m17 R3, iGPU is not selectable

Question

Just bought Alienware m17 R3 laptop 2020,

IGPU is even disappeared from device manager and I cannot bring in.

I don't know why but Dell is making this bios menu very restricted. Even I cannot turn-off D-gpu or make igpu as a default. Cannot turn off fast boot, I don't know the status of CFG lock.

What's going on? I'm starting to regret selecting this product because of lack of configurability. If just for gaming, then I'd buy a console game machine not a PC. What do you think?

And, if I google this problem, a lot of 17 R3 old version laptop topics are coming in and M17x R3. Seems they're lack of putting efforts on namings.

ejn63 · Accepted Answer

It is correct that on your model, the integrated GPU is disabled. The engineering of the system is based on the premise that anyone buying a system with that level of GPU and/or wanting GSync and a high-refresh display panel is buying a system for maximum video performance.

If your system is new and you want to be able to use the integrated GPU, return it and order the system with a standard-refresh panel and a lower-line GPU and you'll have that option.

It's a choice you need to make -- do you want all-out video performance, or the extended battery runtimes that the integrated GPU allows; current system engineering requirements mandate you choose one or the other - you cannot have both.

ejn63 · Answer

Does 'disappeared' mean it was once present and no longer is? If not, what is the refresh rate of your screen and which GPU do you have?  The higher-refresh screens and higher-end GPUs on these are indeed hardwired - there is no Optimus option at all, so the integrated GPU is completely disabled by design.  That's one of the only ways to implement GSync, which most of the higher end models have.

jaykim1212 · Answer

Hi, my laptop is not gync model (mine is 300hz FHD) but why my intel graphics is disabled? How I can get it work? Any mis-configuration I assume?

My M17R3 spec is,

i7-10875H, 32G ram, 1.5T(1T raid + 500mb), 2080s, FHD 300hz

jaykim1212 · Answer

I just talked with Dell support technician for a long time. The conclusion is, Dell made iGPU disabled as factory setting. And I think this is wrong and the option must be selectable in bios, as all other brands do. Intel 630 graphic is written on the product catalogue and advertisement, and made it disabled as factory set-up, and cannot change in bios setting. Don’t you think there’s something wrong? I’m not sure whether I can see the change in bios update in the future or not. Seems bios has been patched many times from the beginning but I cannot see what has been changed.

jaykim1212 · Answer

I’m not asking this because of battery time. And as I’m traveling around the world during this severe Corona season, unfortunately I’ll not be able to return this back to store/nor sell as used one - and I love this machine. Later I’ll be looking for bios mod if Dell cannot provide this simple configuration change. As I googled, not only myself is asking this. Asus/Razer/MSI/... are providing such options in their bios but their laptops are ugly compare to Alienware. Wish Alienware to be the best one for gamers as well as developers/IT guy like myself who is using this machine for machine learning/deep learning/statistics engine, etc..

ejn63 · Answer

Firmware cannot modify circuitry that's hard coded into the system board. There are indeed versions of this model that have the switchable graphics feature you're looking for -- but not the configuration you purchased.

You can buy a Ford Mustang with an Ecoboost four cylinder engine and get 20-something MPG from it, or you can buy the GT500 version with a supercharged V8 and get 12 mpg. You get faster performance from the second, of course - but you can't then go back to Ford and ask for a firmware flash for the ECU to add the MPGs of the Ecoboost engine.

jaykim1212 · Answer

Ford Mustang could have only one engine.

My laptop has two GPUs which could run conditionally, and Dell blocked to use iGPU.

No one might have doubt that Alienware is losing gaming laptop market recently. But before, it was a top leader in the market. Why? Because they think they are the only right, and disregarding the voice from customers.

ejn63 · Answer

While you're certainly entitled to your opinion, it's just that: an opinion. Every system is designed around a set of parameters by its manufacturer. What you've purchased is designed to be a high-performance gaming system on which the designers agreed to enable only the nVidia GPU. This is a common design feature of high-end gaming systems across the board - not just from Alienware.

In any case, the design is set and you cannot use the integrated GPU. If you want to be able to do that, there are models in the Alienware m17 line -- and from others -- that do allow for it.

jaykim1212 · Answer

Thank you much for your time for comments. I’m not fully agree but I understand your opinion. If you are not working for Dell or Alienware, yours is also one of many opinions. Maybe you’ll just ride a car without after market tuning or something I believe. But I’m not. We’re just different. However, I was thinking 'Aliens' buying Alienware,.... Use what is provided - maybe quite MS Surface way of thinking, isn’t it? Have a great day!

jaykim1212 · Answer

I failed, completely failed. Can’t use this AlienMac properly due to the hardware block on using iGPU. However, sometimes it is meaningful that I can try which little people ever tried. My wife will hate me though, should buy one additional real mac when I get rich. I must use Logic Pro for music producing.. 恭喜发财[闭嘴] 새해 복 많이 받으세요!!

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m17 R3, iGPU is not selectable

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