Nvidia Optimus- GPU switching problem

[peq]

I'm an owner of an N61Jv Asus notebook, with Nvidia optimus technology, which is supposed to change GPU from integrated intel card to Geforce 325m dedicated card, depending on what application are you trying to run. The thing is, it doesn't work as it's supposed to: when starting games with launcher, like Dragon Age II or Crysis 2 it won't switch itself to Geforce. What is peculiar about my case is that it worked flawlessly about an week ago. I've tried reinstalling drivers, using the newest Nvidia drivers as well as versions from Asus support, nothing worked. The last time it happened i had to reinstall Windows, but it didn't solve the problem right away- a few days after the reinstall it started to cooperate. I can't find a link between what I did, and why it stopped to work. I know my problem is popular, but I haven't found a solution that worked for me yet. Can anyone give me a piece of advice for what to do?

 

[Everlong]

Are you using the Optimus toolkit? And specified applications in particular to use the high performance GPU?

You didn't say if you have done this, so just trying to see what you have been doing.

 

[stormy13]

Wouldn't happen to have Windows Update set to automatically download and install updates, with it also set to download and install any offered driver updates would you?

 

[peq]

Firstly, yes, I've set e.g. Dragon Age II to be forced to start with Nvidia GPU, but it doesn't work, as well as Crysis 2 mentioned before. When I run Bulletstorm game everything works fine automatically.. No idea why it is happening. I may misunderstood the Optimus Toolkit.. I'm describing Nvidia Control Panel, as I couldn't find that specific tool.

Secondly, yes, I have Windows Update enabled, but as far as I know it didn't installed any drivers. The most likely to create problems is the .Net framework update, as I checked in the update history.

 

[stormy13]

Only thing I can think of is when you installed the driver from Nvidia, which should have failed to install at all as it hasn't been modified to work with the switchable graphics. Also says as much on the download page,

NVIDIA DRIVERS 270.61 WHQL

Notes:

1. Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release.
2. The following Sony VAIO notebooks are supported: Sony VAIO F Series with NVIDIA GeForce 310M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M and NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M. Other Sony VAIO notebooks are not supported at this time (please contact Sony for driver support).
3. Fujitsu notebooks are not supported by this release (Fujitsu Siemens notebooks are supported).

and it takes both the Intel and Nvidia drivers being installed for both to work properly. Not sure if Asus is one that includes the Intel driver in the Nvidia installer like some of the others do; have checked Toshiba and Acer drivers for some of their laptops with switchable graphics, and they include both in a single download.

Unfortunately it also leaves you unable to update to the latest Nvidia driver for it unless Asus decides to put it out. Now with that said I would start with uninstalling whatever you have installed for both the Intel and Nvidia drivers and re-install both from here,

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS N61Jv

Hopefully that should get it back working. If it does as a just in case (if you haven't already), might want to make sure that Windows Update is set to not install drivers; #4 here,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

 

[peq]

I didn't know about that setting to be honest, but nevertheless, I still had the 266.58 driver when the problem showed up. I tried to roll back to the Asus dedicated driver, still the same. No effect. But I'll keep disabling windows driver update in mind in case I'll have to reinstall windows later.

 

[Nico77]

I have the same problem with optimus. If anyone knows of a solution to this problem and if so, would care to outline it, that would be greatly apreciated. Ps. Automatic driver updates, were not, but have now been disabled. Ds.

 

[vaidas3]

Only thing I can think of is when you installed the driver from Nvidia, which should have failed to install at all as it hasn't been modified to work with the switchable graphics. Also says as much on the download page,

NVIDIA DRIVERS 270.61 WHQL

Notes:

1. Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release.
2. The following Sony VAIO notebooks are supported: Sony VAIO F Series with NVIDIA GeForce 310M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M and NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M. Other Sony VAIO notebooks are not supported at this time (please contact Sony for driver support).
3. Fujitsu notebooks are not supported by this release (Fujitsu Siemens notebooks are supported).

and it takes both the Intel and Nvidia drivers being installed for both to work properly. Not sure if Asus is one that includes the Intel driver in the Nvidia installer like some of the others do; have checked Toshiba and Acer drivers for some of their laptops with switchable graphics, and they include both in a single download.

Unfortunately it also leaves you unable to update to the latest Nvidia driver for it unless Asus decides to put it out. Now with that said I would start with uninstalling whatever you have installed for both the Intel and Nvidia drivers and re-install both from here,

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS N61Jv

Hopefully that should get it back working. If it does as a just in case (if you haven't already), might want to make sure that Windows Update is set to not install drivers; #4 here,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

Hybrid power is not same as optimus. so your info is wrong.
i use latest drivers from nvidia and optimus works..
but optimus is buggy technology it does not work 100%.. had many problems with IE9 hardware acceleration. (latest version solved some problems but not all)
problem is that nvidia and game creators does not cooperate much creating games to support optimus. maybe intel drivers is at fault too.
i think optimus does not get the laucher thing and dont change GPU.

