Issues with Desktop Window Manager and second monitor

[CKTalon1]

I use a gaming laptop and got a new external monitor for it today, however this created problems with Wallpaper Engine. Normally when I open Wallpaper Engine, it uses my integrated graphics. However, when I connected my monitor, this caused Wallpaper Engine to start using my NVIDIA graphics and made my Desktop Window Manager use 40% of my graphics card and make my windows become laggy, messing with my temps. When I disconnect the monitor this problem goes away. Is there any way to fix this?

[Biohazard]

Some laptops can only drive either display over either graphics adapter.

Wallpaper Engine just uses whatever graphics adapter gets assigned to it, you can assign one in Windows: https://www.ghacks.net/2018/11/30/assign-graphics-performance-preferences-windows-10-programs/#:~:text=You%20can%20do%20so%20with,menu%20in%20the%20Settings%20application.&text=Customize%20graphics%20performance%20preference%20for,performance%20or%20save%20battery%20life.

[CKTalon1]

Hi, thank you for the response.

When I tried changing WE to run on my integrated graphics, it becomes quite laggy and uses 70% of my gpu. When I change it to use my nvidia graphics, WE becomes steady, but then this creates problems with Desktop Window Manager. because the windows I am using become laggy and my temps increase by quite a bit. Is there any way to fix the issue with Desktop Window Manager while keeping nvidia graphics on WE?

[CKTalon1]

Hi there,

I found out that I am just having problems with Desktop Window Manager in general and even without my second monitor, Desktop Window Manager uses around 15-20% of my GPU when I have WE open.

[Biohazard]

Like I explained, your laptop hardware may be set up so that your integrated GPU doesn't support the external display directly and vice versa and that's what causes the DWM issues when the combination doesn't allow for proper hardware acceleration, making the DWM perform poorly.

The issue is that the desktop window, managed by Windows, itself is shared across all displays.

[CKTalon1]

Is there anything that I can do to fix this? Or will it be stuck like this? Because I am having the same problem even when I unplug my monitor and only use my laptop on its own, so I am not sure if it's a problem with the monitor or with the laptop itself. Thank you.

[Biohazard]

Try assigning Wallpaper Engine to the integrated GPU and only use a wallpaper on your integrated monitor, are the windows still laggy then? Make sure to restart Wallpaper Engine or it won't be using the GPU that was assigned.

[CKTalon1]

I've tried to run WE on my integrated GPU with the external monitor unplugged, however WE uses around 90% of my integrated gpu if I do. When I use my second monitor, WE uses my nvidia GPU automatically, but then Windows Desktop Manager uses 60% of my GPU