Ze4lOt
01-11-2012 11:44 AM (64 days ago)
Are you planning to make new bios for pavilion g6 series to let it switch manually between fixed mode and dynamic mode?
I hate that i have a radeon 6470m inside my notebook and i cant use it when i want!
WaseemW
01-11-2012 11:52 AM (64 days ago)
Hi,
We do not recommend you to switch back to fixed mode as this will disable BACO. Making the GPU to work as fixed mode is actually a downgrade, and not a very good idea for better performance and battery runtime. Alternatively, you can assign specific applications to work under high performance (dGPU) under CCC. which is as good as Fixed mode computing for specific application but not for whole computer. this should take care of any specific requirements.

Hope it helps.

Thanks you,
Waseem - HP 2LS

Ze4lOt
01-12-2012 11:46 AM (63 days ago)
yes a bit, this function can solve the 90% of problems, but i have several application which needs to configure which gpu to use before it starts and i only can select the integrated... and i can set in ccc that i want to use dgpu its useless :(
PMspain
01-12-2012 12:09 PM (63 days ago)
Gentlemen,

This is my first post so please help!!

I have just aquired a new HP G6-1211ss (bought in Spain) and have spent virtually the whole day trying to fire up the Radeon HD 6470M.

The problem I´m having is that when I assign the "High Performance" setting to an application in CCC switchable graphics section as soon as I press apply it switches back to "Not Assigned" immediately, with notably poor graphics to follow when running the game(s).

Attempting to fix this I tryed to set the graphics mode in the bios to "fixed" as mentioned here and in several other forums. This option simply DOES NOT EXIST in the former or updated bios (HP F.41, 11.10.2011),

I´ve downloaded and installed all applicable drivers with no luck.

I chose this particular model for the added graphics power of the AMD discrete gpu but whats the point of it being in there if I can´t use it? I have a big bright red Radeon Graphics sticker next to the keyboard, it seems crazy that it's constantly inactive.

Any advise is appreciated because I've run out of options here people (other than returning the thing all together)

Thanks!
WaseemW
01-12-2012 12:23 PM (63 days ago)

Hi Ze4lOt,
Here are two very important points I would like to seek your attention to:
1) Graphic card driver for BACO enabled cards has the option to choose which GPU to use based on the requirement of specific application. Which means most applications run under dGPU if they are designed to use on high graphic capability machines. That’s why it’s known as dynamic :smileyhappy:.
2) As an option, CCC gives rights for a user to assign the iGPU or dGPU. This is largely used in case driver or OS does not really understand the requirements of specific application and does not assign the GPU as expected.
Fact is that: dGPU is mostly better than iGPU in performance but do we really need each application to utilize it?
You need not assign the GPU for each application(unless you really see some performance issue), driver will take care of it all.
Hope it makes sense and was of assistance :smileyhappy:
Regards,
Waseem,
I work for HP.
**Click the KUDOS star on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.
WaseemW
01-12-2012 12:27 PM (63 days ago)
Hi PM,
Such issues could cause if your driver and suppoting application gone bad which does not save setting you want the GPU to work for you.

I recommend you to remove(completely delete) driver and application from computer. Update the BIOS(if you are on latest, still re-write the BIOS) and then install the latest video driver from hp.com for your product.
This should take care of the issue, please let me know, thanks

Regards,
Waseem,
I work for HP.
**Click the KUDOS star on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.
Ze4lOt
01-13-2012 02:40 AM (62 days ago)
Hi Waseem,
I understand your opinion and i can accept it in most of the situations, but let me show you an example when dynamic mode not works and ccc cant help on it.

For this game i have to choose a gpu to use, and as u see it cant find the dgpu, beacuse its inactive at the moment. (I asked the game developers too... they said the program can choose only that gpu which is can be found by dxdiag, but dxdiag also cant find the dgpu.) So i have to choose the igp, and set the application in ccc to use high performance, the ccc accept it, but still using the igp ( i checked on amd system monitor). In this case this means a big downgrade in performance.
PMspain
01-15-2012 07:04 AM (60 days ago)
Waseem,

Your instructions on driver deletion and re-installation appears to have fixed the problem of CCC not applying my selected settings, Thanks.

