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How to force NVidia 1060 on Surface Book 2

Anonymous
2017-12-07T20:27:23+00:00

Hi.....  proud new owner of a 15" Surface Book 2!

I cannot find where to tell the PC which GPU to use for an app.   I had owned the previous Surface Book and there was an NVidia Control panel thatgave you all kinds of control over that.

The new Surface Book 2 doesn't have that installed on it and it seems that it's stuck using the crappy Intel Pro 620 GPU on every piece of software.  I haven't modified ANYTHING since I unboxed it last night (in other words, I haven't screwed any drivers or anything up).   If I look under Device Manager, it shows both the Intel 620 and the NVidia 1060 as graphics adapters.

I'm sure this is something very simple but thanks for helping!

Surface | Surface Book | Display and screen

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-27T19:02:29+00:00

    The NVIDIA Control Panel does not appear when pressing Start and typing because it is not in the list of apps in the Start menu. 

    To open it, go to: Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, NVIDIA Control Panel.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-04T18:08:55+00:00

    try downloading the latest Surface Book firmware here:

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49497

    go to your "system information" find "version" and download the firmware closest to that number.....

    if all else fail...MS can "Fresh Start" your laptop.  Unfortunately, thats what I had to do but everything is working properly after that. Make sure you back up everything first.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-02T20:23:10+00:00

    NCP is preloaded but Geforce Experience is not aka access Nvidia Control Panel when right clicking.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-02T15:08:46+00:00

    https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/1038669/surface-book-2-15-inch-cant-install-drivers-after-390-65/

    straight out the box, the SB2 can only install driver 388.71 (which should install geforce experience as well aka you will see nvidia control panel by right clicking).

    however, you'll get a "can't find compatible hardware" trying to install any of the recent drivers 390 to current.

    furthermore, even with driver 388.71, the latest firmware updates from MS and specifying dGPU in control panel....the GTX 1060 is not being used. I have confirmed this and its a known issue caused by OEM driver....basically SB2 is currently a brick for anyone trying to render, model, animate & game.

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