Too much power is consumed (dGPU vs iGPU)

[Pringbulbs]

Hi everyone,

 

I've noticed something recently with my laptop (Lenovo Legion Y540, i7-9750H and 1660Ti).
When I'm on battery and I use the dGPU (iGPU disabled) I can reach a battery-life of up to 4.5 hours idling and 3+ hours on the net (my battery only charges up to 75-80% of its original capacity). That battery life is reasonable but I knew switching to the iGPU with the available "Hybrid Mode" would help me consume less power as the iGPU is more efficient.

 

Well, the numbers don't lie power-wise:

• iGPU idling: <1W (Intel UHD Graphics 630)
• dGPU idling: ~4W

However, strangely enough, the battery-life with this "Hybrid Mode" (and all the power-saving features I know of) only reaches ~2 hours idling, at best.

 

CPU package reaches <4W idling. Good.

Screen dimmed to its lowest (barely visible but why not).

Only one culprit: the dGPU.

 

How do I know? Using TechPowerUp GPU-Z, I see the GPU whole board jumping from 0W to 15-21W constantly...

 

I check further down to see that it is in Power State P3 which is not power-efficient at all...

 

Anyone has a clue or tips to give to solve this issue?

 

What I've already tried: killing all related processes, reinstalling NVIDIA driver (clean installation).

 

EDIT: I fiddled with the settings and I was using "Optimal power" in Power Management Mode, I switched to "NVIDIA-driver controlled" and nowit reaches P8 power-state (dropping from 21W whole GPU board to ~3W idling).

Still, any tips on how to achieve lower states such as P10 or P12 and if they're available for my GPU.

[Pringbulbs]

To further show the problem with my laptop, here's two screenshots. One with iGPU on and one with iGPU off... and guess what, there's a 5W gap and I'm a 100% positive that the power draw of the iGPU ain't 5W (~0.5W when it was on)...

 

If someone has a clue that could be quite jolly.

 

P.S.: There's also a secondary issue of package C-states disappearing once the iGPU is enabled. Strange too.

[Maplez]

You could try disabling the dGPU in the BIOS, you'd most likely need the access the advance BIOS.

 

If the past with my Dell M6800 I would disable its RTX 3000 dGPU in device manager and it improved battery life slightly, you might get a larger increase then me since the M6800 was never designed for the RTX 3000.

[Pringbulbs]

Just now, Maplez said:

You could try disabling the dGPU in the BIOS, you'd most likely need the access the advance BIOS.

 

If the past with my Dell M6800 I would disable its RTX 3000 dGPU in device manager and it improved battery life slightly, you might get a larger increase then me since the M6800 was never designed for the RTX 3000.

I already accessed the advanced BIOS but I can't disable the dGPU alone. I can only go discrete or switchable graphics.
Thanks for your advice, but for now I guess I'll stay with my 4.5 hours of battery

[Maplez]

2 minutes ago, Pringbulbs said:

I already accessed the advanced BIOS but I can't disable the dGPU alone. I can only go discrete or switchable graphics.
Thanks for your advice, but for now I guess I'll stay with my 4.5 hours of battery

If you're luckily enough to have a MXM gpu and you don't ever use your dGPU you could just remove it

[Pringbulbs]

1 minute ago, Maplez said:

If you're luckily enough to have a MXM gpu and you don't ever use your dGPU you could just remove it

Nope, good ol' soldered 1660 Ti Mobile... guess I'll stick with what I have and after all, I'm more concentrated during classes when I use paper instead of my laptop.