My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

Well I wonder if the Intel issues are just Intel issues. There are a few settings I posted about before relating to the Intel switchable graphics portion. I am investigating this now.

Nah just put a package together really. Working I just mean functioning.. Optimus is a nice departure from Switchable (Hybrid) Graphics since it for the most part seems to function (albeit with power and hdmi issues).

This really belongs in the Optimus thread but: I have been investigating the power issues with Optimus pretty thoroughly. I assume at this point that it is a acpi call issue. I don't think the call for fully powering down the nvidia gpu is there. Luckly for us Nvidia hasn't made it disable Optimus if the call isn't present. Basically what we have is an Optimus hybrid. Optimus without the power down call it is still using powermizer which throttles down to the values we see at its lowest powerstate. I am trying to figure out how to export the nvidia video bios for the Z1 at this point.

As for HDMI, not sure there is much we can do about it. I admittedly haven't looked at it yet. I assume the HDMI output is attached to the NVIDIA part. (HDMI doesn't work when switched to stamina on hybrid graphics does it?) I wonder how systems with optimus and a multiplexer address this issue (yes there are a few). Optimus notebooks with a multiplexer allow for turning off Optimus in the bios and still being able to use the Nvidia GPU.

EDIT: Cross posting this reply to the Optimus thread.

 

Nautis do you know why the Z1's internal display is not HDCP compliant? Is it because of the hybrid graphics? It can play Blu-Rays because the Blu-Ray spec makes an exception for internal displays but the PlayReady DRM that WMC uses for protected video doesn't work on the Z1's internal display (external displays through HDMI work fine). All I have been able to gather is that if any part of the protected display path doesn't support HDCP it won't work.

 

Optimus for vpcz1 is pretty useless, as it can't turn off nvidia and save battery.

i tried vgnz inf on my vpcz1 long time ago, but i don't like the result, this is more to intel side problem, feels like some additional delay.
I kept trying nvidia newer driver combined to intel newer driver without positive result.

 

Nautis,

I found some display and power settings in an unexpected place. Please take a look here.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation\VAIO Event Service\Settings

 

Thanks!

Second question - Ever since I installed the unofficial drivers, My external display is having problems with auto detection when I plug it in. I need to either switch modes via Fn+F7 or open the screen resolution settings page and click on 'detect' when I want windows to recognize that it was plugged in or removed.

Anyone experience this problem? Hints on how to solve it?

Second thing is that with the original drivers when a program was blocking I could click on 'switch anyway' (or something akin, don't remember the exact wording) and the mode would change. Now, with the blocking management program, I cannot do that. Any way to overcome this?

Thanks!

 

Nautis, appreciate your efforts. Since the GT330M vBIOS is a module in the insyde BIOS, you can't extract nor flash it with the known tools like nvflash or GPU-Z. In contrast to desktop GPUs, the 330M does not have an own bios flash accessible to these tools (same for most laptops).
Let me support you - here are the GT330M vBIOS and the ACPI tables from the VPC-Z1. Since I have been working on the Z1's BIOS for some weeks now, I hexedit-extracted them for you. Hope that helps. Just drop me a line if you need further assistance.

 

pyr0 any chance anything in the NVIDIA or Insyde BIOSes have anything that might affect HDCP compliance? Sorry long shot I know, but I am just a little peeved that my Z12's internal display is not HDCP compliant. I have already tried setting the graphics switching to Static using the hacked BIOS but this made no difference. This is regarding using a CableCARD tuner: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/609424-vaio-z-internal-display-not-hdcp-compliant.html

 

I read your topic but I don't think the issue you have has anything to do with the Z1's hardware. I never had problems with HDCP (Bluray) on any type of display connection setup on my Z, so HDCP DOES work. If you run on the GT330M card, the NVidia control panel also shows that HDCP is enabled and all kinds of bluray compatibility testing tools state that it works.

I advise you to test it on other laptops or an external moitor via HDMI first. If it doesn't work either, I think you should get in touch with the CableCARD support.