Regarding the option of switching graphics settings in the BIOS I still do not have this option available in the BIOS screens. I am certain I'm running the lastest version from HP (F.41, 11.10.2011), are you aware if this version should have this setting option included? or perhaps there is another version I could install to enable this option?
PMspain
01-22-2012 03:49 AM (53 days ago)
"When configuring the Dynamic Switchable Graphics in the Catalyst Control Center, the notebook does not permit any OpenGL applications to be associated with the Discrete (dGPU) or high-performance GPU. The OpenGL applications will work using the power-saving or Integrated GPU (iGPU) but the performance levels may be lower than expected.
OpenGL is not supported on the Discrete GPU when using the Dynamic Switchable Graphics feature. To enable dGPU support for OpenGL applications, you must disable the Dynamic Switchable Graphics feature and turn on the Fixed Mode Switchable Graphics feature."

Why doesn´t my BIOS have this option? Has this option been removed from newer BIOS versions? and if so, why? The BIOS will not allow me to downgrade to an older version.

I seems as though HP is trying to dictate to us how to use property that does not belong to them. As the purchaser and owner of this laptop I expect to have the right to use it however I see fit. I understand the risks and/or disadvantages of fixed mode but would obviously like to use the dGPU which I own (and which was a major deciding factor considered before buying your product) at my discretion.
rospox
01-22-2012 05:32 AM (53 days ago)
I bought a g6 1283 and I think I will never buy a HP laptop again.
Hp video drivers are always outdated and I want to use latest AMD. Update driver or make this **bleep** bios!
corewing
01-22-2012 09:40 AM (53 days ago)

Waseem_Warsi wrote:
Hi,
We do not recommend you to switch back to fixed mode as this will disable BACO. Making the GPU to work as fixed mode is actually a downgrade, and not a very good idea for better performance and battery runtime. Alternatively, you can assign specific applications to work under high performance (dGPU) under CCC. which is as good as Fixed mode computing for specific application but not for whole computer. this should take care of any specific requirements.

Hope it helps.

Thanks you,
Waseem - HP 2LS

You there at HP surely knows how to frustrate customers for no real reason,uh?
I recommended a Pavilion G6-1232SL to a friend of mine that gave it to me for configuring it properly for her and her husband and due to you obliging the use of Dynamic Graphics Mode it's a real mess.
Switching back to Fixed Mode? There is no Fixed Mode in latest G6 F.41 BIOS release December2011. That is the whole issue here.
This notebook was chosen for its AMD Radeon GPU mainly and HP is obliging the use of slower CPU Integrated Intel Graphics HD. Why?
Due to forcing Dynamic Graphics Mode like this it's not possible using AMD Mobility Catalyst drivers because the hardware doesn't work. AMD Mobility Catalyst 11.12 recognize the AMD Radeon GPU but after installing it tells that the driver found an issue and couldn't run so it got stopped and Catalyst Control Panel complains that no active AMD graphic card is present and won't run.
Could you please stop telling what you want your customers to do with the hardware they paid you for and release a BIOS Update allowing to switch to Fixed Mode so to get rid of Intel Graphics HD GPU completely and AMD Mobility Catalyst would properly work giving customers full access to what they paid for with no useless and pointless limitations?
That friend of mine is really disappointed, she is telling me she will never buy an HP product once again, I don't know what to tell her because she is absolutely right and now they obviously blame me for having told them to buy an HP notebook.
It's just plain absurd that you there at HP want your customers to be more than just disappointed and all of that for not enabling a simple BIOS option that would take your programmers 1-2days at most for enabling and testing it? Really? Is that HP policy on supporting its customers nowadays?



PMspain
01-23-2012 05:13 AM (52 days ago)
Corewing,

It is a ridiculous situation.

Like I said in one of my previous posts its comparable to considering and then buying a new sports car because the manufacturers advertise it as having a powerful new type of engine, only to find out when you take it out for your first drive its speed is limited to 50kph, and then they tell you this is better because its much safer and fuel efficient this way!

From a legal stand point I would go as far as to say it is false advertising and misrepresentation.

I refuse to be complacent on this obvious and critical error and will stay active on this and other sites until the problem is fixed, I suggest you do the same.

I am also at a disadvantage because I live in and bought this product in Spain so there are communication difficulties complaining to the relevant authorities. This site also appears to be more of an informal forum and I am struggling to find a direct method of communicating this problem to HP, I will keep trying . Let me know if perhaps you can find one.

Good luck to the both of us!


