My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

Okay, i'm on 7077 and it SEEMS to be working fine with the stock sony drivers .7449.

What i did was to reinstall 7077 from scratch, boot in stamina mode and update the drivers for the "Standard VGA adapter" via device manager in the control panel. I didn't use the installer instead pointing windows to the directory where i had "universally extracted" the sony package. It went through the standard screen flicker, resolution changes, turning the screen on/off, etc as it installed the driver though instead of stopping after a few times the install never seemed to stop. I waited a while, about 30mins, was working on something else so it may have been longer/shorter but by then my HDD had stopped accessing so i figured it didn't work and i would have to try something else. So i forcibly shut down the machine and rebooted, switched it back to speed just for the hell of it and oddly enough it started up no problems. So maybe i was just having an unlucky day yesterday, who knows.

 

Would it be possible to add more resolutions to the driver? Currently I can only choose 1600x900 as the only 16:9 reion, and as you can guess its not very good for new games.

Would this even be possible to add into the current driver?

 

new driver
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7_x86_185.81_beta.html

185.81, lots of us are crossing our fingers you can work your magic once more

 

hot -- Rep +1!

 

You'd be right in your assumption, those are the ones I have. Oh well, I guess thats the price I pay for having 4 gigs of ram. No biggie.

 

So is there any Vista driver supporting hardware switching on the z? I´m not shure which one i can take...

 

Any new updates for 64bit drivers?

 

Hello everyone back for a bit of news.

I have been working with Dox at LaptopVideo2Go to help make sure us Hybrid Graphics users are not left in the dark. Dox is known for his fantastic optimised drivers.

I have helped him put together a 185.85 package that includes support for our Hybrid Graphics notebooks. You can find more information and download links here. The download includes an installer that will extract the appropriate drivers to your desktop and install them. Be sure where it says "Select your GPU config:" that you choose Hybrid Graphics.

It is recommended to uninstall your previous drivers before installing these.

Nvidia 185.85 | Intel 1688 | Packaged and Optimised by: Dox

 

yeah nautis basicaly acted as my 101 consultant and tested the settings for me. Without his quick responses and knowledge this would have taken a long time since I dont have a hybrid laptop.

thanks nautis, much appreciated.

 

Is it possible to get this driver with language support?

 

big thanks to you two guys, will try these drivers today on VAIO Z590

 

thanks dox & nautis!!

 

I very much appreciate the time and effort, but I am sorry to say it did not work for me: Z690, Vista Ultimate x64.

I read and followed the intructions. Here is what I did:

1. Moved the switch to SPEED so that both cards are visible in the Device Manager
2. Uninstalled nVidia driver with option "delete the driver" checked.
3. Uninstalled Intel driver (at this point the screen res went to 800x600).
4. Shut down. Start again.
5. Installed VistaWin7x64_185.85.exe with options "VISTA x64" & "Hybrid graphics"
6. Restarted.
7. Resolution remained 800x600, both cards are recognized in the device manager, but they have an exclamation point. Right-click reveals: windows cannot load the driver becaue it is corrupt or missing (Code 39).

I had to go back to the original driver from SONY.

Hope this helps in further development. Thanks again.

 

i had the same problem with my Z550

 

Did not work for me either on my Z21WN/B. I had to go back to NV185.20_INT1624_by_Sorg

 

Doesn't work for me either. Even after clean uninstall of Nvidia drivers, it always installs just the Intel driver, not the Nvidia one (yes I have switch in the Speed mode)... Rolled back to Sorg drivers...hoping for next release

 

Yeah a fix should be coming soon. A couple of mistakes have been found.

There are multiple INFs contained in the installer so there were a couple of things that were overlooked.

Sorry bout that everyone.

 

no problem, can't wait to try the fixed version!

 

Maybe a new package with language support ;-) This would me amazing *gg

 

Ill make sure to post up a package with full language support for ya Sir Robin.

 

Wow, that would be great! Thank you in advance for that great work! You are the best!

 

I noticed there's a new thread about these drivers.

Here's the new link;
Nvidia 185.85 | Intel 1688 | Packaged and Optimised by: Dox

Still not working on my z-series though....

