How do I Choose / Enable Discrete Graphics on the new Alienware models?

*Updated*

I put back in the original drive and ran AlienRespawn and then
reimaged my SSD.

The Nvidia 860m is seen in Control Panel, and when I right click on the desktop
I can choose Nvidia Control Panel for specs. That is where the Happy story ends.

I CANNOT update the driver past 344.73 that it has on the image.

I have tried Dell's updated driver from their Support page as well as from Nvidia.

I keep getting the message that No Nvidia compatible hardware is found.

And, when I play ANYTHING, it is using just the Intel HD Graphics.

I have set the Power Options to High Performace.

This is looking like a big P.O.S. They should have left it like the
previous ones where you can switch with an Fn+F5 key to which
one you wanted.

How has anyone been able to install/update their Video driver on the AW13?

I spent almost 2 hours last night with Tech Support uninstalling, running DDU, and
reinstalling and EVERY TIME it would not see the Nvidia Graphics Card in the laptop.

I am AFRAID to uninstall it, as if it cannot be seen on the image from Dell to update,
How the heck can it be seen if I uninstall it?

If there is no fix for this, AVOID the AW13, this thing is not ready for Sale.

HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP!



I just got my Alienware 13 and of course swapped out the internal HDD for an SSD

So, I am rebuilding the machine, and cannot get the machine to see the Discrete
Graphics.

see the 3d Video Controller in DEvice Manager, but when I run the Nvidia
install (gotten from Dell's Support page for the AW13) it comes back as no
available hardware found.

I know that Fn+F5 use to choose the graphics that was preferred on prior
AW systems, and have even disabled the Intel Graphics in Device Manager.

Help Please!

Thanks in Advance!

 

There is no disable switchable graphics key combo in the new laptops since they all support and use Optimus. You'll have to do the old fashion way of setting everything to high performance.
DId you reinstall Windows on the SSD or clone from the HDD? Does the windows on the HDD detect the GTX 860m?

 

The Nvidia drive will not load. It keep saying that The graphics driver cannot find compatible hardware. I have downloaded both Video drivers from Dell for the 860m as well as the latest from Nvidia. It sees a 3d Video controller in Device manager but will not install any driver for it., I have run DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) with AW Tech support 3 times, cleaned off all Intel and Nvidia, rebooted, and tried to renstall, it will NOT install Nvidia graphic drivers.

HELP! Someone has had to have rebuilt their machine and installed the Nvidia driver, what the heck is the trick ?

 

See thread here....

Nvidia or Dell drivers do NOT install on the AW13, AVOID this laptop until this issue is RESOLVED!

http://na.alienwarearena.com/forums...o-compatible-hardware-found/last#post-1038751

 

How do you tell the graphics driver for 860m is not working/updated to the latest?

I'm using AW13, but I never see any issues so far. Unless the problem started with swapping hard drives?

 

I haven't heard back from him, but one way to tell if the GPU is being used is enabling "Display GPU activity" through Nvidia Control Panel (under the Desktop column).
This problem affects those with i7's, not i5's.

 

Ah, good thing I went with the economy version.

 

The newer drivers are not fully developed to work on it. We've been working with the ones you have as a workaround while a new driver comes up that is fully compatible with the platform. The workaround was posted on Alienware Arena. The factory drivers (344.73) should work flawlessly until we post the newer ones on our support site.

 

I'm going to have to disagree with this. I may be one user, but I had more problems with the 344.73 driver than I did with the 344.88 drivers I'm currently using.
Granted, I don't have the GA, so I can't speak for those that have it. But for those without the GA, the 344.88 does a better job than the 344.73 at stability (performance is about the same).