I can't change my preferred GPU. Turn on a discrete graphics card

Answers on questions

In the latest builds of Windows 10 Redstone 4, which should be released this spring, a new feature has appeared - the choice of the preferred GPU for working with a particular program. This is mainly needed for laptops, which have two graphics - from Intel and from AMD or Nvidia. The first is usually used to save energy when working with light tasks - surfing the Internet, watching movies, working with documents, etc. Well, for games or time-consuming 3D applications, more powerful discrete graphics are connected (while the integrated GPU from Intel is always responsible for displaying to the monitor). By default, the video driver of the discrete video card is responsible for switching video cards, and in the Nvidia or AMD control panel you can configure which applications with which video card will run.

Microsoft decided to somewhat simplify and simultaneously refine the switching: now it is configured in one place for both Nvidia and AMD video cards, and it also became possible to select the preferred GPU for applications from the Windows Store - given that there are still several demanding 3D games, it makes sense.

This setting is located in Settings\u003e System\u003e Display\u003e Graphics settings:

Now choose which type of app you want to set your preferred GPU for - Classic or Universal (from the Windows Store). Next, click on the "Browse" button and specify the path to the required application, if it is classic, or select it from the list if it is universal:

Now click on Program\u003e Options and choose which video card you want to use. Energy saving means that the program of your choice will run with an integrated GPU, high performance with a discrete one, by default the video driver will decide.

Do you know how to choose the preferred GPU for running an application or game from the two options available? If not, then I suggest that laptop owners read this article.

Today, even an average laptop in terms of cost and performance comes with two video cards. The first, which works by default, is built-in, the second is discrete. An additional GPU is mostly found in gaming laptops, but it's not uncommon to find it on a non-gaming rig.

Of the built-in ones, the choice is small and usually this is a chip from Intel, but discrete ones can be either from Nvidia or from AMD. These are the most widespread and user-trusted products. And manufacturers, first of all, try to complete the devices based on our preferences.

Now let's take a quick look at the very process of interaction between two video cards. When the requirements of any running application exceed the capabilities of the built-in card, your system automatically switches to discrete operation. This happens mainly when you start playing games.

As mentioned above, the PC market is dominated by two major GPU manufacturers. It is worth noting that the most widely used Nvidia uses the relatively new technology “Optimus”. Its functionality is that whenever it detects that a program or game needs additional, more powerful resources, a dedicated GPU is automatically activated.

For now, I'll show you how you can easily force an application to use a high performance or integrated GPU of your choice. This will only be demonstrated today with NVIDIA and Intel.

GRAPHIC PROCESSOR

Open the NVIDIA Control Panel. The easiest and fastest way is to right-click on the corresponding icon located on the taskbar in the lower right corner. Go to the "Desktop" menu and check the box next to "Add item to context menu".

Now, after these simple steps, you can right-click on the shortcut of any application and, in the menu item that appears, select one of the two launch options.

PERMANENT START

And if you decide permanently only with the use of a discrete video card, then in the Control Panel go to the "Manage 3D parameters" section, select the "Software settings" tab and install the required game or program in item 1, and select the required video card in item 2 and then click on the "Apply" button.

That's all! Visit and read all of the available computer tips. Become a member of our FB group, where you can get help and participate in discussions or post your point of view.

Most often, the need to turn on the second video card arises from laptop owners. Desktop users rarely have such questions, since desktops are able to determine for themselves which graphics adapter is in use at a given time. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that situations when it is necessary to manually start a discrete video card can be encountered by users of any computers.

A powerful video card, as opposed to a built-in one, is necessary to work in applications that actively use the graphics core (programs for video editing and image processing, 3D packages), as well as to run demanding games.

The advantages of discrete graphics cards are obvious:

A significant increase in computing power, which makes it possible to work in resource-intensive applications and play modern games.
Plays "heavy" content such as 4K high bitrate video.
Using more than one monitor.
Upgradeable to a more powerful model.

The disadvantages include the high cost and a significant increase in the energy consumption of the system as a whole. For a laptop, this means more heat.

NVIDIA

The green video card can be enabled using the software included in the driver package. It is called the NVIDIA Control Panel and is located in "Control panels" Windows.

Now all applications that work with the video card will only use the discrete adapter.

AMD

A powerful video card from the "red" is also included using the proprietary software AMD Catalyst Control Center. Here you need to go to the section "Food" and in the block "Switchable Graphics" select parameter "High performance GPU".

The result will be the same as in the case of NVIDIA.

The above recommendations will only work if there are no interruptions or malfunctions. Quite often, a discrete video card remains unused due to a disabled option in the motherboard BIOS, or the lack of a driver.

Driver Installation

The first step after connecting the video card to the motherboard is to install the driver necessary for the adapter to work properly. A universal recipe that works in most situations is:

Many laptop users with two intel and nvidia video cards are often interested in switching between these video cards. When launching a particular game, it is not clear which of the two video cards is used. In this article, you will learn how you can switch from intel to nvidia on a laptop, and also make sure that you are using a discrete nvidia video card.

What does it take to successfully switch video cards on a laptop?

The only and prerequisite is the presence of drivers for both video cards. You can check this as follows.

