Is optimus automatic? on the m14x R2

I just got done moving over to a CF 7970 m18x to a 680m SLI setup, and i knew the 7970 was a 'manual' system of pressing the F7+(something else).

But now that I have my m14x R2 and my m18x R2, I dont ever see that 'manual' switch option. So does optimus on both of these laptops just 'manage' itself? My big concern is that the m14xr2 will be used by my wife, and we'll get annoyed pretty quick when she has to always go back to the power outlet after a short while of surfing the net. As much as I hate mac's hers seemed to last forever with just mild web searching.

So if optimus needs to be turned on, then I'll leave it on by default, and anytime I go to game, I'll turn it off (this is how the 7970 worked).

appeciate anyhelp on the details for these setups.

Thanks!

Jon

 

Optimus is always "on". If the computer notices it requires the use of of the 650m it will switch to it. But doing things like surfing the web or typing up stuff, it will revert back to the Integrated card and "turn off" the 650m. if you just got done playing a video game or using a program requiring heavier usage of the GPU.

so to answer your question it is automatic, and the 650m will not stay on all the time. only when you require it. This is why I am able to achieve a 3-6 hour charge on my m14x while at school.

 

Optimus is Automatic.
The m18x SLI setup does not let you switch to the Intel Card at any times, it is made to disable that when you are running SLI.

Here is some more info about the Optimus.

 

Thank you both, now that I took the system out of SLI, i now see the Fn+F7 message... Interesting that the 7970s in CF could still be put into their intel hd400 mode.

Jon

 

Correct, Optimus is always on as it tries to optimize the balance between performance and power.

Optimus should automatically switch your active GPU when needed, but in case you want to do it manually you can Whitelist the application to force it to run with the nvidia GPU.