XPX L501X - Nvidia GPU completely unused

Hi there,

  Thanks for the detailed response. I'm stuck at the first step though - when I go to the 'Program Settings' tab of 'Manage 3D Settings' the Remove button is greyed out/disabled, so I can't click it?

Toby

Hi Toby,

XPS L501x is shipped with 'NVIDIA Optimus' technology. Unlike switchable graphics, the 'Optimus solution' is enabled through an application profile and enables itself automatically. When an application is launched, the video drivers check to see if the application has an application profile associated with it. If an application profile exists, the 'NVIDIA GPU' is turned on and the application runs in performance mode. If an application profile does not exist or is corrupt, the integrated 'Intel GPU' is used.

1. It appears that the application profile of the game that you intend to play is corrupt in NVIDIA setup. Please follow the steps listed below to recreate it:
- Open the 'NVIDIA Control Panel'
- Select 'Manage 3D Settings'
- Select 'Program Settings' tab
- Click 'Remove' button
- Browse to and select the application executable that needs the new profile Codemasters F1 2011
- Click 'Remove'
  
- Restart the laptop and add the profile
- Open the 'NVIDIA Control Panel'
- Select 'Manage 3D Settings'
- Select 'Program Settings' tab
- Click 'Add' button
- Browse to and select the application executable that needs the new profile (Codemasters' F1 2011)
- Save settings and re-check performance

2. If the issue persists, try reinstalling the 'NVIDIA GPU' drivers (Refer to the steps below, if needed)
- Click Pearl Icon
- Click inside 'Search Programs and Files'
- Type 'devmgmt.msc' (without quotation)
- Hit 'Enter' Key
- Device Manager Page opens up
- Expand option 'Display Adapters'
- Right click 'NVIDIA GPU' and click 'Uninstall'
- Place tick mark in check-box that states 'Also remove the software'
- Restart the system
- Click http://dell.to/TqOzdX to download the latest graphic card driver for your computer (Windows 7 64 bit)
- Save the file on 'Desktop'
- Right click the file and click 'Run as an administrator'
- Click 'Yes' to the 'User Access Control' prompt
- Follow through with the installation of the driver
- Restart the computer and check again

3. If the issue still persists, try flashing system BIOS
Note: Before flashing the BIOS please check the following:-
- Battery should have 10% or greater charge
- Adapter should be connected
- No external devices should be connected
- All other programs should be closed and documents saved

- Click http://dell.to/Q7ubyv to download the latest system BIOS
- Click on “Get driver”
- Save the BIOS on your desktop
- Right click on it and select “Run as administrator”
- Follow the prompts on screen to install BIOS (System may produce beep sounds and may restart)
- Check for the video performance again

Hope this helps. Do reply if you have any further questions. I would be glad to assist.

Hi Toby,

Thank you for your response. Please ignore the first step and move on to the next troubleshooting step and reinstall the video card drivers to see if that works. you may try performing step 1 at last, if required. Do reply if you have any further question. I would be glad to assist.

Thanks Saurabh, much appreciated. Here is what I have done:

1. I uninstalled the drivers and re-installed R297049.exe, as suggested.

2. I then open the NVIDIA control panel and went to  'Manage 3D Settings'/'Program Settings' - there was no entry for F1 2011 so I clicked Add, located F1_2011.exe and selected it. Under 'Select the preferred graphics processor for this program' it had already selected 'Use global setting (Auto-select: NVIDIA GPU)' - I presume this is correct?

3. I ran the game's benchmark (I started the game by double-clicking F1_2011.exe), with most graphics options set to very low values it reported an average FPS of 26.

4. I changed the game's setting under  'Manage 3D Settings'/'Program Settings' to 'Inetgrated graphics' and re-ran the game's benchmark

5. I also flashed the BIOS using L501X_A08.exe.

6. I repeated steps 2-4 and got the same result.

It doesn't seem to matter what I select, the benchmark is the same. I have never been able to improve on this, and I've been trying for months. Is their something wrong with my Dell?

Toby

Is anyone able to help with this, does my description suggestion that the GPU is faulty or something? Is there anything else I can try?

In addition to 'Use global setting (Auto-select: NVIDIA GPU)' I also have 'High performance NVIDIA processor', not sure what (if anything) the difference is?

Toby

Hi Toby,

Please try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Try system performance with any other game
Please try using the system with another game to see if that makes any difference

2. I also recommend using a different benchmarking software to assess the performance

3. Please run the hardware diagnostics to check hardware functionality of the video card
- Click  http://dell.to/PQAV4Y to access the 'Dell Diagnostics'
- Select 'Component' and highlight 'Video Card' > Click 'Run Diagnostics' (Refer to image below)
- Select 'Component' and highlight 'Video Card Stress' > Click 'Run Diagnostics' (Refer to image below)
(Mentioned image is only for reference. It may have another component highlighted)

  
Hope this helps. Do reply if you have any further questions. I would be glad to assist.

Thanks for getting back to, I will try your suggestions.

I have actually been trying to get the Dell PC Diagnostics to run for a few days, it seems to be completely broken? When I click 'Run Diagnostics' it usually asks me to download and run DellPCDiagnostics.exe. When I do this I get a Windows error saying "Dell Support Center has stopped working" and original web page shows the error, "The Diagnostics Control attempted to launch an application and the process failed to start."

Is it possible to actually get this test to work I have tried many times since the weekend?

I have just found that, in Device Manager, under 'Display adaptors' is listed 'Windows Live Display Driver'. I think this is part of Windows Live Mesh, and I'm wondering if this could be causing issues? I Googled it and saw some old-ish reports of it seemingly overriding people's video cards, do you know anything about whether this could be the problem?

Ok, I downloaded 3D Mark 11 and fired it up. It tells me there's no DirectX hardware to be found, so I opened c:\windows\system32\dxdiag.exe and this shows only the integrated GPU. I then used 'Manage 3D Settings'/'Program Settings' to tell the computer to use the 'High performance NVIDIA processor' to open this program and tried again; it still only shows the integrated GPU.

Does this indicate that the GPU does not work, or is there anything else I can try? I will try another game, but I guess this does not look good?

Thanks,

Toby

PS I have now checked my work laptop, also an XPS, and dxdiag shows two tabs, one for the integrated GPU and one for the NVIDIA one.

Is anyone able to help me with this?

Thanks,

Toby

One more thing - I've just noticed that dxdiag on my work laptop only displays the Nvidia when my external monitor is attached (via HDMI), don't know if this is relevant?

Hi Toby,

Thank you for responding with detailed information. I am researching on the issue. It may take 2 - 3 business days. I will keep you posted.

Saurabh, I have made a small discovery. I don't know why, but if I connect my laptop to the TV using the HDMI port the NVIDIA card becomes available. My frame rate in the game doubles, dxdiag shows the NVIDIA GPU, I can run 3D Mark (which wouldn't run before as it couldn't see the NVIDIA card).

So the NVIDIA GPU can, at least work. Do you know how I can get it to work on the laptop's monitor, I don't actually use the TV with my computer, I just tried this as I saw someone mention it in a forum?

Hi Toby,

Thank you for providing a valuable input; will definitely help. I am working on the issue and will keep you posted.