Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 Laptop: i5 3230M 2.6GHz CPU, 6GB DDR3, 1TB HDD, Dual NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M SLI, 15.6" LCD (1920x1080), Backlit Keyboard, WiFi N, 6 Cell, Win 8 $900 + Free ship

Quote from PepticBurrito : Update your NVIDIA graphics drivers and DX11. Then look at the post directly above yours and do what it says.

i did all of this already, but theres still no SLI settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel, is this normal for you?

I'm assuming even though SLI isn't mentioned, once I do play a game that supports dual SLI, the geforce experience app will enable it? or should it state somewhere that my dual SLI is detected even without playing games?

Quote from l0wki : i did all of this already, but theres still no SLI settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel, is this normal for you? I'm assuming even though SLI isn't mentioned, once I do play a game that supports dual SLI, the geforce experience app will enable it? or should it state somewhere that my dual SLI is detected even without playing games?

Did you follow Step 2? Look at the post directly above and read what I posted to do right before you asked this question.

Quote from PepticBurrito : Note about optimization from owner about SLI game optimization. The unit ships with only one graphics card active. I can imagine lots of people never even knowing this and just thinking that only one side of the unit vents hot air. As I posted last night, I had an issue with this unit actually using both GPU's in SLI. This has been resolved. When your Y500 arrives, you will need to download the NVIDIA Experience Beta [geforce.com]. Using this tool to "Optimize" your game settings will definitely enable SLI for SLI enabled games that you own. I've tested this thing and can confirm GPU load on both cards of 90%+ was achieved in DOTA 2 and the unit began to vent hot air out of the exhaust points of both cards.

The Experience Index beta appears to be full and cant be downloaded at this time. You can register and be informed when you can download it. There must be another way to get both gpu's working in sli. Lenovo should really provide this information.

Quote from xninjagrrl : The Experience Index beta appears to be full and cant be downloaded at this time. You can register and be informed when you can download it. There must be another way to get both gpu's working in sli. Lenovo should really provide this information.

After a fresh install of windows 8, all that I did to enable SLI was download the latest driver from the nvidia site. Go to nvidia control panel, and under set sli configuration enable it. I'm not sure what's causing issues for others.

For people who bought one of these systems, did you end up buying through Newegg or Amazon? Was the laptop shipped in a second box or shipped in the box you would get if you bought in-store somewhere?

I've been getting the message "graphic driver has stopped responding and has recovered" with this laptop has anyone experienced this? It seems to happen often when i use two screens. Thanks!

Quote from Nerrap : For people who bought one of these systems, did you end up buying through Newegg or Amazon? Was the laptop shipped in a second box or shipped in the box you would get if you bought in-store somewhere?

Just the Lenovo box which may account for why mine was damaged. Lenovo should consider heftier packaging, at least Amazon should use an extra box.

This is precisely why I did not get mine from Newegg. If it arrives damaged you are stuck.

Newegg Return Policy sucks, Never buy a laptop/electronics from them. They charge 15% RESTOCKING FEE for Returns/Exchange.

Quote from keiryan : I've been getting the message "graphic driver has stopped responding and has recovered" with this laptop has anyone experienced this? It seems to happen often when i use two screens. Thanks!

I solved it. If you have that issue, go to Lenovo's website and download the graphics drivers for the Y500 from them. Do a fresh install, that should fix things up for you. I had this issue after updating Windows, which I assume updated the NVIDIA drivers. Do NOT use NVIDIA's drivers, you may not like the results.

Also, it's worth noting, if you are playing a DX9 game, just go ahead and turn off SLI before starting the game. DX9 games don't like being played in SLI by the Y500.

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Quote from unique34 : Newegg Return Policy sucks, Never buy a laptop/electronics from them. They charge 15% RESTOCKING FEE for Returns/Exchange.

I tried to warn you all early on in this thread, probably more than once lol. Also, heed my words about this garbage doomed-to-fail 1 TB if yours is a samsung spinpoint. Swap with reliable drive and sell on ebay or use as back up of a back up of a back up. Just sell it.

I am officially doomed. My second Y500 came and the box was even more dented. In fact, there is a hole I can fit my fist thru. Naturally, the laptop is damaged. Chip on the lid. Chip on the trackpad. Scratches all over the shiny black plastic around the speakers (looked used/refurbished honestly). And huge scratch on space key. I will try once more then give up. Lenovo needs to use a better box. Period. Although, I am unsure how shipping could have caused the problems on my second one. It just looked used.

Quote from xninjagrrl : I am officially doomed. My second Y500 came and the box was even more dented. In fact, there is a hole I can fit my fist thru. Naturally, the laptop is damaged. Chip on the lid. Chip on the trackpad. Scratches all over the shiny black plastic around the speakers (looked used/refurbished honestly). And huge scratch on space key. I will try once more then give up. Lenovo needs to use a better box. Period. Although, I am unsure how shipping could have caused the problems on my second one. It just looked used.

Wow that sucks! Must be cheaper for them to exchange a few damaged in transit then to pack them all in a second box.

Quote from Nerrap : Wow that sucks! Must be cheaper for them to exchange a few damaged in transit then to pack them all in a second box.

Well so far 100% of mine have had box damage and item damage. Some of the item damage is not from poor packing/shipping. I mean, scratches on the shiny black plastic around the speakers? That seems more like an assembly line tech wiped the plastic with his t shirt and scratched it. I am trying to not be paranoid and think lenovo is selling used as new. Although, these Y500's have been around for some months now and plenty of folks have returned them for refund, yet, I see no refurbs floating around? What is lenovo doing with those returns? Perhaps I should get the i5 model, maybe those are newer with less issues. I'd gladly buy a refurb'd Y500 for a big discount, But I pay a grand I expect it to arrive looking brand smacking new.