Windows 10: GPU Selection Preferences Not Honored by Some Applications

I'm encountering an issue with my laptop's GPU selection preferences not being respected by certain applications. Details are as follows:Hardware:AMD Ryzen 6900HS processor with AMD Radeon graphics.NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU.Problem:Attempting to assign the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU for specific applications via Windows Settings>System>Display>Graphics under Custom options for apps.Also configured "High-performance NVIDIA processor" for these applications in NVIDIA control panel to prevent possible conflicts.Despite these settings, certain applications like Inkscape, GIMP, Q

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Selecting a Global GPU Preference in Windows 11

Hello all!

I'm I have a 2021 Dell XPS 15. Running Windows 11.

GPU and CPU:

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti

CPU: Intel® Core™ i9-10885H Processor

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One Sentence Problem Description:

This particular i9 CPU has an integrated graphics unit. I would like to utilize my NVIDIA dedicated graphics card instead of my integrated intel graphics unit.

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Origin of the Problem:

Previously, Windows allowed GPU manufactures' applications to select between the integrated and dedicated graphics cards. The NVIDIA Control Panel previously accomplished this task. Then, I assume there was a change in Windows 11... Now, when opening NVIDIA Control Panel to adjust the preferred GPU, there is a box of information that says the following.

"Windows OS now manages selection of the graphics processor. Open Windows graphics settings."

This defers all control to Windows. Now, my assumption is that modifying any settings in NVIDIA Control Panel will now be void, and will not have any effect on my machine.

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Current Behavior:

So, following the instructions from NVIDIA Control Panel, I attempt to adjust the GPU preference from Windows settings, in System -> Display -> Graphics. Here, Windows allows users to select preferred GPUs, but only for specific applications.

I can monitor GPU activity in task manager. I see that this method for user applications, but for core operating system applications, (like Desktop Windows Manager) this setting does not select my preferred graphics card. It is deferring to my CPU's graphics unit instead of my dedicated card.

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Question:

How can I change this preference globally so that my dedicated graphics card is used throughout my machine instead of my integrated unit?

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P.S.

• In writing this, I'm wondering if the activity on GPU0 (integrated graphics) is perhaps just CPU spillover? But everything I see indicates that GPU0 is rendering all windows for my two 4k monitors, which I do not want.
  
• The server of this page is not allowing me to upload images... If you have questions about a specific topic, please ask and I will respond with an image.
  
• I have tried many things, including reinstalling both NVIDIA and Intel drivers, but to no avail. For brevity's sake, I left this out of the post.
  
• I am posting this on a Microsoft forum (and not NVIDIA or Dell) because seems to be a windows routing issue.
  

Thank you all!

 

GPU preference not working; what's the workaround?

I have a laptop in a docking station on which I cannot select GPU preference at autostart. The laptop has one integrated Intel GPU and one "extra" Nvidia GPU.

I can select GPU preference clicking the context menu which has the intended effect: my program reports Intel/Nvidia as graphics vendor as expected (using OpenGL API glGetString(GL_VENDOR)). However the application is supposed to be autostarted (semi-embedded scenario) and for what I know I cannot autostart it using a context menu (right?)

I've tried editing the windows registry, both manually and using the "Graphics Settings". Both GPU show up (Intel as Power Saving GPU, Nvidia as High Performance GPU). Despite what I set here the application says it is running the Intel GPU. Editing the registry I've tried setting both the program and system default GPU preference - with no effect whatsoever.

Starting the Nvidia control panel to set GPU preference opens a dialog saying "no display connected" and exits. Looking into dxdiag the display is connected to the Intel GPU, and there is another tab labeled "Render" where the Nvidia GPU is listed as "Render only display device". Maybe important, maybe not.

Google searches pulls me to pages where above solutions are suggested. They are obviously not working out for me.

I suspect the docking station is to blame since it works just fine without it.

Question: How to autostart my application with Nvidia GPU preferred, considering registry and Nvidia Control Panel fails and opening using context menu selection works?

Reading this discussion on docking station GPU issue, I followed the advice of one comment to configure duplicate displays instead of extended and registry GpuPreference=2 as default. Works great, but I'm not to happy about being limited to display duplication, and my program halts when switching between the modes, hence leaving the question open.

 

Select GPU to use by specific applications

I've said that I've tried it, and explained that for me specific GPUs are not available to select there. I have only available Power Saving and High Performance presets there that are set for the same GFX card (GeForce GTX 1060) for me,
that is system default too. In NVidia on AMD settings you can only switch between integrated and dedicated GFX card, not between 2 cards especially from 2 different vendors. So, how to assign different GFX card to Power Saving preset? Or how to unlock option
to select specific GFX card there besides those 2 presets?