 

Any working drivers for the Windows 8 Developer Preview? I would have thought Microsoft would have made Windows 8 work with older drivers. Using Andrew08's Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2281 signed drivers. I have the VPC Z series with the GT 330M. The stamina light on the switch lights up as does the auto switch but the computer cannot seem to switch graphics cards from the the Intel to the Nvidia card when the switch is changed to Speed or Auto and plugged in. I have tried the official Sony drivers but same effect.

 

Can you clarify if you see the HDCP section in the NVIDIA control panel with no external displays connected? Mine only shows up when I connect an external display through HDMI. And I'm not sure if I mentioned it but, yes it works fine with an external monitor through HDMI. It's just the internal display that's giving me hell. From what I understand the reason Blu-Ray works is that the Blu-Ray spec makes an exception for internal displays. But CableLabs/PlayReady DRM doesn't.

 

Blahman: please read your original thread on this issue. I have answered you there.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/609424-vaio-z-internal-display-not-hdcp-compliant.html

 

Code:

 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation\VAIO Event Service\Settings\VESAutoDimmer]
 "P00BrightnessLevel0"=dword:00000007
 "P01BrightnessLevel1"=dword:0000000a
 "P02BrightnessLevel2"=dword:0000000e
 "P03BrightnessLevel3"=dword:00000016
 "P04BrightnessLevel4"=dword:00000023
 "P05BrightnessLevel5"=dword:00000036
 "P06BrightnessLevel6"=dword:00000053
 "P07BrightnessLevel7"=dword:0000007a
 "P08BrightnessLevel8"=dword:000000b6
 "P09CorrectionCoefficientLx10"=dword:0000000a
 "P10TypicalIlluminanceLow"=dword:0000007d
 "P11TypicalIlluminanceHigh"=dword:00000000
 "P12LowThreshold"=dword:00000055
 "P13HighThreshold"=dword:0000006e
 "P14PWMChangeRateForEvent0"=dword:00000001
 "P15IntervalForEvent0"=dword:00000023
 "P16PWMChangeRateForEvent1"=dword:00000002
 "P17IntervalForEvent1"=dword:00000001
 "P18SensorInterruptRate"=dword:00000004
 "P19AmbientLightCompensationRate"=dword:00000037
 "P20KBDBacklihgtIlluminanceLow"=dword:0000000c
 "P21KBDBacklihgtIlluminanceHigh"=dword:00000000

screen backlight + sensor setting.

Code:

 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation\VAIO Event Service\Settings\VESHybridGfx]
 "AutoPowerProfile"="{381B4222-F694-41F0-9685-FF5BB260DF2E}"
 "StaminaPowerProfile"="{A1841308-3541-4FAB-BC81-F71556F20B4A}"
 "SpeedPowerProfile"="{8C5E7FDA-E8BF-4A96-9A85-A6E23A8C635C}"

windows power profile

Code:

 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation\VAIO Event Service\Settings\VESPerform\Screen]
 "ForceAllowRotationFlag"=dword:00000000
 "ForceDenyRotationFlag"=dword:00000000
 "ForceAllowZoomAllSize"=dword:00000000

 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sony Corporation\VAIO Event Service\Settings\VESRotation]
 "ShiftCtrlF1-F4ControlEnable"=dword:00000000
 "Tablet Cancel ButtonSwap"=dword:00000001
 "Tablet EdgeExtent Top"=dword:00000010
 "Tablet EdgeExtent Bottom"=dword:00000010
 "Tablet EdgeExtent Left"=dword:00000010
 "Tablet EdgeExtent Right"=dword:00000010
 "Tablet Centering Mode Capability"=dword:00000000

Responsible for Rotation? this is indeed interesting.

but none of this will help hybrid graphic.

 

There are some hybrid related settings there as well. IIRC WOW6432Node is the bridge between x64 and 32 bit applications. Will have to dig a little deeper.

 

Fantastic Pyr0. I have already been looking at the ACPI calls through RW Everything. I had figured it was something like that with the vBIOS. I assume the Intel vBIOS in in there too. I had considered updating the vBIOs to see if it solves any of our issues, not sure how different it is than a standard one though.

