Switching graphics card when on battery

I have a W540 with the nvidia K1100M graphics card. I'm trying to configure my laptop so that when I'm running on battery power, ALL programs use the integrated graphics adapter. When I'm plugged to AC in I'd like ALL programs to use the nvidia card.
I've looked into the nvidia optimus program, but it seems like it has a different card selection philosophy that isn't quite what I'm after.
Is there a way I can achieve this? It seems like a very straightforward config.
Thanks!

True, but you'd still have to restart all of your existing processes. Worse, if something like DWM ends up on discrete, you'd be stuck with high power consumption until you stop and restart it.
If the caveats are acceptable, you can probably script switching between "Auto-select graphics processor" and "Integrated only" as found in the NVIDIA Control Panel and set the program list according to AC power conditions. You'd also probably bypass the NVIDIA Control Panel itself and toggle the setting in the registry directly (don't know if it's actually in the registry) or using a CLI tool (don't know of one).
W520: i7-2720QM, Q2000M at 1080/688/1376, 21GB RAM, 500GB + 750GB HDD, FHD screen
X61T: L7500, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD, XGA screen, Ultrabase
Y3P: 5Y70, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, QHD+ screen

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T550 Switching graphic cards on windows 7 Ultimate

I've googled around and found that you switch Graphic cards with this green battery icon at the bottom right
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is there something i have to install? Thankyou very much
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hey don't give up yet. Sounds like video drivers are not installed on your ideapad. First identify which video card your system has:- http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/en/DriversDownloads/drivers.html
Then go to proceeding link to download driver for it:-
http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/en/DriversDownloads/drivers_list.aspx?CategoryID=207087
Hope it helps.
Maliha (I don't work for lenovo)
ThinkPads:- T400[Win 7], T60[Win 7], IBM 240[Win XP]
IdeaPad: U350
Apple:- Macbook Air [Snow Leopard]
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BlackBerry z10 switching off automatically when the battery is less tha k 50% and opening when connecting to a charger

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When Should MBP (2011 2.5 core i7) Switch Graphics Cards ?

All
I have a late 2011 2.5 i7 MBP with 8GB that seems to always use the AMD rather than the Intel even when I am just doing things like browsing the web or working in Excel etc. This seems strange as I assumed it would only switch when absoutely needed for things like gaming etc.
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OM
Thanks for the quick reply. My concern however is that my new MBP is using AMD when on battery. Specifically certain apps (using GFXcardstatus to find out which): Postbox, Coffee Break etc are causing this to run. I am fine with it doing this if it wasnt impacting battery life. So far on this brand new MBP 2011 late 2.5 I am seeing battery indicator showing about 3.5-4 hours on full charge even though I am just browsing, sending email, working docs etc.
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MacBook Pro will not boot after switching graphics cards

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I have a late-2008 unibody MacBook Pro. I have had it since April 2009, and I have not encountered any real problems with it.
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Message was edited by: Kaklz

Thanks, Joe. That may be an option if all else fails. I don't currently own an enclosure, so I am looking for an alternative before spending any money (I know, "frugal Apple user" is unheard of, but...).
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MBP Cycles Through the Graphic Cards when MS Office Apps Load Templates

I am preparing my MacBook Pro mid-2010, running Mavericks, for my girlfriend. I created an admin account for her and deleted mine, as well as my old user files. But now, when opening MS 2011 apps (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), while loading the the template gallery, the computer starts cycling between the integrated and Nvidia graphic cards many times, making the screen flicker and the process takes a long time. I have gfxCardStatus and it sends tens of notifications to OS X, which keep popping up on the screen. The video card cycling also happens while selecting 'File -> New from Template...'. If I disable the Automatic Graphics Switching, so only the Nvidia card is active, loading the templates is very fast (but this is not a solution, really).
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Anyone, please?
I noticed that the switching back-and-forth happens only in MS Word and MS Excel, as MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook are supposed to permanently use the the discrete card anyway. To reiterate, the switching between the graphic cards happens only while loading the templates in MS Word and MS Excel (when the program starts) and is very annoying, and it sometimes even crashes my gfxCardStatus, too.
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You can't switch in Windows. In Boot Camp, the MBP will use the 9600 card only (you can't change that). Since that's the better card, that's the one you'd want to use for gaming anyway - so, it's not an issue for you (it is an issue for those who are seeking better battery life in Windows, though).

