I hate Dell for this. I hate Nvidia for keep it quiet too.

This issues has been actively discussed on both Dell & Nvidia forums. While Dell representative is quite helpful, Nvidia just keep it quiet. But in the end, Dell also not doing anything.

The issues for this specific model Dell Vostro 3300 and 3700 is using Switchable GPU. Means you’re able to run on NVidia GPU (some one 330M, some on 310M etc) when you need it like for gaming. But when not needed you’ll run on Intel HD and thus saving battery life. The idea is good.

However, you’re limited to Dell provided driver only. And they’re not updating it. At first this was no issues for me, as I’m able to play all of my game. This become a problem when I can’t play Need For Speed Run. Because it required me to have latest graphic driver. How old is the driver? Now is the end of 2011, Dell driver is from 2010…. Duh!

Somehow Dell did not put disabling command in BIOS to. The Dell representative said, in pre-production BIOS the command is available…. But not available on production one. But it’s confusing one because in manual it have. And as one of the user point it out, the Dell support Level 2 simply said just return the unit and get a different unit without the problem. Why we buy from Dell anyway?

So here is how:

  1. Uninstall NVidia Driver
  2. Run Nasty File Remover (Please download from reputable website)
  3. Download Intel HD driver from Intel web
  4. Download NVidia Latest Driver from NVidia Web
  5. Install Intel HD driver first.
  6. It might not work, so after restart you need to go to Device Manager -> Display Adapter -> 1st VGA device, do Update Driver and browse for Intel HD driver you just download
  7. After restart again, you will see you get back your normal resolution (1600 x 900). First step successful! Congrats! Clap! Clap! Clap!
  8. Now go to Device Manager again. Go for the only VGA device (another one is Intel HD, which we install driver already) -> Right Click, Properties -> Details ->Select “Hardware ID”
  9. You need to copy the Hardware ID. I recommend to copy it to Notepad.
  10. Run Nvidia Installer
  11. When it says No Hardware Detected, just cancel it.
  12. Browse to where you extract the Nvidia Driver.
  13. Find the file name “nvam.inf”
  14. Edit this file in Notepad (I use notepad++)
  15. You need to find this line -> NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.06 = “NVIDIA GeForce GT 325M     ”  (yes including the space and “)
  16. Press Enter. Paste this -> NVIDIA_DEV.0A29.01 = “NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M” (yes including the “)
  17. Then find this line -> %NVIDIA_DEV.0A35.06% = Section048, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A35&SUBSYS_1F171043
  18. Press Enter, Paste this -> %NVIDIA_DEV.0A29.01% = Section050, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A29&SUBSYS_044F1028
  19. Save the “nvam.inf” file
  20. Re-run the NVidia setup again
  21. Now you should be able to install driver already.
  22. After restart, you will have the NVidia Control Panel icon on taskbar
  23. You’re done

So you get it now? In NVidia drivers they dont have our hardware/device ID, so how in the hell the driver installer going to detect it? So the steps above simple adding our hardware ID into the installer list. Thats all. Oh, the Intel HD part? Because NVidia require the Intel HD to install first.

Now you can configure in control panel on which application to use NVidia GPU, or set it to auto. (This part I’m still experimenting)

Now I can run Need for Speed Run. But NVidia GPU will overheat and laptop will shutdown. This is another issues that has been discussed, poor airflow design by Dell for Vostro 3700 cause this. (This also I’m still experimenting on how to deal with it)

*Update – Solve overheat issues by using this big fan

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