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Switchable graphics drivers?

Started by Dasherman, Apr 03 2013 03:18 PM

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#1 Dasherman

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Posted 03 April 2013 - 03:18 PM

Yet again, a thread asking for help with computer st00fz. My laptop, the HP Envy-17 2100ed, has both an ATI Radeon HD6850M and an Intel HD3000. Now my problem is that the drivers on the HP site are way outdated. I'm looking for something more up to date? Could somebody here help me with my switchable graphics?

 

If possible, I'd like to be able to use both cards, but if not possible, I'd manage with just the ATI as well.

The autodetection tool tells me to download a driver, but when I look at that driver's page on AMD's site, it says that it doesn't work with switchable graphics. Should I just install those?


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#2 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 03 April 2013 - 03:32 PM

Just out of curiosity why do you want to update your drivers? Best case scenario you get some minor FPS boosts, maybe a slightly better battery life.

 

The HP site doesn't indicate it has dual graphics - can you link me to the driver page it gives you?


#3 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 02:27 AM

The driver autodetect gives? Or the HP driver?
And I hope that new drivers will increase performance in modern games.
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#4 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 04:42 AM

http://support.amd.c...ob_win7-64.aspx

This is what the driver finder thing from AMD wants me to download.

This is HP's driver: http://h10025.www1.h...116039&sw_lang=


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#5 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 07:29 AM

It looks like if you have switchable graphics AMD says you need to download the drivers from the notebook vendor. x:


#6 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 07:53 AM

So I'll have to stick to the outdated 2011 drivers?:(


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#7 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 08:11 AM

Yeah, but even if you were able to update it best case scenario you'd be getting a 1-5 fps gain.


#8 Wolf

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 09:52 AM

Yeah, but even if you were able to update it best case scenario you'd be getting a 1-5 fps gain.

 

Depends on the program, really. I would kill to get 5 more fps in Farcry 3.

 

But yeah, for the most part, If you aren't having any graphical problems [incorrectly loaded textures, visual artifacts, low frames, or programs just not starting] I wouldn't worry about it.


#9 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 10:47 AM

There's some throttling once in while, while I game. I'm hoping it's a driver issue...


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#10 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 11:26 AM

There's some throttling once in while, while I game. I'm hoping it's a driver issue...

Can you be a little more specific? Like, you're playing a game and then your fps caps out lower than it normally would?

 

Are you plugged in or running off battery when this happens?


#11 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 12:18 PM

It's completely random, it doesn't even happen exclusively while under heavy load (although it happens more frequently then).

Basically, while in-game, my computers tends to start lagging once in a while, to about 2 fps, with distorted and slowed sound (I have been told that the sound my microphone records also starts getting weird when that happens). After a couple of seconds, everything goes back to normal again, and there are no traces of the lagg ever having happened, except for possible in-game deaths as a result of being unable to respond.

 

As I am almost always plugged in, I'm not sure whether the battery has anything to do with it.


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#12 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 12:42 PM

Are windows automatic updates enabled?

Do you have an anti-virus installed?

Anything running in the background?

 

The first thing that comes to mind with hard spikes like that (where everything is affected, not just GPU operations) is that something is firing up in the background (a virus scan, windows update, whatever) and is eating up your CPU.

 

If nothing is firing up in the background I'd get something to monitor your CPU usage/temps. Take note of the time when it spikes so you can go into the log check your temps before, during, after. 


#13 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 02:45 PM

What program would you suggest I use to record my temps?

And I do not have an anti-virus installed (except for the standard MS essentials stuff).

As far as I know nothing special running on the background.

I do believe windows automatic updates is enabled though, should I disable that?


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#14 Guest_ElatedOwl_*

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 02:58 PM

Speedfan can log temps. (be weary on the site - its displaying those fake download adverts for me)

You could also try running something FurMark 3D and seeing if it causes the spike.

See if disabling that remedies the issue (and fine tune from there - don't leave it disabled unless you can remember to update on your own weekly).


#15 Dasherman

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Posted 04 April 2013 - 03:16 PM

I'll do that tomorrow afternoon, first thing when I get home from school then.
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#16 Dasherman

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Posted 05 April 2013 - 09:12 AM

Alright, I've done as you said, now just wait for the spikes.


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