PMspain
01-23-2012 02:30 PM (52 days ago)
A solution offered by community member Cobl. Looks like the first real solution I've found:

@PMspain

Yes actually after trying practically everything possible, I found the solution here:

http://leshcat.blogspot.com/2011/11/multix-catalyst-1111a-unifl-for.html

This is a third party driver for laptops with switchable graphics, with Intel HD + AMD graphics cards.
The 11.11a UnifL driver supports OpenGL. This is what I'm using. I'm quite happy with the performance and stability.

I think the 11.11c UnifL driver also supports OpenGL, but the later drivers like 11.12 or 12.1a do not.
I would reccommend this solution, as there is no solution available from hp, Intel or AMD.

If you do decide to try this, pl. read through the FAQ (links on right), and follow the steps exactly as described.

Best of luck & do post back if successful

Ze4lOt
01-24-2012 06:12 AM (51 days ago)
is it working with AMD processors too?
cobl
01-24-2012 11:11 PM (51 days ago)
@Ze4lOt

No it does not work with AMD+AMD, only Intel+AMD with Windows 64 bit.
sonnie
01-25-2012 01:29 PM (50 days ago)
OMG! HP, is it so **bleep**in hard to update BIOS for g6, probook, etc.
I bought my probook only for gaming and want to play games!
Signin
01-26-2012 04:09 AM (49 days ago)
This situation is simply unacceptable.

I swear that I will continue for all of my life of bemire the name of HP with every person in every where, when talking about IT.

Only a really stupid and insane engineer can think a notebook with no chance to use the major graphic card, congratulations on the decision to hire him.

I wish you to recover your sanity.
PMspain
01-27-2012 05:00 AM (48 days ago)
For those of you who have a HP Pavilion dv series laptop file a complaint with the BBB

Visit: https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx?siteID=113

follow the instructions and maybe if we file enough complaints about how we have been cheated with this lack of OpenGL support and unusable "switchable" GPU. Maybe if we file enough complaints in enough places HP will actually do something about this..
rospox
02-05-2012 12:32 AM (39 days ago)
I use this:
http://leshcat.blogspot.com/

PMspain
02-05-2012 02:30 AM (39 days ago)
This does seem like the only alternative at the moment, but don't let HP off the hook!

As the title of this thread suggests they need to release a BIOS update to fix their mistake. I want what I paid for and will not give up until I get it. How can one of the largest pc manufacturers in the world release thousands of units that can't use their primary graphics card correctly? And then hide from the complaints?
PMspain
02-12-2012 07:06 AM (32 days ago)
My latest exchange with HP through the BBB:


"Travelling back to Canada for HP to look at a brand new unit purchased in Spain is not a viable option. It is also well established that this is not a fault with my particular unit but a design oversight across ALL OF THE G6 RANGE. An examination at a service center cannot accomplish anything. A technician can take any new G6 straight off the production line and it will have this problem. There are hundreds of other G6 owners complaining about the same identical issue on HP's own international support forums. A BIOS update with the "fixed graphics" option is expected, and is the only possible solution, from HP. It is truly that simple. Is HP working on a new BIOS version to adequately address this issue or not?"

File a complaint with the BBB (or similar organization) if you want anything done about this problem. It doesn't matter what country you're in. There needs to be consolidated push by HP customers if this BIOS update is ever to materialize.
yousaf72a
03-05-2012 04:06 PM (10 days ago)
so guys is there a solution to problem at the moment ?
zen-30-100
03-06-2012 03:53 PM (9 days ago)
I had some issues with my hp Presario CQ56 shutting down, and stating it needed a Bios update, and this happened several times then I ran several security test, and uninstalled several add ons if the Bios update comes up again is there a anything I can do to update the Bios on the computer myself.
PMspain
03-07-2012 08:54 AM (8 days ago)
I'm out.

After several complaints HP support advised me a new BIOS version was to be released and this would fix the problem. Then two weeks later they emailed me stating that THERE WILL NOT BE A BIOS UPDATE or a version with a fixed graphics option.

At about the same time my usb ports stopped functioning correctly, my webcam stopped working completely, and I kept getting an unknown usb device randomly connecting and disconnecting and failing to install every hour or so.

At that point I decided I'd had enough. The laptop goes back tomorrow. Hp has graciously given me a full refund.

The whole saga was regrettable and I will avoid their product in the future.

Good luck guys.