How do you tell it what graphics card to use in Windows 11?

Staragox · May 1, 2022

I just got a new Windows 11 laptop, and Nvidia Control Panel says that Windows now controls the selection of the GPU but it is choosing a card that is NOT even installed.

My laptop has a Nvidia RTX 3050 installed, but Windows apparently is defaulting to integrated Intel graphics card that is NOT even installed. I tried going to Device Manager and clicking on "disable device" for the intel card that doesn't even exist and that just causes it to be unable to even select the resolution.

So how do you select the quote "default" GPU adapter that Window's uses?

CountMike · May 1, 2022

Integrated Intel graphics is not a card but it's integrated in the processor. Windows should choose a "card" that is more appropriate to load. Integrated for normal 2D operations and Nvidia for games and other 3D programs. That way some power is saved and battery lasts longer.

bobkn · May 1, 2022

I presume that your laptop uses Optimus. The Intel graphics would be the integrated graphics, from the CPU. As you don't give any of the details of your laptop, we can't verify that.

I've never owned an Optimus laptop. Here is one link that describes how to force the nVidia GPU to be used all the time: force nVidia

The downside to that will be shorter battery life.

FreeBooter · May 1, 2022

You can check the Performance tab of the Task Manager.

Fabler2 · May 1, 2022

Staragox said:
I just got a new Windows 11 laptop, and Nvidia Control Panel says that Windows now controls the selection of the GPU but it is choosing a card that is NOT even installed.

My laptop has a Nvidia RTX 3050 installed, but Windows apparently is defaulting to integrated Intel graphics card that is NOT even installed. I tried going to Device Manager and clicking on "disable device" for the intel card that doesn't even exist and that just causes it to be unable to even select the resolution.

So how do you select the quote "default" GPU adapter that Window's uses?

That GPU is not supported by Optimus (too new a card)

Optimus | Supported GPUs | GeForce

Compare GeForce graphics processors that support your PC gaming system, including GPU performance and technical specifications.

www.nvidia.com

I've done all the changes available in the Nvidia Control Panel to no use. Then I read Solandri's post here (last one) and it makes sense:

Solved! - Is there any way to connect your external monitor to your dedicated graphics card

I have an ASUS gaming laptop with a GTX 960m in it and a 144 Hz monitor that I recently bought. The problem is that my monitor isn't running at 144 Hz. When I go into my display settings on windows 10, it says that it's using the Intel graphics card and I don't know how to change it so that the...

forums.tomsguide.com

This is what's showing from the display icon for me,

I'm running an AMD APU.

2022-05-01 22_07_11-NVIDIA Control Panel.png

bobkn · May 1, 2022

I'd be disappointed if a laptop with an RTX 3050 didn't support Optimus.

The link "Fabler2" provides doesn't appear to list any RTX cards. I wonder whether it's up-to date? The latest cards on the list are GTX 16X0, which are Turing cards (like the RTX 20X0 ones) but without the hardware raytracing.

According to Wikipedia (Mobile 30 series), the laptop 3050 and 3050 ti were launched on 11 May, 2021. The mobile 3060, 25 February 2021. If they're still unsupported for Optimus by the nVidia drivers after a full year, that'd be a bit sad.

Fabler2 · May 1, 2022

bobkn said:
I'd be disappointed if a laptop with an RTX 3050 didn't support Optimus.

The link "Fabler2" provides doesn't appear to list any RTX cards. I wonder whether it's up-to date? The latest cards on the list are GTX 16X0, which are Turing cards (like the RTX 20X0 ones) but without the hardware raytracing.

According to Wikipedia (Mobile 30 series), the laptop 3050 and 3050 ti were launched on 11 May, 2021. The mobile 3060, 25 February 2021. If they're still unsupported for Optimus by the nVidia drivers after a full year, that'd be a bit sad.

That's the only link I could find that worked. I'll look around more.

Found this about Advanced Optimus. I suppose it only kicks in when playing a game or doing some rendering work?.

