R400/T400/T500/W500: Switchable graphics issues with Win 7

[RealStranger]

Hi,

you could also write a small program, that reacts to Win32_PowerManagementEvent WMI events.

However, I suppose the screen flickering already mentioned would be quite annoying. Furthermore, using the current driver version my T400 sometimes froze during switches which would be extremely painful if they are started automatically ; )

Greetz!

M.T.

[ColonelONeill]

I'm fairly certain that RMClock polls the same API to check for power state changes.The MSDN article doesn't specify which return values are for standby itself, so I assume it can't differentiate between Hibernate and Standby either. Alternatively, I could get a program to query the ACPI controller for sensor values; if it provides a value for GPU (TPFC does this after resuming from standby) then it would be able to differentiate standby and hibernate.

[feuse8]

Happy Birthday Switchable Graphics Problems!!

It's so unbelievable that Lenovo can't manage to solve this problem within ONE YEAR!!! This is really premium Service.

[topad]

I agree!

[ColonelONeill]

LOL Happy Birthday indeed. It's surprising that despite the number of users on this forum that no one seems to be willing to contribute their expert knowledge (read: ability to write drivers and stuff like that). There's gotta be some pro's out there!

[Izmi]

I think all has been said about the topic and I think Lenovo is being blamed for good reasons. But most of all, I guess, we're interested in a new driver package. 

Hence: @JameZ or @Mark_Lenovo: By when can we expect to get working drivers? What is Lenovo doing to ensure that the driver release is not delayed forever? What do you learn from the history of problematic driver support for ATI/Intel switchable graphics (thematic link for "history is repeating": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QngStkp-E)? How do you make sure that the switchable graphics-products from Lenovo receive an up-to-date driver support after, say, 3 years since product launch? Don't you think that you messed up and that you owe us something? 

[JaLooNz]

Catalyst 10.10 is now out... [Guru3D]

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-10_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_c...

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-10_mobility_vista_win7_32_dd_c...

[Edbert]

I just installed the Catalysyt 10.10 drivers... put my computer to sleep (on integrated) and when I woke it up, the ATI card was no longer powered! Could the bug be gone??? I tried putting my computer to sleep and waking it up several times and the ATI card didn't show up in HWMonitor like it did before with the buggy drivers.

[ColonelONeill]

The information PDF still states that it doesn't support ATI/Intel hybrid switchable setups. However, that said, I will give this driver a try (gonna make sure to make a restore point first).

Edbert: Does the GPU still switch properly? Are power consumption levels as expected?

[Edbert]

Yes, the GPU still switches properly. I used the installers that JaLooNz posted. The setup program started and went on to update the drivers. The screen went blank, and stayed blank. I waited for a few minutes (no hard drive activity) and had to reboot the laptop. Windows started normally and Device Manager shows ATI driver version 8.782. The Intel drivers are the ones provided by the official Lenovo switchable drivers (the ones released on Octobre 2009). BIOS version is 3.19 (latest).

I'm gonna stick with this until I Lenovo releases the official drivers. My battery life waking up from sleep went from 3 to 6:30 hours.