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Malcom,
If I turn it off, then I lose the ability to jump between users without having to kill everything I'm doing. Yes, that does solve the problem, but only because it removes the cause of the problem. I'm trying to find a solution to the issue.
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Manually switching graphics card on T410S (with switchable graphics)??

Hi - does anyone know if it is possible to manually control what graphics card to use?
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It probable just needs a good switch "kick" in the nvram noggin' is all!
Try zapping pram/nvram or open firmware. Any drivers for Radeon are part of OS X.
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Hi, so on my w500 laptop specs, it says that it has 512 MB ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 graphics card that is switchable to Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHD. I want to switch to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator but I can't seem to figure out how to do it- I was told it was easy, but I'm not having much luck. If anyone could help me, that would be awesome, thanks!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi and welcome to the forum!
Which OS are you using? The switchable feature only works in Win Vista and 7.
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"How do I tell the system to switch my graphics adapter?
To switch graphics adapters, left-click on the ThinkVantage Power Managerbattery icon in the system notification area. At the bottom of the pop-up menu there will be a Switchable Graphics sub-menu.
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See the support page:- http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-70495.html
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Maliha (I don't work for lenovo)
ThinkPads:- T400[Win 7], T60[Win 7], IBM 240[Win XP]
IdeaPad: U350
Apple:- Macbook Air [Snow Leopard]
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Why can I not see Nvidia graphics card when i click "more info" on my 15 inch macbook pro?

I've just purchased a mid 2012 macbook pro
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Nope - it's likely just the card in use at the time when you do the More Info...
...to check to see if the card is 'there' hold down the option key and select System Information from the Apple menu. Go under Hardware>Graphics & Displays and two cards should be listed.
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iMac 24" Core 2 Duo, 2.4GHz, 4Gb Ram

I would like to draw your attention to this thread, in which another user expresses the same issue.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8100203&#8100203
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Hello @reccol
Thank you for posting on the HP Forums.
To get your issue more exposure I would suggest posting it in the commercial forums since the HP ProBook 4530s is a commercial product. You can do this here: Notebook - HP ProBook, EliteBook, Compaq, Slate/Tablet PC, Armada, LTE
The support page for your product may be helpful in the meantime: HP ProBook 4530s Notebook PC
I hope this helps!
Malygris1
I work on behalf of HP
Please click Accept as Solution if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
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Install Win7 with no Lenovo software - still switch graphics cards?

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As long as you install the necessary drivers and software components from the T500 driver matrix, it should be fully functional. That said, you won't benefit from the Enhanced Experience of the Lenovo preload.
W520: i7-2720QM, Q2000M at 1080/688/1376, 21GB RAM, 500GB + 750GB HDD, FHD screen
X61T: L7500, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD, XGA screen, Ultrabase
Y3P: 5Y70, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, QHD+ screen

No display switched graphics card

So at work I've used two different towers--a 2007 Mac Pro, and lately a 2009 Mac Pro tower. I made the switch because the 07, while generally decently fast, was having some harddrive errors and making me a bit nervous about how long it would last.
The ideal swap was to move my user to the 2009 tower, which has better specs in most everything BUT graphics card--and then swap the graphics cards. The 2007 had a ATI Radeon x1920 xt and the 2009 came with a Nvidia GeForce GT120.
My coworker and I swapped the graphics cards and put the Radeon in the 2009 and the Nvidia in the 2007 and booted both machines--but neither had a display. The machines booted up, just... black, no display connection at all. We switched back to make sure we hadn't broken anything--worked just fine.
The 2009 machine already had drivers for both brands--Nvidia and ATI. I tried researching online but the general consensus among the Apple crowd is that the machine should already have the drivers, and at least display should be a given?
Seems like this is a simple problem! I must be missing a really basic step, simply because I've not done it before, don't know the process, and can't find a specific tutorial online.
Also, the Radeon required an additional power source, but it was plugged in. I can't think of anything to troubleshoot beyond this, I really don't know enough.

The card you mentioned (Radeon X1920) is not offically supported on any model Mac Pro:
Mac Pro (all models): Graphics card compatibility between models
If you mean the X1900, that does not support 64-bit kernel, so it will not work in 2008 and later models.
User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards

Switching graphics card when on battery

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