Windows 10: Laptop with Intel HD Graphics + Nvidia card - when are the two used?

Hi there

Is there an option in the SYSTEM (used to be in the old control panel) where you can set performance --Max, Let windows decide etc.

I think it's this one : I'm not a gamer so I just use the default.

 

Looks like there may be several ways to enable Intel switchable graphics and the method depends on how the manufacturer setup the option:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/...000005669.html

Excerpted from link above:
My computer supports Switchable Graphics. How do I switch between using Intel graphics and the discrete graphics controller?
It depends on how the computer manufacturer designed the system. Some computers have a hardware switch. Some computers have an icon in the Windows taskbar that you can use to switch the graphics controller. Some computers automatically switch to the Intel graphics if the computer changes to battery power, or it can switch to the discrete graphics if the computer is plugged into AC power. Some computers use third party software to do the switch.

Check the help documentation from your computer manufacturer to decide how to make this switch on your computer.

So, it looks like what others may be doing, may or may not apply to your rig.

Good luck,

 

I have old games (they predate Optimus by long time) and they run successfully with Nvidia, some automatically, some forcing it to run to the Nvidia. Maybe because they use DirectX/OpenGL

 

Thanks, having spoken at some length on this with PC Specialists, the guy only referred to Optimus. If there had been an option, I think he'd have told me. He even did a remote session just to check.

The only options seem to be to choose programs to run under Nvidia 3D settings.
But unless they support Optimus, they don't.

Similarly the rt click option to run sthg on the graphics controller, choice of either, he stated was misleading, as there's no guarantee that will be observed.

Being a laptop, I have a dumbed down BIOS, so nothing relevant there.

Had this a year, and only just come to realise how this is set up!

 

I should have realized you did your homework; however, I missed the Optimus part. Anyway, have you updated your Optimus installation to current as shown in this video?:

https://ucdavistechtalk.wordpress.co...-with-optimus/

 

Thanks- mine doesn't show an update option, unfortunately- I have the latest Nvidia driver.

I've tried adding e.g. a video convertor to Program Settings in 3D settings, then running that from the context menu.
Not run on the Nvidia card.

That said, that particular convertor is very fast anyway- 20 mins AVI-> mp4 in 2mins approx, faster than several I've tried- and it's not a new version.

I do have the tray icon available, and Nvidia is set as the global default since my chat with PC Specialists.

Nor is the Nvidia card used if I play a 1080p video from youtube.

 

Glad you got it sorted.

I was under the impression there was a unique driver for Optimus but I could be wrong.

 

Well, not as I'd like - what I've learnt is
a. I've no control over the switch
b. I've no programs (probably) that will ever use my Nvidia card
c. I made a blind assumption when specifying this laptop that having a discrete graphics card would be useful
d. That the card is working (only evidence, one particular benchmarking program).

Anyone want an Nvidia card? (ex laptop)? (And yes, most of the back cover does come off on this one.. which also has very good ventilation).

Just wondering what the effect of disabling the Intel graphics would be in Device manager- a blank screen? OR same as in Safe Mode? Or would the Nvidia card then handle everything?

 

Have you checked in your BIOS? OK, I have a desktop, but the option to select my graphics, I can turned integrated off, and just use discreet.
I was in a rush before, sorry dal.
This is what I'm talking about if you have something like it in your UEFI/BIOS:

 

Thanks, Ha... good idea, but my BIOS is a joke.. cut down doesn't do it justice. It's something I didn't even think to ask about before buying. There used to be a little more on earlier releases of this model.

No, nothing useful there. About 4 tabs, UEFI, Boot order, something else.

From what I've read, disabling the Intel integrated graphics is not a good idea.

 

Actually if you can, and just use the GPU, it's much better, as your CPU will not have to work double so hard doing normal things(programs plus graphics) and leaves more cores and threads free to do "real" work. Plus the CPU will stay cooler when idleing or doing light work.