 

Sorry everyone. There was a setting that was overlooked that broke hybrid graphics functionality (vaio z, benq, fujitsu, asus.) I have already tracked it down and fixed it.

I am trying to work out a different issue with the hardware switch & drivers working strangely. The drivers do not seem to initialize correctly if switched to Speed(Nvidia/dGPU) when booting. It fixes itself if you switch to Stamina (Intel/mGPU) or if the display blanks (turn off display after, or sleep) though. It is kind of a strange issue, not necessarily a deal breaker, but it takes a little extra push to get the hardware switch working properly after booting.

I am pushing for 100% working hybrid graphics functionality with these but we will see. 185.85 is the only 185 series driver I have seen that has this problem, thus far.

 

If everything else is working, it wouldn't be really deal breaker for me...as in 99% I'm booting in Stamina mode. Can't wait to test it out

 

Sorry guys, I haven't forgotten about all of you here.

A final 185.85 has just been released which should at least make it functional for hybrid graphics users. As stated before there is an issue with the hardware switch and things.

There seems to be issues with 64bit and signing the drivers which I may look at next. I may have some other goodies too. I have a lot on the drawing board so we will see what I have time to get to and when.

And I haven't forgotten about multi-language support SirRobin. Either I will add it, or let you know how you can so you can do so with future releases.

I really appreciate all of your continued help and support. This hobby is sometimes very stressful and time consuming. I appreciate all the patience you have given. Dox and I started talking a little while back and it sort of spawned into this driver set that has been released. This is primarily a Dox release so it follows his optimised driver structure.

 

so just to confirm, for 64b it still requires the signing hack? These are not signed?

 

Thank you Nautis and others that support final 185.85. You guys are better than Sony. I try it with my vaio Z, it works fine.

Below is an easy way to signup these drivers in test mode for Vista x64. Hope this can help some people here.

1. Download dseo13b.exe from link below.

http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Files&go=cat&dwn_cat_id=34

2. Run dseo13b.exe select 'Enable Test Mode' click 'Next', Click 'OK' in popup windows.
3. Reboot your machine, you will see test mode in 4 corner of your display.
4. Run dseo13b.exe select 'Sign a System File', paste the two string below into the box. You have to do it twice one for each drivers.

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\igdkmd64.sys
5. Select 'Exit' click next. Reboot your PC you can see your display looks good.

Next is to remove Test Mode at 4 corners.
1. Download RemoveWatermarkX64.exe from the link below:

http://deepxw.blogspot.com/2008/12/remove-watermark-v03-build-20081210.html
2. Run RemoveWatermarkX64.exe as Administrator. Press R and reboot. All the watermark will disappear.

 

Nautis I have a sony z21wn/b and I can't make it work with this last driver.

The only driver I could make it work was with this one made by you I think:

HybGfx_185.68_x64.exe

But it has a bug.

When I try to change from one mode to the other it askes to close some programs but one of the programs is the windows it self lol

So i can never change modes.


I've also done everything fredguy says but it didn't work for the last driver.

Please help me.

Thanks!

 

I posted this on LV2G but figured I'd post it here also since I have a Z.

Running a Sony Z590 with Windows 7 RC 32 bit. I have tried to install these 4 times and all I end up with is a black screen after reboot. I should clarify, Windows is running, just no display. The steps I took were: uninstall both drivers, enter safe mode, run Driver Sweeper, install driver package, checked device manager to make sure both devices showed 185.85 drivers, then reboot. I have my switch on Stamina (tried on Speed too). Has anyone been successful with a Z on Windows 7?

Thanks...Brian

 

Your black screen issue bjevers, that seems extremely odd. Does the screen turn off completely, or is it on with nothing on it? I am running them on Vista 32bit with no issues (besides the switch thing) and I don't see why windows 7 would be any different. Yours has been the only report thus far that I have seen of an issue like this.

I have a flight in a few hours and may or may not have internet for the next 4 days. I will try to get to as much as I can when I can. In the mean time hopefully someone will be able to figure out the signing issue. If someone can try signing just the Intel portion and then trying it maybe that will do it. I don't know, seems strange.

I will look into the signing issues in detail when I can. Sorry bout all the problems with these. 185.85 has given me the largest hassle of any drivers thus far.

