Optimus ENABLE: M6600 with FireProM8900

@nando4

Are You sure that system will start on iGPU after removing MXM card? Somebody tried it in the past with FirePro?

Because I've read somewhere that BIOS not allow to start M6600 without dGPU. POST will detect that MXM port is empty and stops booting. So I suppose nVidia/FirePro must be there (like CPU in socket).

 

I do not have a M4600/M6600 but if I did I'd be removing the MXM card to find out. If it does work, as I recall an owner suggesting it would, then once I've seen the battery life gains the iGPU provides I'd be hassling Dell to provide a bios switch to enable/disable the iGPU (same as Optimus enable/disable). After which I could see no real incentive other than CUDA to get the pricier but lower performing NVidia M4600/M6600 versions.

 

Again the pipe dream of making optimus work for an ATI card is impossible. If you want an optimus like function or manual switching GPU (my preferred way) you will have to write the drivers yourself to handle this function and will most certainly have to re work the bios to handle the feature of switching.

But trying to make an NVIDIA feature and software work for an AMD/ATI product is lunacy. The hardware calls and integration is totally different and require so much modification it wouldnt even be the same code.

The only reason that is not a valid case is that AMD/ATI wont say switchable graphics due to that being a manufacturer option. I just went to their site to confirm this and the 3400 mobile does not state switchable GPU when my t400 with an ATI 3470 has a switchable feature.

As far as I can see I was able to run my m4600 with 97whr battery with the screen at the second lowest setting with wifi on while coding and several web browsers and PDF files open from 5:45pm til 9:30pm in class and I still had almost 40% showing on the battery icon. Could I get 5? Im sure if I lowered my usage and worked offline I could.

 

3400M is listed in the supported hardware list.

AMD Switchable Graphics Technology


The tweaking I proposed is an extra option to ensure minimum power drain, coz powerplay does switch gpu to a higher power state from very light gpu load. How much of an positive effect on battery life does it have, I haven't tested it. but keeping it down to the lowest power state is a good thing to have IMO for maximum possible battery life. Whether it is worth the trouble for others is not up to me. An option is an option.

 

Ahh I went to the actual 3400 page and didnt see switchable under specs.

Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk

 

FYI: I tested it a few days ago.... It does nothing...



I did have an odd issue where it wouldn't find a 'boot device' after I tried. A restart fixed the issue.

 

I'm not going to say I told you so, but ......

 

thanks for trying, all the same.

 

+1. Next step would be to remove the M8900 MXM card to confirm the iGPU takes over. If it does, then it would be time to hassle Dell to give a bios facility to disable the M8900 for those that want longer battery life.

 

manually disabling the gpu from bios sounds like a more viable route. though i doubt dell will bother with it....