 

[peq]

Sorry for digging out the topic, but i think it's the Windows Update, that's causing the problems. One day I installed some optional updates, and the next I was left with only integrated gpu working. Some of the security updates for x64 can't get along with Optimus. Now I hesitate to turn off whole updates, or leave only important ones, hoping, that they leave Optimus 'technology' ready and working.. Pros and cons anyone?

 

[stormy13]

The fun part is that if it is a Windows update that is causing the problem, is determining which one it is. Only way to do that is while everything is working start adding the updates one at a time until Optimus breaks, then remove that one and keep going until all the updates are installed.

 

[peq]

Sure, but there's a problem, because when it crashes, it just stays that way, no matter if updates are deleted, or even system is rolled back to the point before installing it... So yes, you can find the troublesome update, but you still end up with optimus not working.. Or at least that was only my case...

@Edit
One more thing- anyone who has similar problem, or the same technology on board tried to update drivers? Does it work? I mean, will installing new Nvidia driver cause problem, any ideas?

 

[Breakers]

Same problem, MSI FX600 with a GT325m

Tried using latest drivers from Nvidia and Intel sites to no avail, so tried updating from MSI support, still nothing...

Trying to run Eve online (a bad game) they have a partnership with Nvidia for developing their new graphics engine so i dont think its a lack of cooperation between the two companies that is causing the problem (although it would be hilarious if that was the case)

Ive got a petition up with MSI support but not expecting much help :huh:

 

[peq]

When it messes up, the only way I know that solves it is reinstalling Windows, changing drivers doesn't work.. The problem lays only in changing gpu engine, it likes to crash from time to time.. I believe turning off updates helps a bit. On the other side, when it works, it works on almost all driver version, up from 256.67, or something..

 

[Marcdxn]

Same issue here also

MSI FX600
325m

Half my games don't switch even after enabling them in the profile of the Nivea control panel. Tried all sorts to resolve this no luck so far.

 

[Marcdxn]

Reporting back regards MSI FX600

I uninstalled all instances of Nvidia drivers and Intel drivers and used driver sweeper to clean off any remains.

I then installed drivers from MSI support website page.


This RESOLVED my issues with Test Drive Unlimited 2 not switching with Optimus it's also solved some other game issues.

My main problem now is that MSI drivers are quite dated although I have started a thread on the MSI forum about that.

Hope this helps, optimus can be a shocking experience for gaming I wish they added an advanced bios feature to disable intel gma hd and Optimus all together and default to Nvidia as main card.

 

[Roccko]

I've the same problem with my Asus N53 SV. From one day to the next, World of Tanks dont work with my NVidia 540M, but other games does .....nothing worked, so I'll try your last option before a SO format

This is a very important problem, ....nothing works !!

 

[Marcdxn]

I stopped using the MSI FX600 laptop i have now for any gaming because the whole experience is spoilt because of shoddy graphics switching on newer games and older games.

Installing Nvidias own drivers just causes more issues because MSI do something to them to make the switching work properly.

Think i'll be keeping the laptop as a laptop and looking at a small shuttle pc that will take a large card for some on the side gaming.

 

[JohnGER]

Exactly the same problem

Hi everybody,

I have exactly the same problem, but I'm not willing to throw this laptop away when it comes to gaming.

This is my setup:
Dell XPS 17 laptop with Nvidia Optimus technology (integrated Intel GPU für standard apps, extra Nvidia GT 555M GPU for games)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit w/ latest updates

No matter which Nvidia driver I use (latest version from Dell homepage, or latest version from Nvidia homepage), the problem stays the same:
Even if games are setup to use the high performance Nvidia GPU in the Nvidia Controlpanel, games use the slow Intel GPU. (as shown by the GPU indicator tool)

Screenshots:



I don't want to give up on this, because this Dell laptop simply was too expensive to just use it as an office machine. And it'lll make my wife cry if I won't get Civilization and Portal to run properly again!


Any help, hints, ideas are greatly appreciated!

 

[essenbe]

I have a Samsung laptop with Optimus. I had problems with the switching also, but The latest nvidia driver from samsung allowed me to make the Nvidia card the primary graphics adapter. I have had no problems since and my WEI score for desktop graphics went up considerably. I think much of the problem is from the Laptop Manufacturers and their implementation of Optimus. Sometimes the Nvidia drivers from Nvidia just don't work the same as the same drivers from the manufacturer's web site. Just my opinion.

 

[optimusprob]

Think i've solved the issue for myself anyway

I've got an Asus with a 2gb card in it (GT-630M) but games would always run the intel chip, even after explicitly telling them not to in the Nvidia individual game settings. Anyway was just fiddling about and noticed the option in Manage 3d settings\settings of Multi-Display/mixed-GPU acceleration, it was set for multi display performance mode and I switched it to single, tried awesomenauts and black ops which both used to run the intel and both now run the Nvidia, haven't tried it plugged into my tv with hdmi out yet, just on the laptops own screen, maybe i'd have to switch it back when I do that. Hope this helps