T410s Nvidia graphics not switching over from integreated graphics

[Hans Gruber]

On one of my machines the Nvidia discrete graphics is not switching over when running 3D apps. When I run the Windows 7 benchmark, the integrated graphics holds it back. Normally there is an Nvidia logo show that it switched over the the 3100M graphics.

All of the drivers are installed. Any ideas as to what is wrong?

[brchan]

There should be a setting in the nvidia control panel under 3d settings to specify which card to use during certain conditions.

[Hans Gruber]

I found the tab. Selected Nvidia graphics but still not working. I went out to the Nvidia website and downloaded the Quadro 3100m drivers. Still trouble shooting the issues. Thanks for your help.

[RealBlackStuff]

Check the BIOS settings.

[Hans Gruber]

Good point. There is a bios override feature for the Nvidia graphics in there. I will check it. The Nvidia Optimus feature that does both Nvidia and integrated graphics.

Does it matter if I downloaded the Nvidia drivers from Nvidia? On my other T410s it runs as it should with nvidia and integrated graphics.

[Hans Gruber]

I am going to do a clean install of the OS. I swapped hard drives and that never works well with another machine. This is also why I don't like cloning drives. Unless they are the same model and make, there are always driver conflicts. I say this because there were driver updates with the Nvidia driver after I swapped hard drives.

[Quardah]

Dear friend,

In the nVidia control panel, click the "Desktop" menu and make sure you select the "Add "Run with graphics processor" to Context Menu " option.

See : http://i.imgur.com/np8Ryol.png

Afterwards, you may right click and select the graphic processor you want on any application in Windows. Also, enable the notification tray icon in the nVidia control panel, this will show a grey icon when the graphic card is not in used and a colorful one when using the card.

See : http://nvidia.custhelp.com/rnt/rnw/img/ ... 542_02.jpg

Hope this helps you!

[Hans Gruber]

It does help. Thank you for the tutorial.

[Quardah]

It does help. Thank you for the tutorial.

Good to hear!

If you need any more help feel free to ask.

Also if anyone else lands here and needs help with Optimus graphics under Linux feel free to reply here or PM me.

[Hans Gruber]

In the Thinkpad Bios version T410s 1.49 has a Nvidia Optimus feature. Integrated, Discrete and Optimus auto switch features. There is a feature to turn on auto detect as well for Windows 7.

I have a T410 with Nvidia graphics are well bios 1.45 that does not have the Nvidia feature.

With discrete graphics selected I got 4.9 score (windows aero) in Windows experience score. The standard is 5.0
I get 5.9 for 3D business graphics.

Set to auto select on the T410s model I get 4.4 on the aero score with auto select set.

[Quardah]

With discrete graphics selected I got 4.9 score (windows aero) in Windows experience score. The standard is 5.0
I get 5.9 for 3D business graphics.

Set to auto select on the T410s model I get 4.4 on the aero score with auto select set.

You give a lot of credits to a metric that is very general.

Don't forget that it will always take the lowest of your score. My guess is you set 5.9 because you have a HDD, right?

Overall build quality, physical design, expansion slots, battery life, support and many other important aspects of a configuration are left apart from the equation and you should not omitted.

[Hans Gruber]

I have many T410 and T410s models. Many with Nvidia 3100m graphics. THe 5.0 is the standard for Windows Aero for the 3100M discrete graphics. The 5.9 rating is for the 3D graphics. When I scored 4.4 on the aero it was because of integrated graphics. In the bios I selected discrete graphics which is the 3100M. My score went up to 4.9 from 4.4 on the Windows Aero matrix.

I test things and check variables and retest them for consistency. Basically a software tester that doesn't do software testing as a career or profession.