Windows 7 Graphic Card Switching

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Level 1

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Windows 7 Graphic Card Switching

Hiya,

I'm currently using Bootcamp with Windows 7 for work.
Now my Macbook makes sometimes a bit of a noise, guess that's the cooler.

Now I want to know if there is any possible way to switch between my mobile graphic card and my heavier graphic card when I'm working on Windows 7.

With Mac OSX I have to logout to switch is there somenthing like this for Windows?

Thanks in Advance!

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3), 17" 2.66Ghz

Posted on Apr 15, 2010 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

SterAllures Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 17, 2010 9:23 AM in response to SterAllures

Does someone has an answer for this problem?

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Answer 2

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Apr 17, 2010 11:01 PM in response to SterAllures

Hi and welcome to Discussions,

to my knowledge the current avaiable drivers allow a BootCamp Windows on a MacBook Pro like yours only to use the higher-end graphics chip.

I am not aware of a solution to use the lower-end one.

Sorry

Stefan

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Answer 3

Apr 19, 2010 2:39 PM in response to Fortuny

Hmm. I thought switching the Battery status from Performance to energy saving would switch the graphics cards.

Maybe that's why Win7 only runs around 3hrs with a battery even if only surfing the net.

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Answer 4

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Apr 19, 2010 8:29 PM in response to Macnetmedia

Macnetmedia wrote:
Hmm. I thought switching the Battery status from Performance to energy saving would switch the graphics cards.

Maybe that's why Win7 only runs around 3hrs with a battery even if only surfing the net.

Hi,

that, and the lack of the refined energy saving methods implemented in OSX.
Battery Time was always a lot less in Windows than in OSX.

Sad to say.

Stefan

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Answer 5

rpmm

Level 1

17 points

Apr 27, 2010 8:40 PM in response to Macnetmedia

Macnetmedia wrote:
Hmm. I thought switching the Battery status from Performance to energy saving would switch the graphics cards.

Maybe that's why Win7 only runs around 3hrs with a battery even if only surfing the net.

Hi,

Can you please confirm that you consistently only get 3h of battery life when running win7?

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Answer 6

m@rkoto

Level 1

4 points

May 3, 2010 2:47 AM in response to rpmm

Now I want to know if there is any possible way to switch between my mobile graphic card and my heavier graphic card when I'm working on Windows 7.

According to the Apple’s support knowledge base, the new Macbook Pros cannot select the Intel HD Graphics in Windows:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3295

"Symptoms: You may notice that the built-in Intel HD Graphics does not appear in the Device Manager and cannot be used with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7."

"Resolution: Windows cannot take advantage of both graphics processors that come with some MacBook Pro computers. By default, Windows uses the NVIDIA GT216 discrete graphics processor when available."

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Answer 7

May 30, 2010 10:12 AM in response to m@rkoto

This is too sad to confirm.
I was attracted to buy this macbkpro due to its longer usage announced...8-9hours but it does not state that it only happens with osx.

Is that a chance to be sued in terms of "cheating"?

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