Martini, for 185.68 try this registry file and see if it helps. As for 185.85 patience shall prevail.

 

The screen is on during the boot process, but as soon as the windows drivers kick in (right before login screen) the screen turns off completely. I know Martini-man mentioned the screen issue also, but he said it was on but blank. I don't think mine was on. I don't remember seeing the backlight on. I've since removed them other wise I could check for sure.

 

Try this:

1- Check the yellow disk led. It will be flashing as hell.
2- Don't press any button.
3- When the yellow disk led stops flashing so often hit enter and wait. It shall reboot it self.

 

I have experienced the exact same behavior on Windows 7 x86 7127 on my Z. I see the windows startup logo but as soon as it comes to the login screen, the screen goes blank. I did try all sorts of things, even updating the drivers in the device manager, but still the same problem.

 

The same on Windows 7 x64 7100 on my Z21. Trying to sign drivers, 0 effect I waiting 20 min. after screen is black.. and nothing...

 

same on my sony z11wn/b with windows 7 rc 7100 :-(

 

seems like hyrbid graphics works on vista and vista x86 but not on Win7 RC.
M$ has come on to say that they wont support hybrid on win7

 

Is there a chance that Windows 7 using GPT not MBR format, because Z is unstable if you have EFI partition.

 

What do you mean "Z is unstable if you have EFI partition"? Please give us some details, cause this surely is new to me and many others who use it with GPT and EFI.

I dual boot using wbm with no problems, and the boot is stable as hell. What instability is it I have been lucky to not encounter?

 

Now I'm trying Windows 7 32 bits.

It happens as some say.

Screen all black no matter what's done.

Dox if Win 7 didn't support hybrid drivers sony drivers wouldn't work.

And I've came across one driver when I was using 64 bits, made by Nautis, that was working perfectly, however the program that says to close programs was asking to close itself when changing from speed mode to stamina so you could never change unless you rebooted.

The file was HybGfx_185.68_x64.exe .

 

Hey everyone.. I am back from my trip and service pack 2 disaster. An will get on all of this Hybrid Graphics stuff ASAP.

Microsoft has never officially supported hybrid technology, it has always been supported by the companies that developed it (Nvidia & ATI.)

The 185.85 drivers have given me more problems than any of those before it. I have run into the black screen issue with 185.77 and have fixed it, so I will see if I can do the same with 185.85 on W7.

I literally just got back home Tuesday night and it has taken me two days to get my system back running. I am going to install W7 release candidate now and work on the black screen issue.

 

Nautis - Thanks for the update and continued support!

 

Thanks for the drivers. Works well on my 64-bit Z590.

 

thanks for the driver. keep it updating, especially on physical switching

 

New update from 186 series coming soon. With the hardware switch working.

EDIT:
Nvidia 186.08 | Intel 1775 | WDDM 1.1 Windows 7 - Coming Soon

The hardware switch is working fine with these (no tricks needed.) The only issue I have run into is that I can not adjust the brightness in Speed (dGPU/Nvidia) mode.

If anyone has Vista (32 or 64bit) on their machines and can test these drivers for me drop me a line. I had a crash and decided to go the Windows 7 64bit route so I don't have vista to test with right now. I would like to see if the Windows 7 drivers work on Vista. If not it will take me a bit to repartition install Vista and test these before I release them.

 

wow thats great to hear! thanks alot for your effort nautilus!

 

Can i also use this driver with vista 32 bit? Will it be multilanguage?

 

When I try Win 7 64bit, Brightness is working out-of-the-box for nVidia (I tried brightness from Windows mobility center). But if I install sony's OEM graphics driver it will stop working again

Just thought I will share this little info

I have Vista 64 bit and I can give a try and see if the latest driver works

 

Yes on Both. I am trying to figure out if I need to package four versions of these drivers or just two. If the Intel Windows 7 drivers do not work on Vista then I will need to create four separate packages (Win7 32bit, Win7 64bit, Vista 32bit, Vista 64bit.) These will be packaged the same way as my old drivers and include some Dox optimisations.

Thanks for the info. How would I be able to send these to you to test? (Your PM is disabled)

 

Thanks for the great work. Looking forward to help you test the driver.

 

Sorry about that. I tried enabling it. Plz try again.