m11x r2 graphics card usage and OC!

hi i have my laptop the alienware m11x r2. i know how to switch between the nvidia and the integrated graphics cards, i noticed that even if i play games such as left 4 dead 2 with the integrated graphics cards on it still plays fine with 40-55fps, does the computer automatically use the nvidia one when it knows its playing a game? or am i missing something here?

i have tried testing both the nvidia and integrated with left 4 dead 2 and both get about the same fps.

so far only games i've tried were Left 4 dead,css and thats about it and they all play fine in high setting on the integrated card. Now in the other hand idk if u guys are familiar with half life and its mods but pretty much half life 1 and its mods lags terrible no matter if i play with my integrated card or with the nvidia.

also would overcloaking my computer over heat it when playing games or make it hotter? and would i see some results in games and programs when overclocking?

 

if you are getting the same fps then its not using the integrated card its using the 335m, L4d actually is playable with the integrated, even on the r1, you just gotta turn the settings to low and you get a good ~30 fps. anyway, so yea your laptop is swithching to the discreet card when you play l4d through a feature called optimus, it detects when you are playing a game and automatically switches to the Nvidia GPU. Optimus is actually the only reason i still have reservations about upgrading my r1, i really prefer to have control over which card im using at any point because ther are some older games that play fine with the integrated graphics and optimus would auto switch to the Nvidia chip when i played them

 

If your truely want to use the integrated graphics you can with the R2.

Right click on desktop and click on Nvidia Control Panel. Once the Nvidia Control Panel opens up click on Manage 3D Settings. Then click on the program settigns tab and it will load the .exe files the computer sees. This is where you will find your programs and games in the list. Click on the program or game you want and then right below that there is a drop down, Here is where you can select Nvidia card or integrated or auto.

If you program or game is not in the list you can add the program to the list by clicking "add" and browsing to the .exe.

Also this list is refered to as the "White List" if you happen to read post that might say it.

If you do OC you card, then yes it will run hotter. I have OC my card and I did see performance increase, However it did run really hot and once it gets to a certain temperature it will start to decrease performance. So if you have a laptop cooler available or something I would use that to keep the temps down and mainetain a little bit more performance out of the video card.
I hope this helps you.

 

NO it will not run that much warmer. the only way it would is if you increased the voltage of your GPU. you may get a 1-3 C increase but thats it.

 

Yes, after playing with it for a couple of days i realised the optimus changes the video card automatically when a high end game is being played.

Now my problem is no matter what i do and have tried i can't get games such as half life and its mods to run with the nvidia gpu it always runs with the Intel card which sucks because mods such as natural selection lags a bit. i have tried doing the shortcut thing and everything but nothing seems to switch it.

 

Why did you have to be so spiteful? What an idiot. It's just a game...