can't use discrete graphics card

rgs80074 · Jul 29, 2018

hello everyone

I have a dell inspirion i7559 laptop which is now out of warranty.

i can't get the gtx 960m to be the main graphics and its driving me nuts. if i disable the intel hd 530 you'd think it would revert to this by default but it puts in a basic driver.

nvidia says its an optumus or something like that laptop so its normal and it switches over to the gtx graphics card when needed.

i don't see why i'd ever want to use the build in intel hd 530 over the gtx 960m from all i've seen you should be able too.

i've found many how to but nothings worked

the userbenchmark test seems to indicate now i am using the gtx as the original score was a 7% for the graphics and now its a 17% but the average is like 21 or something.

it just drives me nuts i can't open the display settings and see the gtx but only the intel hd, even if i disable the intel it reverts to some generic driver.

if this normal?

thanks

ryan

TechyInAZ · Jul 29, 2018

Are you gaming? It's physically impossible to only use the dGPU, if you tried to force only using the dGPU and manually disabled the IGPU, then you would get no video signal at all.

Optimus works by having ALL PHYSICAL display connectivity connected DIRECTLY into the iGPU. When Optimus enabled the dGPU, it makes a "virtual" connection to the display. Frames from the dGPU are sent via PCI-E to the iGPU which routes them to the appropriate display.

Make sure you DO NOT have "use high performance NVIDIA processor" as the primary GPU in the 3d Control Panel, always set this to Auto. If you find a program that isn't using the dGPU, simply go into the 3d profiles, and select the program your running and manually make that program use the nvidia GPU.

photonboy · Jul 29, 2018

The REASON for switchable graphics is solely about power consumption. You use the HD530 iGPU when there's no reason for the more power-hungry NVidia GPU.

OPTIMUS is part of the driver stack and there should be a program there with a LIST that you can modify if the most recent driver does not have your program listed... so you can add a NEW game not on the list or old game that was never added (or application).

*The GTX960M should only show up when the Optimus software detects you launching a program on the list.

So...
I'm not clear if there's actually a problem or not after reading your post.

**DOES THIS HELP? (from 2012 but I think it's still the same)
http

/nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2523/~/how-can-i-tell-if-an-application-is-being-rendered-on-the-igp-or-gpu-with

photonboy · Jul 29, 2018

As per the above link, click YOUTUBE and choose "720p" then fullscreen or its hard to read.

Then go about half way into it where it discusses the Optimus tool and how to tell if a program is used or not.

THIS seems to be the same thing too: http

/nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2615/~/how-do-i-customize-optimus-profiles-and-settings%3F

So you should be able to do something like THIS:
1) start then close game (so its at top of NVidia list when asked..you'll see)
2) NVidia control program-> manage 3d settings-> program settings-> add game-> (example BATMAN AA)-> select preferred graphics-> High Performance NVidia GPU-> Save

you can also change things like Adaptive VSYNC but I won't discuss that more.

*I can't confirm if the settings are like this or not still. Doing my best.

rgs80074 · Jul 29, 2018

ok these posts answered my question. i was not sure the nvidia person was right i tend not to trust them.

thanks for your help

photonboy · Aug 4, 2018

rgs80074 :

follow up:
I can't test this but find out if there's a way to have the NVidia LOGO pop up initially.

If not you can also go into the Optimus List and toggle the program OFF of being launched by the NVidia GPU so it launches the Intel iGPU and note the performance. If it's noticeably lower now that's proof the NVidia GPU was being used.

rgs80074 · Aug 5, 2018

well here's the thing, i can't notice the difference but i don't play games or do anything major really. i guess the most intense pressure i put on the pc is when its decoding h265 or vp9 files to play back on the 1080 monitor or 4k tv. other than that nothing really only really play a online text based browser game.

but after nvidia chat and changing settings and such, on the userbenchmark tests the graphics went from like 7% to like 22% or so.

under task manager i've never seen the graphics card get more than 16% usage.

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