The State of Swtichable Graphics no Notebook.

[ksec]

While the idea of having a super energy efficient and low power GPU for Video Decoding / Desktop Acceleration and a powerful GPU for Games sounds great on paper. The reality is that software and user experience are just sub par.

The constant screen flashes, not being able to choose using Discrete GPU only, and Drivers Problem. With AMD you have to down a AMD version of Intel GPU drivers in order for its solution to work, Needless to say they are very active in updating their Drivers.

To make the matter worst Notebook drivers never gets any update. And having swtichable graphics means you cant even use Mods drivers.

A lot of these could be fixed, but then AMD, Nvidia and Intel are really in any cooperation. And Intel simply wanted Haswell to replace the Mid Range mGPU market.

Does anyone know if similar issues happen on a Macbook? And any way to force using discrete GPU only?

 

[Red Hawk]

The closest thing to it on desktops right now is LuciLogix Virtu. It allow you to switch between the dGPU and the iGPU with the press of a button. However, the dGPU doesn't actually turn off, and still consumes power. So mainly it's useful for enabling stuff like Intel QuickSync more easily.

As for laptops, the best thing IIRC is Nvidia's Optimus technology, which allows for switching at the touch of a button and does turn off the dGPU to save power.

 

[Blitzvogel]

I'm not too impressed with Optimus. Some games don't want to play unless you make some kind of workaround happen.