Display Power Setting Technology is enabled on Microsoft Intel drivers.
It only works when you are on battery, and basically, when the screen is dark, it controls the contrast and brightness at a software level (emulation, not the actual panel), to dim the image. This system is retarded as it makes you increase the brightness. It should do the reverse! Also, as it's software adjustment, it shift colors and doesn't do a good job, so the result, like all software adjustment (as it's CPU intensive to do it right), is that you see a reduction in colors, and if you have a gradient, you'll see stepping, and not a smooth transition from 1 color to another.
After digging around in the drivers, I found that the "Dynamic Contrast Ratio" and "Display Power Setting Technology" are the same values being changed in the driver settings. So I made Surface Tweak Too (
http://www.surfaceforums.net/forum/...surface-tweak-tool-surface-pro-2-release.html) which provides 1 click solution to the problem, instead of doing the super long and risky solution:
Color Banding and dynamic contrast FIX (I made a fix) - Windows Phone Central Forums
To keep my sanity in order, I just like to keep in mind that Intel Graphic solutions is a free solution, and should not expect anything better than that.
The graphic solution drivers are crap, it doesn't work for all software like Nvidia and AMD, they use a software list to ensure that the graphic solution will work properly with these specif software. If the software outside that list, it may crash at any time, or not even start.
It does not support
fully DirectX not OpenGL, let alone OpenCL, resulting a numerous crashes in games. Multiple monitor support is not plug and play, unless lucky. Performance drop on multiple display is apparent. And the GPU while low power consuming, is really inefficient. What's better? 4W to turn on 3 lights at full brightness, or 6W to turn on 20 of them at full brightness (assuming all lights are the same)
So I don't expect much. Things won't change, until the consumer asks for dedicated GPUs to manufactures. This will make Intel either actually invest in hiring experts in the field to improve their GPU's, or continue what they are doing, and make Nvidia and AMD see a market for them in non-gaming laptops, and invest resources in making ultra low powered ones.
Look for example at the Nvidia Tegra K1. ARM processor by Nvidia.. ok that's fine, but include a full GeForce 600 series inside, that best Intel best offering. And guess what.. the whole chip, is only 5W max.. imagine just having the GPU by itself, in the Surface Pro 2
It will be like what? 3W the GPU, you don't even need a cooling solution for this, and you'll enjoy better gaming performance, better drivers, no color issues, and everything would just work.