how to change which GPU is used?

[Spongman]

I have 2 GPUs in my machine:
- Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 520

and i want the game to use the Intel GPU (since the nvidia is a potato). however, i cannot seem to force the game to use it. I have tried setting the windows 'Graphics performance preference' for the .exe to use the intel GPU, but it still does not work.

The Witness - x64 - D3D11 - Final (Steam)
Version 1.070M
Built 2019/01/23 12:30:49 from 172984
Date: 2020/04/26 Time: 02:05:15
Args: 
Init app:
    Init core:
        Init asset loader:
            Using unbundled processed asset list
            25.93 ms elapsed
        41.26 ms elapsed
    Init render:
        OS: Windows 10, PlatformId 2, Version 10.0, Build 18363
        D3D11: fullscreen_mode: requested 1, got 1
        D3D11: Enumerating adapters:
            - 0 adapter 'Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630' (0x8086, 0x3E92) with 1 outputs.
            - 1 adapter 'NVIDIA GeForce GT 520' (0x10DE, 0x1040) with 1 outputs.
            - 2 adapter 'Microsoft Basic Render Driver' (0x1414, 0x8C) with 0 outputs.
        D3D11: Found 1 adapter outputs.
        D3D11: SDK version 7
        D3D11: Adapter = 'NVIDIA GeForce GT 520'
        D3D11: Output device = '\\.\DISPLAY4'
        D3D11: VendorId = 0x10DE (NVIDIA)
        D3D11: DeviceId = 0x1040
        D3D11: Dedicated Video Memory = 992576.00 KB
        D3D11: Dedicated System Memory =   0.00 KB
        D3D11: Shared System Memory = 8212444.00 KB
        NVAPI: Driver 391.35
        NVAPI: GPU count = 1
        NVAPI: GPU(0) has 48 cores
        NVAPI: GPU(0) is a desktop
        NVAPI: GPU(0) is discrete
        WIN32: Screen extents: 1920 x 1200
        D3D11: Created D3D11 device with feature level 11.0
        D3D11: concurrent_resource_creation = true
        D3D11: max_texture_size = 16384
        D3D11: max_texture_buffer_size = 16384
        NVAPI: 1 AFR groups.
        D3D11: Automatic profile for this GPU: low
        D3D11: Automatic profile for amount of video memory available: high
        OS: 134217727 MB of virtual addressing space detected.
        GPU-DB entry found: recommending 'low' profile.
        Applying user settings:
            render_profile = 0
            fullscreen = false
            vsync = false
            resolution = dynamic_resolution
            multisampling = disabled
            shading_quality = 0
            reflection_quality = 0
            texture_quality = 0
            texture_detail = 0
            geometry_detail = 0
        WIN: Refresh rate = 60.01 Hz (16.66 ms)
        win32_create_window(in_windowed_mode = true)
        D3D11: hwnd is 001f0f96
        Validating render extents:
            Screen aspect ratio is 1.600
            Render extents = 1280 x 720
        5.81 s elapsed
    Minimal initialization:
        Set up shaders:
            Set up shader flags:
                0.64 ms elapsed
            cache file operations (shaders):
                226.37 ms elapsed
            227.41 ms elapsed
        227.87 ms elapsed
    CPU clock frequency: 2.904 GHz
    GPU clock frequency: 1.000 GHz
    Init catalogs:
        5.84 ms elapsed
    Load global assets:
        107.93 ms elapsed
    Init shared resources:
        Allocated 512 KB for translucent vertex buffer.
        Allocated 128 KB for translucent index buffer.
        Loading footsteps.
        6.19 ms elapsed
    Init game:
        Sound Caps:
          NON-EMULATED driver.
          dwTotalHwMemBytes: 0
          dwFreeHwMemBytes: 0
          dwPlayCpuOverheadSwBuffers: 0
          DSBCAPS for primary buffer:
            GetCurrentPosition2: NO
            LocHardware: NO
            Static: NO
            TruePlayPosition: NO
          DSBCAPS for fill buffer:
            GetCurrentPosition2: YES
            LocHardware: NO
            Static: NO
            TruePlayPosition: NO
        validated foam buffer settings: buffer 0 (w/4.0, h/4.0), decals 1, blur quality 2
        Load asset dependencies:
            4.88 ms elapsed
        Load common assets (package):
            267.58 ms elapsed
        Load shared assets (package):
            531.72 ms elapsed
        Init level:
            nav_mesh_load_from_file: loading Nav_Mesh from "data/worlds/save/save_nav_data":
                11.94 ms elapsed
            Loading processed entities.
                32.88 ms elapsed
            error : Unknown material 'default'
                Creating Fog_Marker #252605
            Lightmap asset failed to load: 'save_249756_00'
            Process queries
                8.40 ms elapsed
            Loaded 49491 entities.
              - 248 cluster entities.
            Load campaign:
                Loadable_Files::refresh
                    update_local_files
                        1.40 ms elapsed
                    update_cloud_files
                        0.00 ms elapsed
                    1.42 ms elapsed
                i1 13, i2 6, separation 3
                VIDEO: Starting 'data/videos/rupert.bk2', total frames 64340, total minutes 35.780, aspect 1.800, dimensions 864x480, frame_index 46971
                Process queries
                    0.16 ms elapsed
                56.91 ms elapsed
            world bounding box (-389.959, -372.600, -226.402) to (365.146, 352.906, 549.984) 
            Game_Resource_Manager::on_post_load:
                Streaming entities:
                    248 clusters
                   7538 unclustered entities
                   1122 dynamic
                10.96 ms elapsed
            322.79 ms elapsed
        Warm up streaming data:
            unload_far_away_entities:
                0.01 ms elapsed
            shar_RiverBedRock-blend : error : texture asset failed to load.
                Loading Inanimate #51752
            shar_DirtSandy01-blend : error : texture asset failed to load.
                Loading Inanimate #151451
            shar_concrete_bunkerwall-A-blend : error : texture asset failed to load.
                Loading Inanimate #195973
            error : Shader asset failed to load: 'grass_blocker' (ECF0FDFA)
                Loading mesh save/resources/252480
            error : Shader asset failed to load: 'grass_blocker' (D3EFFAAC)
                Loading mesh save/resources/252480
            shar_stone_cobblestone-blend : error : texture asset failed to load.
                Loading Inanimate #51568
            1.52 s elapsed
        2.75 s elapsed
    9.10 s elapsed

