GPU preference - iGPU shown as both energy saving and high performance

fruh · Dec 18, 2022

Hi, in my graphics preferences page the Intel integrated GPU is shown as both the energy saving and high performance option, while the discrete GPU of my laptop is shown in the "specific GPU" menu but that doesn't really do anything. I have set the discrete GPU to be used for certain programs through the Nvidia Control Panel too but that doesn't do anything either, Windows always uses the integrated GPU.

Does anyone know if there is a manual way to tell Windows which GPU is the energy saving and which is the high performance one?

Thanks a lot :)

(edit: thanks for moving the thread to a more suitable forum)

LeLibran · Dec 18, 2022

I believe the general use of the integrated graphics card is dictated by the chosen power settings, but you can use:

Settings > System > Display > Graphics and then the 'Custom options for apps' to search for individual apps and set your preferences at app level. You only need to set individual preferences for those apps that you want to use the dedicated graphics card option.

fruh · Dec 18, 2022

LeLibran said:
I believe the general use of the integrated graphics card is dictated by the chosen power settings, but you can use:

Settings > System > Display > Graphics and then the 'Custom options for apps' to search for individual apps and set your preferences at app level.

Yep, that's where things go wrong as the integrated GPU is labelled as both the energy saving and high performance options (which is wrong because the discrete GPU in my laptop is the high performance one)

I need to literally tell Windows which GPU is which, not which GPU to use

LeLibran · Dec 18, 2022

That's weird and I'm not surprised that you are confused if the options don't allow you to make a clear choice. I've had a quick search around and the following link might help, depending on the make of your 'discrete' card: 2 Ways to Set Default Graphics Card on Windows 11 - TechWiser

Good luck.

fruh · Dec 18, 2022

@LeLibran thanks for your help, unfortunately still nothing. Apparently Windows is more confused than I am (as shown in the screenshot, UHD 630 is shown as both energy saving and high performance, tho the Nvidia one is still recognised by the system in some way)

The registry keys found as per this tutorial are consistent with the settings page. I'd need to know where the actual keys that assign to each GPU its index are stored to see if something's wrong there

FrancoDT · Dec 18, 2022

fruh said:
Hi, in my graphics preferences page the Intel integrated GPU is shown as both the energy saving and high performance option, while the discrete GPU of my laptop is shown in the "specific GPU" menu but that doesn't really do anything. I have set the discrete GPU to be used for certain programs through the Nvidia Control Panel too but that doesn't do anything either, Windows always uses the integrated GPU.

Does anyone know if there is a manual way to tell Windows which GPU is the energy saving and which is the high performance one?

Thanks a lot :)

(edit: thanks for moving the thread to a more suitable forum)

I see you have a Dell so guessing like my Alienware you can select the dedicated Nvidia GPU for sole use by pressing the FN+F7 keys which will prompt you to reboot and use Nvidia only. Not sure that's what you wanted especially if your trying to reduce battery drain while unplugged but thought I'd throw it out there. If I remember when unplugged I think it defaults to integrated unless you select to use the Nvidia GPU.

The following steps can be used to always use the Nvidia video card.

Open the "Nvidia Control Panel."
Click "3D Settings" > "Manage 3D Settings."
Click the "Program Settings" tab.
On the "Global Settings tab," locate and select the "Preferred graphics processor" option. From the list, select "High-performance Nvidia Processor."
Click Apply.

fruh · Dec 18, 2022

@FrancoDT thanks for your suggestion, I do have a Dell system but I think your Alienware has the MUX switch (hope it's the right name) required to choose which GPU to use, mine is a regular Optimus laptop so the display signal must always pass through the intel iGPU. Anyway I just want Windows to correctly recognise the Nvidia GPU as the high performance one since at the moment it always uses the iGPU even if I specifically tell it not to.

fruh · Dec 19, 2022

Does anyone know if uninstalling the discrete GPU in Device Manager might do something? If I uninstall it, will it be able to be reinstalled without issues anyway?

Thanks

LeLibran · Dec 19, 2022

Still searching!

Apparently if you launch the NVidia Control Panel and select Manage 3D Settings and switch to the Program Settings Tab, you should be able to set the graphics processor required for each installed application.

Source: How to make the nVidia graphics processor the default graphics adapter using the NVIDIA Control Panel | Dell UK

I'll live in hope that that works for you.

fruh · Dec 19, 2022

LeLibran said:
Still searching!

Apparently if you launch the NVidia Control Panel and select Manage 3D Settings and switch to the Program Settings Tab, you should be able to set the graphics processor required for each installed application.

Source: How to make the nVidia graphics processor the default graphics adapter using the NVIDIA Control Panel | Dell UK

I'll live in hope that that works for you.

Thanks again :) I've tried to set the nvidia GPU as preferred for both each application and globally but it does nothing. Windows still offers the integrated gpu as both energy saving and high performance :/

It must be something in the Registry, tho I haven't found where the keys relative to the GPU performance are stored yet (I did find the registry keys relative to which GPU is assigned to which app but that's not it)

GPU preference - iGPU shown as both energy saving and high performance

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