FFXI on laptop with optimus switchable graphics in windows 10 (doesn't work!)

[madmartin]

edit: oops sorry just saw the other thread.

Usually play FFXI on my desktop which works flawlessly, but recently got a laptop with these specs:

Intel Core i5-4210M (Intel HD gfx 4600)
8GB RAM + 1TB HDD
NVIDIA GeForce 940M
Windows 10 Home 64bit

and fancied some ffxi on it, but no matter what i do i cannot get the game running with the 940m, it just defaults to the integrated gfx of the i5 4210m
After some digging i came across this:

http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3733/kw/directx%208/session/L3RpbWUvMTQ0ODM2MDQ3Ni9zaWQvakw3OFhoQ20%3D



Games based on DirectX 8 and older versions of DirectX will only run on integrated graphics in an Optimus laptop under Windows 10
This is expected behavior. Most Optimus notebooks use MS Hybrid under Windows 10 which under DirectX 8 and older DirectX APIs will only run on the integrated graphics.


I wouldn't mind if ffxi run well on the integrated gfx but its terrible, even on 1024x1024 background resolution it drops below 30 fps to like 20 as soon as i walk up to a few players or monsters!

Has anyone with the same issue found a workaround? A specific intel hd driver to make the fps at least stay at 30? or a way for it to use the dedicated card on win 10 which should run it better?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Kurgan]

I am having the exact same problem. Asus K501LX laptop with Intel HD Graphics 5500 & GeForce GTX 950M using Optimus. I upgraded it from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 the day I got it. I'm currently running the new November 1511 update.

I have had no luck at all getting FFXI to use the GeForce GTX 950M no matter what I do. I've even gone so far as to restore my laptop to its factory OS and settings with Windows 8.1. I tried my hardest, and I can't even get it to use the NVIDIA graphics even under Windows 8.1, either.

I have used the NVIDIA Control Panel to set the preferred 3D graphics adapter to be the NVIDIA GPU, set the power management setting to "Prefer Maximum Performance", set up the "All Play-On-Line Games (pol.exe)" program-specific settings to use NVIDIA GPU. I've tried running the control panel as Administrator, as well. No dice.

One day I'll figure it out, or maybe Square-Enix will address this. I think the biggest problem is that Optimus is reliant on DirectX 9 or newer in order to detect and switch, and FFXI was written for DirectX 8.

[Nubi]

I am having the exact same problem. Asus K501LX laptop with Intel HD Graphics 5500 & GeForce GTX 950M using Optimus. I upgraded it from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 the day I got it. I'm currently running the new November 1511 update.

I have had no luck at all getting FFXI to use the GeForce GTX 950M no matter what I do. I've even gone so far as to restore my laptop to its factory OS and settings with Windows 8.1. I tried my hardest, and I can't even get it to use the NVIDIA graphics even under Windows 8.1, either.

I have used the NVIDIA Control Panel to set the preferred 3D graphics adapter to be the NVIDIA GPU, set the power management setting to "Prefer Maximum Performance", set up the "All Play-On-Line Games (pol.exe)" program-specific settings to use NVIDIA GPU. I've tried running the control panel as Administrator, as well. No dice.

One day I'll figure it out, or maybe Square-Enix will address this. I think the biggest problem is that Optimus is reliant on DirectX 9 or newer in order to detect and switch, and FFXI was written for DirectX 8.

Banged my head against this wall as well as I own a laptop with an 840M. As you say, Optimus does not support DX8 so either SE releases a DX9 version of FFXI or nVidia starts supporting an outdated standard several years after-the-fact. I don't think neither will happen :/ Maybe someone can come up with some kind of wrapper but so-far I haven't found anything.

[madmartin]

Thanks for the responses, guess im out of luck. Is there any way to get the game running somewhat decently on intel hd4600? like 1024x1024 background res, and actually stay at 30 fps!

[Catmato]

Is there no way in the BIOS to completely disable the integrated graphics and use only the discreet card?

[bungiefanNA]

We're starting to get to the point where DX8 and 9 support aren't functional in graphics cards, and so have to entirely be software emulated (and sometimes that isn't available). The Intel graphics is going to take a performance hit from that, not allowing you to use max settings with the game.