That all applies to sonys speed/stamina switch.

--

I wonder how Sony is going to handle Windows 8 with the Z1.

 

I think it is also setting the capabilities of the display. Can someone look up the GUID of the various power profiles and see what they mean? 32 bytes is a lot.

 

BTW, I installed Windows 8 Developer Preview x64 on my Z1. Andrew08's driver working fine.

 

I am also running windows 8 preview build with hacked bios and the latest nvidia 285.27 Driver. Flawless.

 

I'm having a few issues in Win 8 with VAIO software.

1. The battery care function is missing from VAIO control center.

2. The fingerprint reader is crashing because the trust platform module from Infineon is not getting installed - keeps saying I don't have the necessary permissions.

 

By flawless you mean you can switch between the Intel and Nvidia graphics?
Because "For VPC-Z1 series Vaio Z users wishing to use standard non-modified Intel or Nvidia drivers be sure to check ComputerCowboys driver thread for BIOS Hacked systems. Note: This method requires a modified BIOs and you loose Switchable (Hybrid) Graphics capability. Meaning you can only use either the Intel GPU OR the Nvidia GPU, not both." on first post.

IE Do you have to flick the speed/stamina switch and then reboot for the change to happen?

 

Ah sorry if I gave you false hopes. I am running with the hacked bios meaning I have disabled the Intel GPU. So im running the Nvidia GPU discreet. No Hybrid options.

 

Battery care issue fixed by setting VAIO Control Center to run as administrator.

Fingerprint app is still crashing with the error " Arithmetic operation resulted in overflow". TPM module seems to be installed properly in device manager. Driver seems OK too, and yet the error persists.

VAIO Update cannot get past the initial agreement and settings dialog. You make your selections and proceed, and it brings you right back to the same agreement screen. Endless loop.

Edit: cross posting to Win 8 thread.

 

so anyone have a work around to make the hybrid work on the new windows 8 yet?

this over $2000 machine should not be out of date after only 2 years

 

While it does require reboot, the 330m works like a beast and increases game performance over 50%! So there is significant advantages to the easy process.

 

Andrews package linked on the first post of this thread wont work for Win8? If not I may have to add that option in.

Versus just using the Intel part I assume.

I wonder how much of a battery life difference there is using BIOS hacked Nvidia vs Optimus. May need to put up a list of pros and cons.

 

As reported in this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/611284-vpcz-windows-8-developer-preview-question.html Andrew08's driver works fine. Full hybrid functionality.

Beware of the driver Windows installs automatically for the Intel part. Go into device manager and change it to VGA compatible (they call it Microsoft Basic or something like that) and then install the hybrid driver.

 

Can you benchmark for us the difference between the latest 280.26 and the latest stable hybrid 263.14? I agree with your implication that the stock driver (188 something, was it?) is past its 'sell by' date.

 

Yea.. I will tonight. If anything, all Z1 users should be extremely happy this mod exists. Not only does it extend the life of usability, but it also smokes the Z2 when gaming. I am sure Z2 owners will be much happier when the PMD is straightened out.

 

^
Agreed. It may be one of the only long term solutions that makes sense in the end. The dirty little secret to switchable graphics is in the end most people end up looking for a reason to turn it off.

There are a lot of options for the Z1 at this point though:
Standard Mode With BIOs Hack - Either Intel or Nvidia - Disables switching without a reboot.
Hybrid Graphics - Intel & Nvidia manual switch - May be approaching a practical EOL.
Optimus - Intel & Nvidia automatic switch - Power drain as dGPU never powers down fully.
eGPU/ViDock - Standard Intel or Nvidia, or Optimus - Tethered to desk, costs $$, not the prettiest thing.

Ironically the one and only official option, which is supposed to be supported by Sony, is the one with the most problems. But the Z1 can use all four generations of switchable graphics, pretty amazing little machine.