We go to the device manager by right-clicking on the icon " My computer"On the desktop and in the menu that opens, selecting" Control«.

We enter computer control

In the window that opens on the left, select " device Manager«.

Graphics Cards in Device Manager

There shouldn't be any "standard video adapter drivers". Both video cards must be named.

Otherwise, you will need.

Configuring the nvidia graphics card driver to add switchable capability

If everything is in order with the drivers, then by clicking on the desktop in any free space, a menu will open in which you need to select the item " NVIDIA Control Panel«.

The Nvidia video card settings window will open. In it you need to click on the menu item " Desktop"And put the last two ticks -" Add the item Run with GPU to the context menu"And" Display GPU activity icon in notification area«.

Enabling context menu items for switching video cards

After that you can close the settings window.

Now, before starting the game, right-click on its shortcut and in the menu that opens, select " Run with GPU» -> « High-performance Nvidia processor«.

Many models of modern laptop computers have two video graphics cards: integrated and discrete. The system itself decides which one to use for a specific task. There are several options for how to set up a video card on a laptop so that a weaker chip does not mistakenly turn on in games.

How to switch between graphics cards on a laptop

For those who do not know what a video adapter is in a laptop, it is necessary to remember that at the moment two types of this element of the system are used. The first one is built into the processor, the adapter cannot boast of high performance, but it consumes little power. PC models with this combination are generally cheaper. There are models of such processors from both world manufacturers: Intel and AMD.

The second type of video adapters is discrete or separate. These cards are well suited for gaming, video processing, but are more expensive, have higher power consumption and run hotter. The system does not need to have only one kind of graphics chip. Many laptop computers have both types of adapters at the same time. By default, the operating system itself makes the choice which of them to launch in a given task. Sometimes it is wrong and you need customization from the user side.

If the video adapters are of the same generation and from the same manufacturer, you can set the parameters under which they will work at the same time, increasing the performance of the computer. However, game developers recommend choosing one basic option. This can be done with:

task manager;
in the BIOS;
special programs.

How to switch the video card in BIOS

This option always works on stationary machines, but is not always present in laptops. Some models do not support it, so you just need to check. Below are instructions on how to turn on the video card on a laptop and make it the main one:

Start or restart your PC.
During the first splash screen, press DEL or F2 (for different versions).
When you get into the BIOS, control will be carried out using the arrows on the keyboard.
To change the priority of a card, look for an item called "Advanced" or "Config".
Here you need a section that includes the word "Graphics". The names in models from Asus, Lenovo or HP may differ, but this word is always present.
You need to either disable the second chipset by setting the value Disabled, or move the main adapter to the first line.
Save changes and exit BIOS.

How to change the video card on a laptop through the device manager

The second option, how to switch the video card on a laptop, is to use the Windows Device Manager tool. This menu contains all the system elements that are installed on the laptop. You cannot change the configuration here, but you can disable some of the devices. To go to the panel, do the following:

Right-click on the "My Computer" icon.
Select "Management".
In the left menu, find the line "Device Manager".
Expand the item "Display adapters". It contains those chipsets that are installed in the system.
Right-click on the built-in adapter, select "Disable".

Such manipulation will turn off the extra chip and only one main chip will remain. This is a temporary measure because the device will restart after restarting the computer. To switch the startup priority forever, you should use the specialized software that comes with the AMD Radeon, Nvidia GeForce adapters. This way of changing the priority is much safer and easier.

Switching laptop video cards with special programs

The two main programs for managing video cards are available only with a discrete adapter type. For AMD products, this is the Catalyst Control Center, and for Nvidia products, this is the NVIDIA Control Center. These applications open up the ability to more finely control devices, set their priority, enable or disable collaboration, set automatic chip change depending on the running game or program.

How to choose the main graphics card on a laptop at NVIDIA

Together with the adapter, the set includes a disc with special software for the product. It stores drivers, some specialized applications for adjusting the chip frequency, fan speed, and a program for general control of the system's graphics parameters. At Nvidia, this function is performed by the Control Center section. Within this application, you can make special settings. Instructions on how to switch the video card on a laptop:

Click in the system tray on the Nvidia company icon (bottom right corner of the screen) and click on "Open Control Panel".
Click on the item from the left menu "Manage 3D Settings".
On the right, select the Program Settings tab.
The system will find all possible applications for which you can set your preferred graphics adapter.
Find the game or program that runs with the wrong chip from the drop-down list.
Below it is a section through which the required video card is specified.
If it was not possible to find the required file through the list, then you can add it manually via the "Add" button.

How to Switch to Discrete Graphics on a Laptop in Catalyst

You can also change the preferred adapter through software from Radeon. It also comes with the card, but if you have lost the disc, then the latest version should be downloaded for free from the manufacturer's website. Remember that you can configure a mode in which both cards will work at the same time. Instructions on how to switch AMD graphics card on a laptop:

Run the Catalyst utility.
We need a menu item from the "Power" section called "Switchable Graphics Adapters".
Click on the "High GPU Performance" button. If you have a PC connected to the network, then the discrete card will always work. If you need to switch to integrated, then select the inscription "Low GPU consumption".