Dell laptop using 'wrong' graphics card

[tricky]

I have a new Dell XPS 701X laptop running Windows 7 x64. It has the onboard Intel graphics, but also a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 435M card.

I have installe Max 2009 x64, but it is using only the onboard Intel graphics chip. I have tried right-clicking on the 3dsmax.exe and forcing it to use the Nvidia chip, but even after doing this, Max tells me it is still using the Intel chipset.

(I think the same thing is happening for Autocad!)

Any ideas how to force 3dsmax (and autocad) to use the dedicated Nvidia graphics chip?

[n6]

Try to uninstall then install the Geforce newest driver from NVidia. I have read that on Dell laptop it can solve this propblem.

[tricky]

Uninstall just the Geforce driver (ie leave the Intel one intact)?

[n6]

yes Its related to dell's NVidia drivers that have some problems with the Optimus techno.
Uninstall it.
install new Nvidia's one. (leave the Intel one intact for now)
And let's see what happen.

[vlado]

Not sure about Dell, but I had an Asus notebook and I had to go into the NVidia ION settings and explicitly tell it to use the nVidia GPU for some programs.

Best regards,
Vlado

[tricky]

Not sure about Dell, but I had an Asus notebook and I had to go into the NVidia ION settings and explicitly tell it to use the nVidia GPU for some programs.

Best regards,
Vlado

Yes, I've done that in an attempt to 'force' Max to use the Nvidia driver, but no luck. Weird. I guess I could try and disable the onboard graphics in device manager, then it will have no choice!