 

oops sorry, thanx for the response, i didnt try the win8 yet but by reading the posts I misunderstand the situation, my apology

 

What am I doing wrong? this is what I did:
1. Uninstall all drivers
2. Reboot on stamina
3. Let Windows install intel driver
4. Right clicked intel driver and disabled in Device manager. Microsoft basic driver left enabled. Lowered resolution as a result.
5. Installed Adrew08's Nvidia 23614, Intel 2281 driver
6. Rebooted with proper resolution
7. Cannot switch graphics without a reboot, unmodded Bios.

 

What makes you say the hybrid graphics is at EOL? Also, what kinds of problems are you referring to? Mine works fine. Of course, I would like to O/C the nVidia, but other than that hybrid is convenient at times and works fine. Thanks.

 

I think he is referring to the problems with modding drivers for it. That Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2266 signed is the last stable driver it has been possible to achieve despite our best combined efforts. We're hoping for a breakthrough, but things look bleak. Maybe we'll get a break when Windows 8 comes out with a hybrid driver.

 

I did say "approaching EOL".
Nvidia has moved pretty exclusively to Optimus since they can fully support it. They have removed the standard hybrid nvbridge file from their Verde sets. (Hybrid Graphics relies on a different version of the nvbridge file.) Haven't seen an official Hybrid Graphics release for a while from any company either.

We are doing the best we can to keep Hybrid Graphics up to date but we are limited by what we have access to. I am hopeful we can push a little bit more out of it but I am not sure how much.

We have "Hacked BIOs (aka Gen1 Switchable Graphics) and Optimus (Gen3) we can move to when need be. I have been focusing what I can on Optimus at the moment. I have some idea of what is missing. Hammering away at Hybrid Graphics is resulting in switching issues from Intel back to Nvidia.

 

I've given up on Hybrid graphics. If I could have the latest and greatest driver revisions wrapped into a Hybrid package... I'd be all over it. Personally I like the constant improvement in 3D Vision with each new release from nVidia. The fact of the matter is... reboots are quick and I am either on batteries for a while using Intel, or I am docked using nVidia. Giving up hybrid functionality to get the latest releases day and date is a no-brainer for me. Another great reason to use static is that I had no problem getting it going with Windows 8.

 

Just to update you guys on my situation, they have said:

'In regards to this case, kindly be advised that the repair center has already finished diagnosing your VAIO, unfortunately there was no fault found, the flickering screen you had reported is because the Windows uses generic graphic driver while booting'

Not sure to what to make of this. They neglected to mention anything about when it happens whenever I switch from stamina to speed during normal operations (i.e. well after post-welcome screen), instead just dealing with what happens at initial start up. I have told them this on the phone today in response, as well as it basically shouldn't be 'par for course' with a laptop of this value. They said they will get back to me.

 

Thanks much for the clarification. I have an HP that has the GT230M, non-switchable (1st gen i7 Quad), of which the 330 is derivative and I update drivers on it regularly, but find the improvements to be just incremental. Then again, I rarely use it for gaming. I'm mostly referring to benchmarks, like Furmark, which I run just for curiosity. I take it there are some substantial differences or you all wouldn't be so interested in cracking the code.

 

Don't want anyone to think I am not working on updating the Hybrid Graphics drivers for the Z1.

I have had the following happen thus far.
With some newer nvidia driver versions I seem to be able to get them to work up to the point of switching back from intel to nvidia. Some versions bluescreen with Intel service exception errors sometimes it is due to the settings. DSMUseInteger and/or SkipIntelUmdCapella seem to remedy bluescreen in some cases. AFAIK DSMUseInteger should be used as that is the method used for the Vaio Zs switching so if removing it causes the bluescreen not to happen it seems like a bug that is being triggered.

Newer Intel drivers seem to boot to a black screen. This is usually do to the driver not detecting or outputting to the correct connection. In this scenario I suggest connecting thins like VGA to see if you get an output to anything other than the internal display.

Seem to be close but nothing fully working. I am trying to pay special attention to switchable graphics settings on the intel end since this has been more or less overlooked in the past. Since newer Intel graphics drivers are working with ATI/AMD switchable graphics I have been investigating the techniques they use to see if they provide any leads.