How Advanced Optimus Delivers Max Performance With Optimal Battery Life

Increase gaming performance, reduce system latency, optimize battery life, and make your laptop shine with a G-SYNC variable refresh rate display.

www.nvidia.com

Sammy888 · May 1, 2022

It would be nice if Windows would finally be able to support dual graphics in use simultaneously, one from the integrated GPU and another from a card. For instance, in my Lenovo, I have an integrated Intel GPU and Nvidia GeForce card. It seems that when connecting my external monitor to my laptop, it will use Nvidia but when I'm mobile, it will use the Intel GPU.

I'm also contemplating upgrading my laptop memory from 16 to 32 GB as well.

bobkn · May 1, 2022

Sammy888 said:
It would be nice if Windows would finally be able to support dual graphics in use simultaneously, one from the integrated GPU and another from a card. For instance, in my Lenovo, I have an integrated Intel GPU and Nvidia GeForce card. It seems that when connecting my external monitor to my laptop, it will use Nvidia but when I'm mobile, it will use the Intel GPU.

I'm also contemplating upgrading my laptop memory from 16 to 32 GB as well.

You want separate video outputs for the GPU and iGPU?

Sammy888 · May 1, 2022

bobkn said:
You want separate video outputs for the GPU and iGPU?

Yes, that would be helpful. But obviously not possible with the current laptop motherboard.

Without knowing how GPUs work, if I'm playing games or doing something graphic intensive I would like the GPUs to "talk" to each other and maximize the available RAM and processing from both the iGPU and graphic card simulataneously.

Fabler2 · May 2, 2022

It seems that Windows takes control and the user has no options.

Sammy888 · May 2, 2022

Fabler2 said:
It seems that Windows takes control and the user has no options.

View attachment 28256

There's an option within the NVIDIA Control panel but regardless, Windows uses the integrated graphics when using the laptop display, at least in my case. If the OP connects to an external display at high resolution, I bet the Nvidia GPU will be used.

Fabler2 · May 2, 2022

Sammy888 said:
There's an option within the NVIDIA Control panel but regardless, Windows uses the integrated graphics when using the laptop display, at least in my case. If the OP connects to an external display at high resolution, I bet the Nvidia GPU will be used.

There's options there but don't work. See my post #5.
It cuts in when gaming and still uses the iGPU as well.

2022-05-02 08_29_24-Untitled_ ‎- Paint 3D.png

Sammy888 · May 2, 2022

Fabler2 said:
There's options there but don't work. See my post #5.
It cuts in when gaming and still uses the iGPU as well.

View attachment 28259

Even when connected to an external monitor? The pic shows 85% for the Nvidia card.

jaree1961 · May 2, 2022

Sammy888 said:
Even when connected to an external monitor? The pic shows 85% for the Nvidia card.

Hmmm, isn't that because he is playing a game?

PenPusher · May 4, 2022

You can select which one the system uses... Options then high or low priority

spapakons · May 11, 2022

In laptops with dual graphics cards, usually the integrated (Intel or AMD on CPU) is used for all 2D visuals, including rendering the picture on screen, and the discreet (nVidia or separate AMD chip) is used only for 3D graphics. So unless you play a game or do some image rendering, the separate card is not used, only the integrated. If you cannot see the integrated card in Device Manager, most probably the driver is missing and you see Microsoft Basic Display Adapter instead. Make sure you update all drivers to maximize performance. In your case, I would install latest graphics drivers directly from Intel and nVidia, I would avoid Windows Update or the laptop's support site which could have outdated drivers. For example I recently installed Windows 11 on a desktop PC with nVidia GTX 3050 card. Windows Update had found an installed the nVidia Forceware 4xx while at nVidia'w site I downloaded and installed nVidia Forceware 5xx. Also I wand to have control of the features that are installed, so I always use custom installation. Windows Update doesn't give you any control and surely installs only the basic components, not all.

How do you tell it what graphics card to use in Windows 11?

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