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How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

W500/W510/W520 and W700/W701 Series
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ibrazhko
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How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#1 Post by ibrazhko » Thu Oct 27, 2022 3:08 pm

Could anyone please advise how I can configure my W500 to be able to switch the graphics card (Intel or ATI) in Windows 7?

I've installed all the necessary drivers (Chipset, Power Management Driver, Power Manager, ThinkPad Switchable Graphics Driver), configured the BIOS settings to "switchable", but I just CAN'T find the option to actually choose which graphics card to use! :x This is sooo frustrating. I've read somewhere that you need to right-click the Power Gauge and choose the GPU from the there, but all the options I see are:

- Power off display
- Activate battery stretch
- Enable InstantResume
- Remove and replace battery
- Show percentage remaining / show time remaining
- Launch Power Manager

Would much appreciate some help on this!

RealBlackStuff
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Oct 28, 2022 12:25 am

Check in BIOS/Config/Display for these settings:
- Default...: Internal
- Boot...: Thinkpad LCD
- Graphics...: Switchable
- Detection...: Enabled

Have you installed the proper latest BIOS 6Fxxxxx or 7Vxxxxx ?
See also this: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downlo ... p-thinkpad
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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ibrazhko
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#3 Post by ibrazhko » Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:55 am

Yes, I did all of that...

Latest BIOS, clean Windows 7 installation, latest drivers (Chipset, switchable graphics, Power Management, Power Manager).

BIOS settings are exactly as you described. In fact, both GPUs are correctly installed and identified by the OS (as seen in the device manager), but there is just no option to actually switch between graphic adapters.

RealBlackStuff
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Oct 28, 2022 4:27 am

When set to Switchable, the BIOS should decide what GPU to use, provided that still works.
If you want Discrete, you have to set BIOS to:
- Graphics...: Discrete
- Detection...: Disabled

Maybe someone else with a W500 can assist?
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

ibrazhko
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#5 Post by ibrazhko » Fri Oct 28, 2022 4:34 am

Thank you, but I don't think this is the way 'switchable graphics' options is intended to be used on a W500.

As far as I know, it should be able to be hot-switched via OS, for example see this screenshot from German notebookcheck:

Image

And I just don't have this "Switchable Graphics" submenu at all.

RealBlackStuff
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#6 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Oct 28, 2022 5:07 am

Maybe you need an older version of the Power manager?
If you know German, read this: https://thinkwiki.de/Windows_10_Cleanin ... e_Graphics

Sorry, can't help you any further.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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TPFanatic
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#7 Post by TPFanatic » Thu Dec 15, 2022 11:21 pm

Going through this on a ATI T400 with Windows 7. :evil: Installed every vcredist (86 and 64), no change. Now installing through System Update the AMT, Ricoh, and Matrix Storage drivers to see if any change.

edit:

I got the Switchable Graphics to show up after installing various 2005 vcredists and Power Manager 3.67. IDK exactly which vcredist did the trick but the PM 3.67 executable does unpack a couple 2005 vcredists that you can manually install and give a shot.

ibrazhko
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#8 Post by ibrazhko » Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:02 am

Thank you all, I was able to fix it following the article suggested by @RealBlackStuff: https://thinkwiki.de/Windows_10_Cleanin ... e_Graphics

I installed exact driver versions mentioned in the article and it worked.

PS. After all, I decided that I don't need the switchable function that much. I just switched to Discrete Graphics in BIOS and installed Win10 - works like a charm.

Colonel O'Neill
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Re: How to switch graphics on W500 in Windows 7?

#9 Post by Colonel O'Neill » Thu Feb 23, 2023 6:39 pm

ibrazhko wrote:
Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:02 am
I installed exact driver versions mentioned in the article and it worked.
There were better generic drivers that offer (much?) better performance compared to the one Lenovo offers 8) :
viewtopic.php?t=94162
W530, W520, X61T, X200s, W550s, E590, T430

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