 

I realise that I might be taking a rather simplistic view of things, but I think it all boils down to nvbridge_int.kmd. This file is created by nVidia to interface with a set of files created by Intel.

When the file was last created, it was created for an Intel driver version that was current at the time. Later versions of the Intel driver worked because the changes were minor, so the same nvbridge_int.kmd was able to work with them. The last known release of this file is dated 10 December 2010.

However, with later Intel drivers the changes became too much for the old nvbridge_int.kmd to handle. To complicate matters even more, the nVidia drivers too have changed significantly, so it is possible that the poor outdated nvbridge_int.kmd can neither talk to the Intel side nor to the nVidia side.

In an ideal world nVidia would have released a fresh version of nvbridge_int.kmd every few weeks, and we wouldn't be having this problem. Since that is not the case, there is only so much that can be done with what we've got.

Now that all parties concerned have dropped support for hybrid graphics, it is unlikely that we will ever get an updated driver. The only ray of hope is Windows 8 - in order to be supported on all the hybrid graphics notebooks out there, Microsoft will have to bundle a compatible driver, or lose the potential customers that this group represents. Whether this is a hybrid driver or an Optimus driver that fixes the known issues, only time will tell.

Everyone who owns a laptop with hybrid graphics is a potential customer for Windows 8. Does anyone have estimates about the size of this demographic?

 

I am very interested to see how they are going to handle hybrid graphics notebooks with Windows 8. If nothing else it should at least help bring the issue some needed attention.

I dont doubt that you are correct that it has something to do with the nvbridge or at least the evolution of intel and nvidia drivers. My goal right now is just to make sure it isnt an undocumented settings change/issue. Pinning down the exact issue may even help to find a workaround.

I have been looking more in to the bios and acpi side of things. I am pretty sure psyq321 was correct in stating "...there some pretty serious bugs in the Sony's BIOS..." and dont doubt some of these are what we may be running into. I am even looking at something similar to what he was doing with his acpi kernel patch. Take a look at psyq321s " Fix for the New Z QuadSSD" thread for some facinating reading.

 

Did you notice some delay(lag) sound when windows boot in black screen?

 

I did yes.

I don't remember which driver concoction it was at this point but there as one that seemed to appear after sleep/resume which points to an init issue on startup.

There was a point with one that seemed to come up after I waited a long time. Finally a flash screen came up and light on speed.

Nothing seemed to fully work with switching. Not sure what the latest nvbridge_int.kmd is I have seen one on 263.09 which is slightly newer than the one in your driver.

I am leaning towards BIOS/vBIOS.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm using the last published nvidia/intel hybrid drivers from Sony and everything works fine, so I'm wondering why the need for such heroic (and clearly they are heroic - you guys are so impressive!) measures? Are we talking major performance improvements possible on either the Intel HD or nVidia modes, or just a few precious fps on some games (and I can appreciate the benefit for that if you are an avid gamer, which I am not)? Or are you trying to enable the stock GT 330m to perform like a 330m instead of a 325m? Or, my last shot in the dark question, are there games that just won't run with the outmoded and otherwise gimped Sony/nvidia drivers that do run on newer nVidia drivers, if only we could get those to load and function in Z1s?

I read many pages of this thread to try and glean the impetus for all this work, but just couldn't make sense of it (probably because I'm pretty lame about this area), so I appreciate if someone could provide a quick synopsis of what you are trying to achieve and what problems or limitations of the stock drivers you are trying to overcome.

Thanks in advance for a quick explanation and thanks loads for all your efforts; even if this solution wouldn't affect my use of the Z, I have to express gratitude for all the hard work and expertise you all are putting behind trying to improve the functionality for the benefit of the community.

 

@lovelaptops : the fps gain sure is a part of the motivation for some people, but the main interest in getting up to date drivers is the ability to use the latest nvidia technologies. It is at least the case for CUDA or OpenGL versions. I don't remember the details, something like the last sony driver doesn't allow to use CUDA 3, but this issue is corrected with latest drivers.

