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Selecting a Global GPU Preference in Windows 11

Anonymous
2023-03-20T22:47:21+00:00

Hello all!

I'm I have a 2021 Dell XPS 15. Running Windows 11.

GPU and CPU:

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti

CPU: Intel® Core™ i9-10885H Processor

One Sentence Problem Description:

This particular i9 CPU has an integrated graphics unit. I would like to utilize my NVIDIA dedicated graphics card instead of my integrated intel graphics unit.

Origin of the Problem:

Previously, Windows allowed GPU manufactures' applications to select between the integrated and dedicated graphics cards. The NVIDIA Control Panel previously accomplished this task. Then, I assume there was a change in Windows 11... Now, when opening NVIDIA Control Panel to adjust the preferred GPU, there is a box of information that says the following.

"Windows OS now manages selection of the graphics processor. Open Windows graphics settings."

This defers all control to Windows. Now, my assumption is that modifying any settings in NVIDIA Control Panel will now be void, and will not have any effect on my machine.

Current Behavior:

So, following the instructions from NVIDIA Control Panel, I attempt to adjust the GPU preference from Windows settings, in System -> Display -> Graphics. Here, Windows allows users to select preferred GPUs, but only for specific applications.

I can monitor GPU activity in task manager. I see that this method for user applications, but for core operating system applications, (like Desktop Windows Manager) this setting does not select my preferred graphics card. It is deferring to my CPU's graphics unit instead of my dedicated card.

Question:

How can I change this preference globally so that my dedicated graphics card is used throughout my machine instead of my integrated unit?

P.S.

  • In writing this, I'm wondering if the activity on GPU0 (integrated graphics) is perhaps just CPU spillover? But everything I see indicates that GPU0 is rendering all windows for my two 4k monitors, which I do not want.
  • The server of this page is not allowing me to upload images... If you have questions about a specific topic, please ask and I will respond with an image.
  • I have tried many things, including reinstalling both NVIDIA and Intel drivers, but to no avail. For brevity's sake, I left this out of the post.
  • I am posting this on a Microsoft forum (and not NVIDIA or Dell) because seems to be a windows routing issue.

Thank you all!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-04-17T19:51:15+00:00

    This doesn't work, in fact whatever update Microsoft did broke everything. I can't use gsync anymore. The laptop display is forced to be using the integrated instead of dedicated. When I disable the integrated all HDR features, refresh rate go away. Whatever you did broke my laptop

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-09-29T14:24:20+00:00

    Right- nice try, and I did this but....

    In "Manage 3D settings" the Program Settings tab, many of the apps still 'point to' the integrated graphics.

    I thought there might be a way to not use the integrated graphics at all?

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-19T11:22:02+00:00

    Open NVIDIA control panel again and follow these 5 steps:

    1. Choose "Manage 3D Settings"
    2. Then on the right make sure the "Global Settings" tab is the active one
    3. Under preferred graphics processor choose your NVIDIA from the dropdown box
    4. Then scroll down until you see "Power Management Mode" and select "Prefer Maximum Performance"
    5. And lastly click "Apply"

    This will now use your NVIDIA card globally, and if you want to tweak it and not always use it for everything you can click the "Program Settings" tab that's next to the Global tab, and choose individual settings for each software installed. You can even tell it to use the Intel graphics for smaller things like wordpad for example if you find that your vram is getting taken up too much. But that will switch the roles of the graphics processors without having to disable anything.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2023-03-21T14:30:42+00:00

    Hi

    Welcome to Microsoft community.

    Thank you for your detailed description and neat writing.

    If you want to use a standalone GPU instead of an integrated graphics card, the easiest way is to go to the device manager and disable the integrated graphics card to get the results you want.

    Type Device Manager in the desktop search box. In the window that opens, locate and expand the display adapter. Right-click the intel graphics card and click Disable. Check whether the problem is rectified.

    Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks.

    Best regards

    Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2023-04-18T01:27:23+00:00

    Hi

    Thanks for your reply.

    Have you ever tried to disable your integrated graphics card by entering bios? This may work.

    You can refer to your laptop bios manual for specific steps.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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