HP: What is wrong with your support? (g series switchable graphics) [ Edited ]

[Jacob_]

UPDATE 3/17/13:

We've  been waiting almost 2 years for a BIOS update now. Obiovusly HP doesn't understand the severity of the problem so I am encouraging everyone to utilize the [Personal Information Removed] . Here are all of the emails I could find. Please be relentless in emailing all of them, be sure to be detailed in your concerns.:

[Personal Information Removed]

And a form: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/email/ceo/index.html

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I am aware that this type of post will probably get me banned, but it seems to be the only way to get things done around here.

The problem:

Several recently-released HP notebooks do not have fully-functional switchable graphics. The dynamic switching works with DirectX applications, but not OpenGL applications (and from my experience, it does not work with 2D-accelerated DirectX applications, though that may be a different issue.)

The solution:

2 months ago, a BIOS update was released for several models that enabled fixed mode switching. However, I'm typing this on a Pavilion g6 with the latest BIOS, but no fixed-mode switching and no OpenGL support.

The other problem:

HP support staff seem to not have any knowledge about this issue. Here are some example forum threads.

• HP staff member used screenshots from a very outdated version of Catalyst Control Center and complet...
• Ignored
• Recommended customer to install nonexistent BIOS update to fix graphics issues
• Ignored
• Ignored

All we want is a BIOS update to enable fixed mode switchable graphics, and educated responses from support. I'm beginning to think it would be easier to fix  the BIOS myself than to get HP to do it...

Keywords:hp pavilion g5 g6 g7 amd ati radeon 6470m opengl switchable graphics bios

[GamerXX]

Can you tell me ANY application for which its working? I found nothing! g6-1118tx

[Jacob_]

The only games I play are Team Fortress 2 (DX) and Minecraft (OpenGL). TF2 was working well when I tried it last, but that was a couple months ago (I've reinstalled Windows since then.)

[GamerXX]

Are you sure it was using the GPU for them?

I used CPU-z, dxdiag (The directx diagnostic application), 3D Mark, Furmark. None of them used the GPU. Even though my device manager lists the GPU.

[GamerXX]

HP should give at least a 50% refund to all people using these notebooks.

[Jacob_]

Monthly bump.

[Phino]

They released a new bios update for g6 a few days ago but it doesn't include the fixed mode

By the way I found out that the problem is only with OpenGL applications. With DirectX apps the dynamic switch works

[corewing]

Configuring a friend of mine HP Pavillion G6-1232SL that she and her husband bought under my advice for the AMD Radeon GPU. Same issue. The Dynamic Graphics Switch Mode is a pain, most applications don't work correctly.

HP is at fault for not providing a BIOS to set Fixed Mode so that Intel HD Graphics could be disabled.

It's just a matter of BIOS switch options. HP hides all options. Desktop motherboards automatically disable Intel HD Graphics on Intel CPUs when a discrete GPU is on PCI-E slots. Why HP is not even allowing a simple BIOS manual switch to let customers decide what to do with their own hardware?

It's up to customers to decide if they want to use the slower Intel HD Graphics or the AMD Radeon GPU. 

The whole Dynamic Switchable Graphics thing is a marketing scam that only causes trouble to customers.

Not allowing customers to decide how to use the hardware they paid for is just plain nonsense and a real suicide for any Corporation like HP doing just that.

I sent a detailed complaint letter to AMD already on the matter, waiting for their reply to give them more detailed info, requested them to solve this and force HP to do what is right for AMD customers first of all.

That friend of mine is really disappointed. I can't configure the new notebook she bought for maximum performance, the original AMD Catalyst Mobile drivers can't be used because the GPU doesn't get recognized by online installer and won't download the drivers. Trying to directly install AMD Catalyst Mobile 11.12 latest version without having the Intel HD Graphics drivers would lead to AMD Radeon GPU recognized by Catalyst but the drivers can't run and fail with error code telling the hardware has an issue and drivers were stopped, so Catalyst error occours telling no AMD hardware active in the system.

This has to be fixed. HP is at fault here and AMD best interest is helping all its customers using their own GPUs unless they want people to switch over to Nvidia GPUs. But maybe HP managers want frustrated customers that will never ever buy their hardware once again and they will switch to competitors products.

[mesamit]

i am also having same problem in my hp pavilion G4 1212tx......and also amd driver version is too old.....

[sunfromhere]

Any news on this one?

I have pavilion g7-1110sm, and have found an upgrade to the BIOS (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-100657-1&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en... but it doesn't say anything anywhere on fixed graphics.

Anyone know details on this BIOS upgrade?