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    How do I configure optimus to allow GT 555M on certain websites

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Killer Juice, May 5, 2011.

  1. Killer Juice

    Killer Juice Notebook Consultant

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    I want to use the GT 555M for an online browser game. (it lags badly on the IGP when the graphics are maxed out)

    How do I configure optimus so that I can use the GT 555M on JUST THAT WEBSITE, but IGP for everything else. I can use either Firefox or Chrome (if that information is needed).
     
    Killer Juice, May 5, 2011
    #1
  2. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    I don't think you can, unfortunately.

    You best bet is probably set one browser to use the IGP, and the other, the NVIDIA card, and swap browsers as you need. That's what I'd do.

    Actually, you could probably just have two installs of the same browser, but I'm not sure if NCP goes by app name, or location as well, so that's probably a trial and error thing.
     
    Serephucus, May 5, 2011
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  3. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    You can always use google chroms and enable GPU acceleration.

    just a suggestion
     
    TitanGod, May 5, 2011
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  4. kingp1ng

    kingp1ng Notebook Evangelist

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    Wait, so optimus doesn't have an optional manual switch?! Well that's dumb...
     
    kingp1ng, May 5, 2011
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  5. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    only the M11x R1 has an optimus switch....
     
    TitanGod, May 5, 2011
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  6. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Actually, no it's not. Why use the power when you don't need it.

    If Minecraft (for example) only needed the 555M to kick in when mobs were around - let's just say they use more GPU power - then for at least 40% of the time, you could run MC on the IGP and use far less power. You wouldn't have this option with a manual switch. Well you would, but somehow I don't think you'd flick it every time you saw a mob.

    NVIDIA provides the option to force applications to use the IGP or the dedicated card through NCP.
     
    Serephucus, May 5, 2011
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  7. Nand@

    Nand@ Notebook Consultant

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    too many "things" about optimus...i thinks optimus suck! brings more problems than solutions
     
    Nand@, May 5, 2011
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  8. kingp1ng

    kingp1ng Notebook Evangelist

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    What I mean is that I think Optimus should have is an option for manual switch and an option for automatic switch in the Nvidia control panel (whatever it's called). The automatic should have the white list like it does right now.

    Of course people have already said this a million times... I mean come-on. The quad core MBP's initially only had auto switch which was a problem for many people. Then in a couple of weeks a manual switch option (gfx switch or something) came out! Why hasn't Nvidia made a manual option yet?
     
    kingp1ng, May 5, 2011
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  9. chris3145

    chris3145 Notebook Consultant

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    Just like you can tell optimus to use a certain card on a particular program, there's also an option in the Nvidia control panel where you can force one card for everything.

    It's not a physical switch, but you can choose "Always use the 555m", "Always use the integrated GPU", or "Choose automatically what is best." I don't know if applications that are set to one particular card override this setting or not, but I have all my programs set to auto and they work fine.
     
    chris3145, May 6, 2011
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