How do I switch between integrated and dedicated graphics?

How do I switch between integrated and dedicated graphics?.

Laptops have a hard job. They should provide users with good performance while conserving battery power. This is why gaming laptops or laptops with a high-performance dedicated graphics card also have a low-power integrated graphics chip for everyday tasks like watching YouTube or browsing Facebook.

While most programs have no problem picking the right GPU for the job, sometimes they get it wrong. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn how to switch between dedicated GPU and integrated graphics.

Dedicated vs. Integrated GPUs Explained

A quick note on what these two terms mean. A dedicated GPU has its own separate processor, RAM, cooling, and PCB. The integrated GPU sits inside the same microchip package as your processor and also uses the same pool of RAM.

In general, dedicated GPUs are much faster and do not limit the performance of other components by using shared cooling and memory resources. If your fancy video game accidentally runs on the integrated GPU, chances are you will end up with a non-playable slideshow.

A Note on Graphics Outputs

If your system has two GPUs, some of the GPUs may be directly connected to one or the other GPU. For example, on the laptop system we used in this tutorial, the HDMI output is directly connected to a dedicated Nvidia GPU. However, the mini-DisplayPort connector on the laptop is connected to the integrated GPU.

This is a problem because if you need certain features (like HDR) on an external monitor, it will only work through the HDMI connector. Likewise, since Nvidia’s Gsync variable refresh rate technology will only work over Displayport, it is not possible to use this feature on an external display. As the Displayport connection of the laptop in question is directly connected to the laptop’s internal LCD panel.

On desktops without switchable graphics, a common mistake is connecting the display to the onboard GPU’s HDMI port. Since most desktops are not set up to dynamically share and switch between two GPUs, this will generally prevent you from using a dedicated GPU with a screen connected to an integrated GPU.

The bottom line is to make sure you plug your display into the correct GPU port!

Checking that Both GPUs Are Working

Before trying to switch between dedicated and integrated GPUs, it’s worth making sure both are actually installed and working.

1. Open the start menu and type device manager.
2. In the results, select Device Manager.
3. Under Display Adapters, expand the list.
4. Make sure there are two GPUs listed.

If you see two GPUs, you’re done. Assuming you only have two GPUs on the system and that you want to switch between the two listed.

Housekeeping Tips

The last thing you need to do before fiddling with manual GPU switching is to make sure everything is up to date:

• Are you using the latest version of Windows?
• Do you have the latest drivers for both GPUs?
• Have you installed the latest version of the accompanying GPU software?

This last point can be especially important since modern GPUs have two software components. The first is the GPU driver that allows Windows to communicate with the hardware. The second is a set of utilities that now ship with GPUs. This utility is usually the key to determining which GPU the application will use.

How to Switch Between Dedicated and Integrated GPUs

The computer we use in this example has a dedicated Geforce 1660 Ti GPU and an integrated Intel UHD 630 GPU. It uses an Nvidia Optimus system to dynamically switch between the two, whichever is most appropriate.

How to switch GPU

Here’s how you can change this setting:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.

How to assign a specific GPU

To specify a specific GPU for each application:

While we don’t have an AMD GPU on hand, the process is very similar. Simply open the AMD Catalyst management application and look for the Switchable Graphics section or a similarly named section.

Regardless of your GPU brand, in the latest version of Windows 10, you can set GPU settings for each application under Display Settings> Graphics Settings. You can open display settings by right clicking on the desktop.

Don’t Forget About In-App Settings

Many professional apps and even video games will let you specify which GPU to use in their own graphics settings. This should override any other settings on the system in most cases. If you are unable to achieve a GPU change, check to see if the application has its own settings.

Checking Which GPU Is Doing the Work

This explains how to specify which GPU should do the job, but how can you be sure that your settings actually worked? If you have the latest version of Windows 10 installed, you can simply open Task Manager and go to the Performance tab.

As you can see here, there are two GPUs listed: GPU 0 and GPU 1. In most cases, GPU 0 should be embedded, but you can also see their names to be sure. If you have an application running on your dedicated GPU, you will see the percentage of its usage skyrocket. A GPU that doesn’t do much should be close to idle percentage.

1. 1. Switch to “Manage 3D Settings” in the left pane.
   2. Under Preferred GPU, choose which of the three options you prefer.

1. 1. Right-click on the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.
   1. Switch to “Manage 3D Settings” in the left pane.
   2. Go to the Program Settings tab.
   3. In the “Select a program to configure” section, select the appropriate application.
   4. In the “Select the preferred graphics processor for this program” section, select the desired graphics processor.
2. –
   

   How do I switch between integrated and dedicated graphics?

   How do I switch between integrated and dedicated graphics?

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