Studio XPS 13 Hybrid SLI... **NO DIFFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE??**

Hello, I joined earlier just to ask a question that has been bugging me recently... I'll post the specs of my laptop at the end of this post.

Basically, I have installed the latest drivers from nVidia for my 9500M and G210M and I know that the graphics mode switches when I change my Windows Power Plan to "high performance". The issue is, I don't really notice a difference in graphics performance between the power saving mode and the boost performance mode. Games like Left 4 Dead 2, Portal, Need for Speed World etc. all run well at higher settings in both modes... There is no real difference in frame rate or performance. The only difference is that my laptop gets really hot when in "boost performace" mode (in the area to the top right of the palm rest).

Also, my Windows Experience index is strange... I get a lower score for "gaming performance" with boost performance on.. It drops from 5.2 (save power mode) to 4.9 (boost power). My performance in Windows Aero increases from 5.2 to 5.9 however, when I enable high performance mode. All other areas of the WEI benchmark are unchanged.

I have tried reverting to the Dell drivers but all of the above still happens. I can't remember if this was the case when I first got the laptop, but I think back then, switching modes made a big difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please if this is normal let me know, and if not, what I can try to fix it.

Dell Studio XPS 13, Intel P8700, nVidia 9500M+G210M, 4GB Ram, 500GB 7200RPM HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium

 

First of all, SXPS 13 cannot have both 9500m and g210m together. Either it is 9400m+g210m or 9500m ge. Also, you need to download the SLI profile from nvidia. And, you can also download nhancer to force sli to boost fps.

 

Thank you for your quick response. You were right about the cards, it was my mistake. I do have the 9400M + G210. Actually, our specs are almost identical. I am just downloading the SLI profile update now.

What does your Windows Experience Index look like for Aero performance and gaming performance (in each mode of SLI), if you don't mind me asking.

 

nope the xps13 is a fail computer. i owned it and it had alot of problems. Not making it up either. Hybrid sli does nothing.

 

Thanks for the input, but I guess I was lucky. This issue and quickset disappearing are the only ones I've had with this laptop (the latter a problem with most Dells). I don't think it's fair to call it a "fail laptop", my experience has been great.. I may have bought a newer one than you had and they may have fixed the early problems by that time however.

If you have any info about the hybrid SLI, please post it.

 

Ok.. i ran the test. Under 9400m, i got 5.3 for graphics and 5.5 for gaming graphics. Then, under g210m, i got 5.9 on both graphics and gaming graphics.

Edit: I also loved this laptop very much. It is a very good laptop. And, I am happy with the choice.

 

Ok so those are the numbers that I remember getting when I got the laptop straight from Dell.. before I reformatted and started installing drivers from elsewhere. I knew something was off when I posted 4.9 for gaming graphics in boost performance mode.

So I just re-ran the assessment after installing the SLI Profile Update 4 and SUCCESS! It jumped to 5.8 for gaming graphics.. Maybe if I run it again I can get 5.9 like yourself.

Thank you for your advice and for taking the time to post your WEI scores.. You really helped solve my problem.