POL Keeps Crashing With Nvidia Optimus Drivers

So I got this new laptop with a nvidia geforce GT 555M card with this new "optimus technology". Whenever I start playonline it crashes with the info:

I'm pretty sure I have the latest drivers, and I downloaded the correct playonline version. I think it's an issue with the optimus stuff because I disabled the integrated intel HD card, and playonline started, but the quality was absolutely screwed up and awful. The nvidia card and integrated card must both be connected or something >.> I even tried going to "manage 3d settings" and setting pol.exe to run with ONLY the nvidia card, but no luck. Argh, anyone else have this problem or know a solution? I managed to install the 275.23 driver; is there some driver thing I'm missing? Halp :(

Figured it out, make sure your intel drivers are updated and disable your good nvidia card in device manager >.> ffxi just doesn't like optimus, you have to use your integrated card.

Can you disable Optimus and still use the Nvidia card?

no, unfortunately.

Well, I have the exact same problem with my new Alienware M17x R3 that has both video cards.

After so many tests and research, it seems the only way to play FFXI is, indeed, disable the NVidia video card from Device Manager in Control Panel. Of course, then you lose your fancy NVidia card with 2 GB of VRAM for everything else :S.

Also, I have noticed slowdowns when 2-boxing. Granted, I have max graphic settings, but you shouldn't be playing like that with an Intel i7 showing 8 cores and 8 GB RAM ¬¬.

Anyway, as I keep researching about this issue I hope a solution rather than a "fix" (more like a dirty workaround) is found soon!

2-week necrobump, sorry.

Was just wondering if you had already figured out a solution to this. I haven't, other than keeping NVidia card disabled and using integrated Intel graphics only :X

you need the Megatron drivers :(
/jk dunno what could be causing this.

After trying a crap ton of drivers today, the last Verde drivers I found to work with FFXI are the 266.58 ones from January (i.e. work and actually use the proper GPU rather than Intel). If your graphics card isn't compatiable with them then you're out of luck :x

It's more frustrating because the latest drivers even advertise that they improve FFXI performance. So you'd think if they advertised that, they'd actually test it with the graphics card the drivers are for. Sure, it probably does improve performance for some of the compatiable cards but for others it drops performance to zero.

EDIT: And ah crap, sorry for the necro. Didn't realise the thread was a few months old. It just came up off a google search.

Assuming you're willing to risk having to restore previous settings, try finding some better Third-party drivers on Omega Drivers. I fixed a lot of problems with their stuff. Coincidentally, they were all laptop driver issues as well.

www.omegadrivers.net

I posted on the Nvidia forum today and got an almost instant reply that it already was fixed for the next driver update which will be due mid-late July.

LAUGH. OMFG NOT THIS AGAIN!!!

Look for older version of the drivers.

Nvidia found an issue with 200 and 400 cards. The confirmed the issues. It took 9 months of them saying we fixed it in the next driver release before it was finally fixed and it's still sucks on FFXI.

FFXI my geforce 8800 card gets 25-29 fps everywhere with full graphic on at 1080p not including jeuno.

My geforce 470 which I got for FFXIV, was getting 2-5 fps unless I was facing a wall. Now it around 23-26 with 5 or less charaters on the screen and every charater beyond 5 .2-.3 fps drop down to 2-5 fps.

Graphics

It's been discussed here that as video cards get newer and technology changes, it dumps old technology. Things like what 10 year old FFXI uses. You could use a NASA super computer and you'd never get over 30 FPS.

I got an alienware M14x recently WITH an Nvidia card on Optimus technology and I have the exact same problem. I had to disable the nvidia card in order to play, such a shame. I hope they fix this issue soon, I want to play on the good stuff :(

Got a new laptop recently with a Nvidia Optimus 275.23 Driver, it would keep crashing PoL Viewer everytime. :/

Found this Update that came out recently 280.19 BETA
So far, it hasn't crashed on PoL or on FFXI. :)

I love you.

I blame the Decepticons >.>

I know its been a few months and that is why i am bumping this thread. I have the same Nvidia card as the OP* and had to disable it to get POL to work. Is there a fix yet? the 280.19 Beta wouldn't install to my computer (not finding the proper hardware?). Thanks for the help^^

*3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology

same issue, same card...

was wondering what was going on...

hopefully that beta works.

There's been a new version out for a while now, 295.73
Hopefully that works for you.

thanks