How to change from integrated graphics to nvidia for those needing it.

[Cheyenne]

I have noticed quite a few people asking why their framerate is so low when other games run so smoothly on high settings. I have posted something similar to this in one discussion already, but thought it would be a good idea to start this one so others can possibly find it easier.

I know that for my MSI laptop, as soon as i started the game, my integrated was taking over and not my nvidia 770m. This happens in some games, and the performance is terrible, until I go into the nvidia control panel and specify that I want the nvidia gpu used rather than the integrated and that always fixes it for me (unless it is a coding issue by dev).

Perhaps it is something similar for your system. My laptop indicates this either with the power light being white (integrated being used) or orange (nvidia being used).

To change from integrated to nvidia:

First - Go to nvidia icon in the bottom right hand corner of your desktop, then open the nvidia control panel. Or if you do not have that icon, or using windows 8, open the control panel and then navigate to hardware and sound where the nvidia control panel should then be. Or, right click on a space within the desktop and it should be an option from the drop down menu.

Second - When you open nvidia control panel, go to manage 3D settings under the 3D settings portion on the left side of the control panel. Then on the right hand side, click on program settings tab, and it should give you the option to select a program to customize, select the option add.

Third - The list of programs that appears should have the forest program in that list, however if it does not, just direct it towards the .exe of the game within the steam folders. When you have choosen the forest program, it should then appear as the game to customize under number 1.

Fourth - Under number 2 where it says select the preferred graphics processor for this program, choose the nvidia processor, rather than the integrated. Now when you run the game it will choose that card rather than the integrated.

Hopefully some issues that others were having with framerates will be addressed with this, and I apologize if it is a bit difficult to follow.

[Hellsinger.]

This is not happening to me, but good initiative.

+1

[Retroburn]

Also: Don't forget that you can still tweak 3D settings in your Nvidia Control Panel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZqaoBo2Y7Q

This is very useful for:

1. Gamers who have a budget PC and want to squeeze out every last drop of their machine's performance by lowering the settings

2. Gamers who have high-end rigs who want to up the graphics settings beyond what the ingame video setttings list.

[iLLmEcHaNiCo]

I game on a PC and a decent alienware gaming laptop as well. I had a few games that would randamly switch to integrated graphics with no ryhme or reason. The laptop WAS plugged in and nothing I did in nVidia control panel would force the games to use my 765m. I know some laptops have some sort of protection to prevent overcharging the battery. Even disabling that didn't help. So here's how I resolved my issue:

Disable switchable graphics. Plain and simple. If you're not worried about power consumption, which I imagine you wouldn't be if you're gaming on a laptop, then disable it.

Basically, When switchable graphics is enabled, I could find both the nvidia gpu and the integrated graphics in nvidia control panel, as mentioned by the OP. Once I disabled switchable graphics, the only graphics processor available in the nvidia control panel was the 765m gpu. At this point I knew 100% that integrated graphics would never be used. Long and behold I was actually right for once in my life. I haven't had a problem since.

So how do you do it? Well, that's up to you do figure out. The alienware laptops make it easy by using a hotkey set up. (I think it's FN+F5, but don't quote me on that). I've read up quite a bit on the subject and discovered that some laptops require going into the BIOS settings to disable switchable graphics. Then, there are those that simply do not offer the option to disable switchable graphics at all, in which case you're screwed. (sorry)

So, long story short: If the OPs excellent tips don't work for you, find out how to disable swithcable graphics on your gaming laptop. It's an absolute must for serious gamers on laptops. Aside from serious FPS issues, you can tell when intergrated graphics is taking over by monitoring you gpu's VRAM. If VRAM usage is at 0, you can be sure that integrated graphics has grabbed the torch.

In conjuntion with OP's post, I really hope this helps some as it took me almost a month to figure this out when the answer was actually so simple and only a few keystrokes away the whole time.

[ArvisPresley]

Don't suppose this can be done WITHOUT a nvidia graphics card or Nvidia Control panel? i know my graphics card is powerful enough, but i don't quite understand what to do here

[deflog]

solution for all your problems
just click down below apply to windows 10 only

https://www.howtogeek.com/351522/how-to-choose-which-gpu-a-game-uses-on-windows-10/

your welcome