2 Graphics cards

[BiggyRed]

i have a lenovo laptop with a intel graphics card and a AMD radeon. for some reason fsx se is only picking up the intel card. can you help?

[Stowthorns]

FSX is that old a game, it was back before CrossFire was even a thing. So it will only ever detect and use your primary GPU.

[BiggyRed]

that sucks.

[Stowthorns]

If you want to specifically use CrossFire, then you're better off either waiting for the 64 Bit P3D, IF that supports CrossFire or going to 64 Bit X-Plane, again, IF it supports CrossFire. I don't know if it does or not though.

[Manwith Noname]

This isn't XFire related though, XFire is using 2 ATi/AMD GPU's together for increased performance. The OP is suffering with the red teams equivalent to Optimus.

I don't know how CCC deals with this as I am only familiar with Optimus but somewhere, you should be able to set up a profile that tells the drivers to use the Radeon. Failing that, somehwere there is hopefully an option to globally force the Radeon.

[Hadji]

Are those even two gaming cards? It sounds like an onboard Intel graphics card and a additional Radeon card for gaming. Never heard about anyone getting SLI/Crossfire working with two different GPU chipsets.

@O.P you can force your laptop to use the Radeon card. Either disable the Intel card through BIOS or use Catalyst. Below is a video that might help you out with the later:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWKMtzvLR78

[1Eight7]

no need to have both those cards anyways. disbale and remove any drivers for the onboard card. it never uses both together anyways

[Manwith Noname]

It's a laptop and it likely does need both GPU's to be operational, at least if it uses a similar system to optimus and does not have a dedicated multiplexer seperate from both units.

I have an old optimus laptop and the Intel GPU is connected to the monitor. The nVidia GPU passes through the internal GPU's display controller. This is why it can be difficult for games to see the dedicated GPU if it is not in use when selecting video options.

Simplest explanation I could find.[www.trustedreviews.com]

Edit: It appears AMD's Dynamic Switching works in a very similar manner.[www.anandtech.com]

[BiggyRed]

Does the intel graphics card cause lower fps or not as good graphics?

[Manwith Noname]

It will not really effect graphics quality, per se. Trying to play a graphically demanding game will just mean if you try to push certain settings high your frame rate will drop.

It is possible, depending on your CPU, that it can handle the graphic requirements of FSX well.

[Rocky Jet]

FSX is about 80 percent CPU so GPU doesnt need to be that great. You need a really good CPU

[Hadji]

The Intel GPU's aren't made for gaming.

[BiggyRed]

because am running fsx at a low 5 to 10 fps. but that is when i am running the pmdg 737ngx. i didnt know if the graphics card had to do with anything.

[1Eight7]

integrated graphics cards were not made at all for gaming. you prolly noticed a better frame rate with default planes im guessing. PMDG takes more horsepower to work.
as far as how to work around that for your other card, not sure myself..anyone?
im more of a desktop expert myself..cant see it being too much difference, as my CPU has built-in graphics that i disabled in order to use my GTX780's

[BiggyRed]

How do I disable my Intel graphics card? Is it even possible?

[Manwith Noname]

No, not entirely. You should however be able to use CCC to force the radeon in use all the time. You cannot disable the Intel GPU because it is connected directly to the inbuilt panel and the AMD GPU passes through the controller.. Depending on how your laptop is configured, your HDMI port (and any other external ports) may be connected only to the AMD GPU.