How to Make Nvidia Card Primary and Enable Switchable Graphics Mode on Dell Laptops

While playing video games or viewing videos, you may experience the following issues: Low video frame rates (Frames Per Second = FPS), video frame drops, low video resolutions, or pixelated video

The integrated IntelHD video card option is being used and not the discrete AMD or Nvidia video card option that can offer better performance.

Table of Contents:

1. Integrated and Discrete Video General Information
2. Configuring AMD Switchable Graphics
3. Configuring Nvidia Switchable Graphics
4. Switchable GPU Information

Integrated and Discrete Video General Information

Some Dell laptops have two Graphic Processing Units (GPU) built into the laptop. The primary is the Intel integrated GPU (built in the processor) and the second is the discrete AMD or Nvidia GPU.

The purpose of having two GPUs is to extend battery life in laptops and to have better graphic performance for gaming, programming, and so forth.
The best example is when using the laptop on battery, the integrated Intel GPU is used since it uses less power. But if the laptop is plugged in and you want to use the laptop for gaming, the discrete GPU would be used for better performance.

Some Dell desktops have the option to add a discrete video card for better video (games, 4K video, and so forth). When an external monitor is connected to this discrete video card, there is no option to use the integrated Intel GPU.

Configuring AMD Switchable Graphics

Default Settings

By default, Windows defines the best GPU for each application based on preloaded profiles. Applications with specific GPU requirements show a Lock icon beside the application name and cannot be changed, these applications always run on the Integrated GPU (Power-Saving Mode).

Manual Configuration

The following steps can be used to set the AMD video card as the default video option.

1. Right Click on the desktop.
2. Click AMD Radeon Settings from the menu.
3. Click on System (Figure 1).
   
   Figure 1
    
4. Click on Switchable Graphics (Figure 2).
   
   Figure 2
    

In the Switchable Graphics menu, the Running Applications view is displayed by default. This view lists recent and current running applications and their assigned Switchable Graphics mode.

For applications that are not locked by Windows, the following Switchable Graphics modes can be selected from the application drop-down menu:

• Power Saving - Selects the integrated GPU, which consumes less power but provides lower performance.
• High Performance - Selects the discrete GPU, which consumes more power but provides better performance
• Based on Power Source - Selects the integrated GPU when running on battery and selects the discrete GPU when plugged into a power outlet.

Select a desired mode for the application and the change will take effect the next time the application is loaded.
If an application is not on the list, do the following:

1. Right Click on the desktop.
2. Click AMD Radeon Settings from the menu.
3. Click on System.
4. Click on Switchable Graphics.
5. Click on the Running Applications option and select Installed Profile Applications to view all applications detected by the graphics driver (Figure 3).
   
   Figure 3
    
6. If the application is not listed, use the Browse option to locate and add the application to the list.

More information about: How to Configure Laptop Switchable Graphics

Back to Top

Configuring Nvidia Switchable Graphics

Always Use Nvidia Video

The following steps can be used to set the Nvidia video card as the default video option.

1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
2. Click 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings (Figure 4).
   
   Figure 4
    
3. Click the Program Settings tab.
4. On the Global Settings tab, locate and select the Preferred Graphics Processor option. From the list, select High-performance Nvidia Processor (Figure 5).
   
   Figure 5
    
5. Click Apply.
   • You can also add programs individually, using the drop-down option.
     For the preferred graphics processor, select High-performance Nvidia Processor.
     Click Apply.
   • Under Settings, click Set PhysX configuration.
     From the drop-down menu, select your Nvidia Graphics Card for the processor.
     Click Apply.

More information about: NVIDIA Advanced Optimus Overview

Resolution and Scaling in Nvidia

Your Nvidia video settings may cause issues with resolutions and scaling when loading video games. These settings help:

1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
2. Under Display, click Change Resolution.
3. Check the resolution and refresh options that you have set here (Figure 6).
   
   Figure 6
    
4. Under Display, click Adjust Desktop Size and Position (Figure 7).
5. On the Scaling tab, uncheck Override the Scaling Mode Set by Games and Programs (Figure 7).
   
   Figure 7
    

Back to Top

Switchable GPU Information

Newer Intel processors (CPU) have an integrated video processor (GPU): Intel - What Is the Difference Between Integrated Graphics and Discrete Graphics?

Nvidia Optimus is a computer GPU switching technology by Nvidia. Depending on the resource load from the client software applications. This will seamlessly switch between the two graphics adapters within the computer to provide either maximum performance, or minimum power draw from the computer's GPU.
More information can be found on the wiki page: Nvidia Optimus Wiki

The AMD Hybrid Graphics technology is a collective brand from AMD for its Radeon line of discrete and integrated GPUs. Promoting higher performance and productivity while saving energy consumption in GPUs.
More information can be found on the wiki page: AMD Hybrid Graphics Wiki

Back to Top

Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

• Alienware Laptop does not detect its discrete video card(s)
• Dell G-Series and Inspiron Gaming systems with FPS drop or CPU clock dropping when playing games or 3D applications