Optimus Questions

Ok guys I need some help here....I've been trying to figure a way to make a semi-manually switchable method for the R2. So far I've tried to do 2 seperate installs of windows on seperate partitions with only the intel driver on 1 install and only the Nvidia driver on another install. Now the intel driver by itself works just fine and disabling/uninstalling the Nvidia card in the device manager makes it disappear and nets amazing battery life from what I've seen so far. My problem is on the install with the Nvidia driver only: the Nvidia driver installs but even uninstalling/disabling the Intel chip(with no driver installed at all other than generic VGA for windows) leaves it as the primary chip and I have no options of enabling the Nvidia chip it's there but it doesn't do anything if that makes sense. Does anybody know or can anybody think of any other ideas of how I can have the Nvidia chip only enabled? I've tried different drivers, disabling/uninstalling in the control panel and I'm out of ideas. Even though it's not ideal it would be nice to have the option of running just one and kind of casting Optimess to the side. Anybody that can help me with this will definitely get +rep and I'll write up a full guide on how to do it if I can get it to work. Thanks!

 

The 335 utilizes the IGP for output to the display, therefore requiring that it's always enabled.

 

Wowza, so the 335 is basically wired through the Intel chip? Therefore there's absolutely no way to make the 335 run constantly without interference from the Intel? I've been having issues with games freezing or crashing due to the Optimess deciding to intermitantly flicker the 335m off. Is there any way to make the 335m constantly run? As in no switching, no choosing, etc and just constant dedicated at all times with no interference from the intel chip at all?

 

I know that people have attempted to whitelist certain "always-on" applications in order to force the 335 to always be activated. I've never felt the need, so I can't say whether that's a viable option.

There shouldn't be any interference from the IGP per se. If you're seeing the 335 deactivate during a confirmed 335 application (game, flash, whatever) then I would think that you're looking at an issue with the driver. Easiest first thing to try is wiping the nvidia driver and reinstalling.

Here's a brief overview of the Optimus and how the IGP and dGPU work together.

Nvidia brings Optimus switchable graphics to notebooks - The Tech Report - Page 1

 

I've done a wipe of drivers, done clean installs of windows, and everything in between slickie88. For some reason in certain parts of certain games it's almost like it "takes a break" and flickers off. I've tried whitelist settings, control panel settings, etc too and the only game I have been able to run(OC'd and not OC'd) without having crashes/freezes every 10-30 mins has been Starcraft 2. I can't play COD, can't play FO3/FONV, can't play Dirt 2, can't play L4D2 or anything for that matter so I'm guessing it's something related to the Optimus crap. I've also had 2 motherboards so it's not hardware issues either. Any help on recommendations of how to fix this would be greatly appreciated, I know the specs can run the games(my m11xR1 ran just fine) but for some reason it won't.

 

Hmmm...

I don't think anyone else here has reported what you're describing. Has there ever been a point when this wasn't happening? Other drivers, after a fresh install, etc.?

 

Go to NVIDIA control panel and go to 3D settings go to global settings and select High performance NVIDIA processor.
Then go to PhysX processor and set it to NVIDIA.
If this doesn't work then it might just be your computer since i can run Cod4 fine at max settings 80-125 FPS.

 

I'm not talking COD4, haven't even tried that. I'm talking CODMW2, CODBO, FONV, FO3, etc. I will try that when I get home though. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

I was going to recommend this, but BobTheFlea beat me to it! +rep to him.

This will turn on the nVidia 335M GPU for all video rendering and processing.

This is correct. The Intel GPU is integrated into the same chip package as the CPU, starting with Arrendale processors (Core i3/i5/i7). The monitor / display pin-outs are linked to the Intel GPU. Any secondary GPU's like the nVidia 335M pipe their signal through the Intel GPU.

When Optimus decides that the nVidia 335M GPU should be doing the video rendering and processing, then it switches that GPU on. When Optimus decides that the Intel GPU should be doing the rednering and processing, it switches the nVidia 335M off. The entire reason Optimus exists is because of Intel's decision to move their Intel HD Graphics GPU onto the CPU package.

The problem you describe actually sounds like general system instability, and not Optimus specifically. Are you overclocking? Are you experiencing any other problems with the laptop, like random freezes or messages at bootup stating how the wattage of the power supply could not be determined? Have you updated to the latest drivers for both the Intel and the nVidia 335M GPU?