High Power Use w/Switchable Graphics Driver + Integrated

[jmcafee]

Power consumption is at least 30-40% greater when using the switchable graphics set to "Integrated" vs. disabling switchable graphics in BIOS and forcing Integrated graphics. This is based on current/wattage reported by the battery monitor, confirmed by subjective battery capacity (run time).

I do not detect any greater power consumption when switchable is set to "Discrete".

I have confirmed from the Device Manager that the ATI graphics driver is not loaded when switchable is set to Integrated, and only the Intel driver loaded. I have also confirmed that both drivers are loaded when switchable is set to Discrete.

All drivers are up to date according to System Update.

System specs:
T400
Win7 x64 RTM
Power Manager 3.5
Power Manager Driver 1.55
ATI driver 8.641.1.1-090824a-089811C (7vd614ww.exe)

[Marin85]

The reason for this power consumption discrepancy could be that the system keeps the discrete graphics "alive" in case the user may want to hot-switch to it. Still, this is anyway not within the purpose of switchable graphics. Maybe this is what M$ meant when they said switchable graphics is not well-supported under Windows 7.

[jmcafee]

I'm surprised that it is "kept alive" without the driver loaded.

Hmm. Do I choose Vista + switchable, or Win7 + non-switchable???

Haha! I think I have my answer.

Thanks for your help.

[Colonel O'Neill]

Reporting the same power consumption findings here...

Too bad Lenovo can't just release their supposedly awesome Win7 with EE system image for us to use with our own Windows 7 keys.