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    new m18x r2! Quick nVidia question.

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by djjosherie, Dec 23, 2012.

  1. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    my m18x r2 is on the way and I get Christmas a day early! I can't wait!

    Sold (and spending my last few hours with)
    Alienware m17x r3
    Intel Sandy Bridge i7 2760-QM
    8GB RAM
    AMD 6900M 2GB
    256GB SSD + 750GB HDD

    to...

    Alienware m18x r2
    Intel Ivy Bridge i7 i7-3630QM
    16GB RAM
    NVIDIA 680m GTX 2GB
    256GB SSD + 750GB HDD

    ---

    MY QUESTION... On my old m17x you could go download modded bios, or use the new A12 bios and disable the IGP graphics switching or optimus. Can you do this with the m18x? I never need the battery life and use these things for performing and for serious video editting, and on my old m11x r2, I found optimus to be troublesome with both. Program extensions and such never always saw the nvidia card, even when it said it did.
     
  2. juliant

    juliant Notebook Deity

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    This question has been answered many times. M18X (R1 & R2) does not have optimus or the option to switch from IGP to dedicated from bios.

    The only way you can switch in between (either you are on IGP or Dedicated) by pressing the combination of FN+F7. You will require a restart each time you switch between the graphics mode. Now, this mode is for SLi or CrossfireX. Unfortunately, if you have a single card, I do not know if optimus / enduro becomes valid / active with a single card mod.

    Maybe someone havin' one GPU setup in their systems can confirm this. I hope I've answered to your satisfaction :)
     
  3. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    To update my own post. My single 680m GTX m18x r2 came in today. There is no optimus in the m18x. I have switchable graphics that requires a restart of the computer. I'm very happy! :)
     
  4. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The M18X can engage optimus but will only run in single card mode when it is even in a dual card machine, it gives you a balanced option if you need to be power conservative.

    I like it being optional.