Graphics Switching in Windows 7 - Macbook Pro 2011

could you write a "how-to". great to hear that optimus is running.

i tried all and didn't get the intel hd working.

Optimus does not work on windows with Macs, you can I stall it, but on hardware level nothing will happen, apple does not wire nVidia to support it. Stay away from it for now, there was some success for Linux users by tweaking EFI, you can try google it, but as far as windows goes, apple has to make the drivers, which they haven't done in 3-4 years since the first macs with dedicated graphics. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

It looks like you may be right. I have the latest nVidia drivers, and while they claim the graphics switching is enabled and working, it also seems like it never actually switches to the Intel GPU. 😟

It won't work using bootcamp, since the Intel GPU is not exposed. You have to reinstall Windows 8 using EFI (which involves nuking everything on your hard drive including your Mac OS partition.)

But you're seeing the intel HD in device manager? this is what i need. i don't need the switching etc. only enable the intel hd. i like to use an egpu and need the intel hd

Yes, the Intel GPU is visible and active in Device Manager.

There is one other fairly major caveat however: built in audio does not work. HDMI audio works, Thunderbolt/DisplayPort audio works, but audio through the built-in speakers and headphone jack does not work due to a bug in the EFI architecture that Apple needs to fix (apparently, it's a bug in Intel's EFI code that Intel has fixed, but Apple has yet to deploy.)

I used this guide to dual-boot Windows 8 (EFI mode) and Mac OS X, except instead of using a Mac OS X install disc, I used Internet Recovery (hold Command+R at boot time) to reinstall Mac OS X. And I installed Windows 8 from a USB flash drive, not a DVD.

I'm still working out the kinks, and the process was not without some fairly major gotchas, so use at your own risk.

I have also managed to get windows 8 running via EFI boot on my early 2011 MBP.

Neither the AMD 6750m or the Intel HD3000 GPU are working - neither drivers can start the device. (tried both latest drivers off the net, and bootcamp rubbish drivers)

Having the Intel enabled will blue screen during device driver loading at startup.

Windows 8 runs fine, using Basic Display Driver (unknown GPU in use, assuming AMD as it is used during the EFI stage).

Played with enabling the Intel device in the EFI shell - managed to boot windows 8 3 times WITH Intel GPU enabled, but black screened and no output on external monitor. Cannot confirm if using the first EFI shell command below does enable the HD 3000, but I think so. Just doesn't configure resources in a useable fashion. 😐

Can use EFI shell commands (converted from grub) such as metatechbe detailed a page back:

mm 0000020054 0b -w 1 -pci (Activates Intel GPU, supposedly)

mm 728 1 -io (Switch select - this has no feedback, completes ok)

mm 710 2 -io (Switch display - this drops the EFI shell to a black screen - expected, as Intel HD3000 doesn't seem to have resources)

Reboot, tried:

mm 740 2 -io (Switch DDC, no feedback, completes ok)

mm 750 0 -io (Power off AMD, screen drops to black, EFI halted. Seems to work as expected, but as Intel is not running it is not very effective. 😉)

I am trying to find some reasources somewhere that may allow me to configure the Intel HD3000 and disable the AMD GPU in a way that would allow the Intel HD Drivers to work in windows 8 via EFI. This could take a while. I bought a lemon in this Early 2011 MBP. 😠

Anyone know where to find any info on configuring PCI devices? Metatechbe? Anyone?

UnnDunn: what model MBP do you have that you can see the HD3000 running ok in device manager?

Welcome to my world circa 8 months ago. Google this: OS X windows 8 EFI macrumors

Should be the first hit. Look there for the latest info.

Well, after a lot of frustration yesterday, I have had some suprising success:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd176/deefa_d/Device_Manager_-_happy_Intel_HD _Properties_-_Fractal_D3D_application_running_zpsc9723d5b.png

Device selected for the D3D fractal program is the Intel HD3000. 🙂

I am yet to finalize all that I did, but it is a combination of work that multiple people have tried already with a few twists.

As soon as I can get it to work 100% all the time, I will post a how-to. (Lets just say it required pci register manipulation, and an external monitor via thunderbolt, which isn't even used)

I'll have a how-to up in a few days when I get back to work.

Dig through ubuntu forums, there is a GfxCardStatus app for Mac, if you use an old version and disable dedicated gfx, reboot, it'll use only integrated. I am looking forward to your solution however, thanks for keeping us updated

Wow that's great! Can you please post how you installed Windows 8 also? I don't know if I have the stomach to install UEFI Windows 8 using the last method that I used.

@deefective wow great! looking forward to your how-to

@dimasd that would be to easy but could you give me a link where you found that?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12221836

It looks to be a bug in the old version, so it's being exploited

Does this not work for you? AMD provides Bootcamp drivers.
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

In 1st pass of install you can choose to delete/uninstall existing.

You can do this in Device manager by rightclick on adapter, selecting Properties->Uninstall, delete driver if you see the option. Reboot, & repeat if it comes back.

Your post has nothing to do with the top at hand.