There certainly are other interest, I focus on those I'm interested in.

The main issue I'm encountering with the current driver (263.14) is that I need at least 275 series to use Blender Cycles renderer (3D modelling). This made me go through optimus and it's crappy battery life...

 

Crus: Thanks for the quick and informative response. To show how unaffected I probably am by these issues, I didn't know what Blender Cycles renderer was until I goggled it! So, is it fair to say that if you do not do much major gaming and no CAD-type modeling, the CUDA and Phys-X upgrades are likely to have no impact on my use of my Z11? Do any of the updates significantly affect multimedia performance - eg, HD video playback, streaming, encoding, etc., audio performance?

Again, thanks for educating me and helping me figure out if I should be taking the plunge on this stuff.

 

the one came up after long waiting is nvidia. But after reboot nvidia will then disabled.

thanks for reminding me nvbridge_int.kmd, i will surely recheck, i am not very sure nvbridge_int.kmd from m11x which use intel+nvidia(2nd generation hybrid) fit for vpcz1 which use intel+nvidia(3rd generation hybrid).

below are improved
OpenCL
PhysX
Internet Explorer 9 support
Cuda
some game performance(this is the main improvement from nvidia)
and other improvement

 

Yeah that might have been what the issue was, I remember not being able to get the Nvidia GPU back up.

Been meaning to post this up. The Z1 can utilize all three versions of switchable graphics in some way:
Switchable Graphics: 1st Generation. Z1 uses this when utilizing the BIOs hack and installing standard drivers. Can be recognized by requiring a reboot to switch. Standard Intel and Nvidia drivers.

Hybrid Graphics: 2nd Generation. Z1 uses this by default with the Speed/Stamina switch. Can be recognized because of screen flicker/flash/blanking when switching. No reboot required. Intel and Nvidia drivers in the same proprietary package.

Optimus: 3rd Generation. Z1 can utilize a from of Optimus when using modified drivers. It isn't pure Optimus as the Nvidia GPU never powers down instead it uses the standard power states to clock it to its lowest speed. The Z1 is missing the Optimus Cookie in the BIOS and possibly requires an updated vBIOS for full Optimus support. Standard Intel and Nvidia drivers, assuming the Nvidia portion has the proper hardware id and optimus settings in the driver. No reboot required. No screen flickering/flashing/blanking.

The M11x actually has two different versions. The M11x (M11xR1) utilizes Hybrid Graphics. M11xR2 and up (R3, R4?) utilizes Optimus.

I still don't think the issue is as much a nvbridge_int.kmd version as much as it is the need for updated vBIOS'. But I am just going on a hunch based on what I have been reading. AFAIK there really hasn't been much of a difference between nvbridge_int.kmd versions. The difference that was noticed previously may have been the fact that the vBIOS was updated with one of the Sony BIOS updates. I can't discount the nvbridge entirely though as I don't know 100% what it does.

 

hi guys,
i've just installed Windows 8 prev 32bits on my vaio Z11, and the nvidia 330M is not available.
In device manager there are "Intel HD Graphics adapter" and "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" with a "!"
I try to install some drivers from nvidia and somes from the first page of this thread and always got this: "NVIDIA Installer cannot continue
The graphic driver could not find compatible graphics hardware"

Actually, all the leds of the hybrid switch of the vaio are always off.

Somebody please help me out
Many thanks!

insafon.

 

will take note!

why you are confident it is vbios? I sent you lenovo bios update log and it stated there that they added optimus model instead of update bios to support optimus? Or they are just adding another hardware id for optimus inside the bios? will we be able to reverse engineer the bios?

 

please disconnect your vpcz1 from internet, uninstall nvidia, check whether you can still see intel driver inside device manager, if yes please uninstall, restart, reinstall my package.

 

We should probably package up some 263.14/2281 32bit drivers with no signing. Currently most of those driver packages are for 64bit, the only one with 32bit for the Z1 is 260.63/2202 which I packaged. If that is the one you downloaded and tried to install then I messed up with the INF somewhere.