[soose]

Hi Spongman,

For starters I would recommend trying to change to the Intel GPU in the Nvidia Control Panel under Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > The Witness (or under Global Settings if you prefer).

[Spongman]

Originally posted by fd thekla:

Hi Spongman,

For starters I would recommend trying to change to the Intel GPU in the Nvidia Control Panel under Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > The Witness (or under Global Settings if you prefer).

i don't see how to do that. i see the 'Manage 3d Settings' (both global, and app-specifc) in the nvidia control panel, but i don't see anywhere where i can select the intel GPU. I'm running gefore 391.35 which is the latest for my GT 520.

[Spongman]

ok, so i broke down and decompiled it. it looks like there's an explicit check to disable intel GPUs, which sucks. so i NOPed that out and now instead of ~5fps in low quality, i have nearly constant 30fps in high quality...
seriously, this should have been a drop-down in the config dialog.

[n0v0leg]

Originally posted by Spongman:

i don't see how to do that. i see the 'Manage 3d Settings' (both global, and app-specifc) in the nvidia control panel, but i don't see anywhere where i can select the intel GPU. I'm running gefore 391.35 which is the latest for my GT 520.

Maybe it's not under 'Manage 3D Settings'? Try searching somewhere else.

I had a Microsoft Surface Book laptop with a descrete nvidia GPU inside a detachable base. In the Nvidia Control Panel I could specify what GPU (nvidia/intel) I want for each app to use. I'm pretty sure that apps can not override this setting, since I might select all or specific apps to run only on Intel in case I need to detach my base at some point.

[Spongman]

that must be in a newer version of the driver. it's nowhere in 391.35 which is the latest that's supported on my GT520.