS but it just doesn't seem to work. Really odd.

With the release of Optimus and researching on how to get them working right with the new Vaio Z has led me to some interesting information and some new things to try. As Dream has said most of the newer drivers seem to have switching problems. What seems to happen here is that the Nvidia portion somehow gets disabled (in device manager) when switched to Intel and will not re-enable so it can not switch back. Dropping back to safe mode enabling Nvidia makes it work again as far as I can remember.

Both of these issues seem like they can be fixed by figuring out the proper settings but who knows really. I have been playing around with different driver versions and settings for a while with no results thus far.

I am working on new driver sets for both 32bit and 64bit. I am not really sure what versions they are going to end up being but chances are they will NOT be the latest. (N197|I2000)

 

Nautis, maybe you know this:

Is there any way to enable/install the latest CUDA without the whole installation of a new nvidia driver? (im stuck with forceware 187.35 since i have a z hybrid intel4500/9300m gs)

And btw, i discovered that when u have ur bios unlock (all advanced options) and u set the GPU switching on 'Static' in the bios u can boot up using only the nvidia card (and u can install the latest nvidia driver from nvidia.com, which works like a charm!) it only boots up giving strange vertical lines in different colors (instead of the windows logo) but after that the logon screen just pops up and all is workin..

 

Why don't you install some package with newer drivers for Z from Nautis, which include CUDA?

 

Yes, if you can share what you have, I will try some more experiments.
Actually I was working on this problem for about one month, but so far it is not sucessful.
Now I am working on 197.13, which was released today. It is NOT beta but WHQL certified. I do not want to release "unofficially modified" hybrid drivers based on "beta" drivers. It just seems it is not right thing to do for me.
The thing that I am really waiting for is new WHQL certified driver for mobile devices.

On the other hand, I think 2xxx intel drivers will never work on old z's unless sony provide bios (or efi? ) update. Since I was more concentrating on nvidia drivers, I did not have many tests on intel side, but I am guessing that 2xxx drivers does not work with current video bios.

And finally, lastest unofficial hybrid driver as of right now is nvidia 191.66 and intel 1994.


Nautis:
would you also provide links for ALL OFFICIAL hybrid graphic drivers?
I want to collect nvbridge_int.kmd files.

 

What was the last unofficial driver on Vista 32-bit? I saw Sorg made one and updated to rev. 3 somewhere in the first 20 pages, but then most of the focus have been on 64-bit and Win 7. Was there any work in the 80 pages or so between Feb. 09 and Mar. 10? I don't think Sony released any update on Vista 32-bit, either.

I grabbed a clearance H.A.W.X. yesterday and it didn't like the nVidia driver, even though during installation it checked out. I can run it on my wife's FZ4000 with 8400GT, so push comes to shove I can play it there.

 

Good stuff. Glad to have someone else attempting to tackle the issue. I am more than willing to provide whatever you need. The ultimate goal with this stuff is to just get it working for all of us.

I think you may be expecting to much of WHQL. Remember 196.75 was WHQL and it fried a lot of peoples systems. Anyways semantics, everyone mods differently.

Not sure about 2### myself. They work fine for me with a monitor plugged into VGA and they work fine on their own. It seems to be a multiplexer issue. I suggest reading the Optimus Whitepaper as it provides a lot of technical info on Hybrid Graphics.

Anyways I am going to try to post some of the more technical details and information over on my new section on LaptopVideo2Go.

I hope you are using a file compare tool like winmerge or beyondcompare. A tool like this is a must have when working on this stuff.

 

The latest official Vaio Z Hybrid Graphics drivers for Windows 7 32bit are 186.84 and you can find them here. The 32bit drivers stopped when I upgraded to windows 7 64bit. It has been difficult enough trying to get 64bit drivers working and since I could at least test them those are what I focused on. I was hoping to release both 32 and 64bit sets if and when I got some that I felt were stable and capable enough. I suggest you try those official ones linked above.

A suggestion to those looking as a last resort. If you flash one of the new hacked bios with advanced menu enabled you can basically switch off Hybrid Graphics. What this seems to do (or at least did when I tested it) is force the Nvidia GPU as the one and only default. The bennefit here is that you should be able to install standard Nvidia drivers for the 9300M GS.

 

Yo Nautis, what are the latest Hybrid Graphics (non-Optimus) drivers for Windows 7 64-bit?

edit: I'm heh trying out the Fujitsu 186.84 drivers. Unfortunately (most likely expected as well) no difference to the 186.88 Asus drivers from around the same time.

edit2: What I'm actually looking for are any drivers that work with MadVR and CoreAVC both. The newer drivers freeze up MadVR and the older drivers won't accelerate with CoreAVC.

edit3: With the Fujitsu drivers, there seems to slightly lower power consumption on the intel graphics, though that could be because my battery may not be properly calbrated.

 

I will put together a list for everyone of all the latest official Hybrid Graphics drivers that I know of.

To help those on their search:

Code:

; Device ID            Name                     Brand    Model
; -------------------  -----------------------  -------  ----------------
; 10DE.0649.0597.17FF  NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT  BenQ     Joybook S42
; 10DE.0649.1148.1734  NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT  Fujitsu  Amilo XI 3650
; 10DE.0649.2F1D.1509  NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT  Fujitsu  Amilo XI 3650
; 10DE.0652.0200.1025  NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M   Acer     Aspire 5935G
; 10DE.06E5.9025.104D  NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS  Sony     Vaio Z (Old VGN)
; 10DE.06E9.9025.104D  NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS  Sony     Vaio Z (Old VGN)
; 10DE.06F1.1AB2.1043  NVIDIA GeForce G105M     Asus     UX50V
; 10DE.0A2B.905A.104D  NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M   Sony     Vaio Z (New VPC)
; 10DE.0A74.1AF2.1043  NVIDIA GeForce G210M     Asus     UL30VT
; 10DE.0A74.1BC2.1043  NVIDIA GeForce G210M     Asus     UL30VT
; 10DE.0CAF.0443.1028  NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M   Dell     Alienware M11x
; -----------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: I will see if I can find something for you Namaiki.

I have updated the first post with links to the latest official drivers including brand new 188.80 hybrid graphics for the NEW model Vaio Z. I have also added dreamliners unofficial 191 package.

EDIT2: Namaiki have you tried the drivers for the New Vaio Z yet? I wonder if the Intel 2### series drivers will work on yours. I know they wont work on the old Vaio Zs right now.

 

Yup, thats why i want the latest CUDA (2.0) then CoreAVC works!