Laptop GPU not being utilized

[programmer23`]

I just recently got a used laptop, A dell Inspiron 17r SE.  When I got it, everything worked, everything ran well, and everything was being utilized correctly.

 

I decided to install a SSD, I decided to wipe the drive and just start from scratch with the laptop.  So I installed the SSD and did a fresh install of Windows 8.1 from an OEM disk that I had from building my pc.  I was able to reuse the licence from the windows install that was on the laptop previously.  Everything on the laptop was working well, I got all of my key applications installed.   Everything was looking good until I wanted to play some CS:GO, and my framerates were really low, I checked my GPU utilization and it was at 0% while the util of the integrated intel 4000 graphics were at 100%.  

 

I went into the Nvidia Control panel and it had the settings changes so that the default settings were to use the integrated graphics.  I of course changed it but the framerates were still garbage, GPU util still at 0%.  I went back to the Nvidia Control panel and it had set itself back to wanting to use the integrated graphics.  I did everything i could find to get it to save the settings change but, running as admin, etc would not work.  I have all most recent drivers, battery settings are changed to performance.

 

I have no idea what to do, and it would really suck if I just lost all that functionality when I upgraded.

 

 

 

TL:DR

 

I did a dumb, laptop gfx not being utilized, Nvidia control panel not being utilized.

 

 

Thank you for any help you guys can give.

 

 

[S1AYA7]

I'm not sure how it works with NVidia but AMD uses "Switchable Graphics" because the display runs through the Intel HD. From memory in the NVidia control panel you can configure high performance mode or something like that but it's been a while since I've used a NVidia system.

[programmer23`]

I'm not sure how it works with NVidia but AMD uses "Switchable Graphics" because the display runs through the Intel HD. From memory in the NVidia control panel you can configure high performance mode or something like that but it's been a while since I've used a NVidia system.

yeah, the same is with Nvidia, in the Nvidia Control Panel, there is a setting to use the High Performance Nvidia graphics, but when I set that, it refuses to save the settings and always reverts it to use the integrated graphics.

 

The display is also hooked up the same way, the laptop display  is powered by the integrated intel graphics but all of the laptop outputs are powered by the nvidia graphics.

[programmer23`]

Little update, I downloaded blender 3d, and the cuda rendering still works, and when I render out a scene the laptop GPU, a 650m, shows utiliization.  

 

So it seems like the only issue is that the Nvidia control panel will not save the settings of changing the default graphics from integrated to dedicated.

 

plz help.

[programmer23`]

bumping this, I would really appreciate some help.

[GoodBytes]

You need Dell official drivers. You can't use Nvidia official drivers.

The drivers needs to be modified with Intel drivers, so that Nvidia GPU drops the rendered frame into the Intel frame buffer, and fool the Intel integrated graphics that it has magically completed the job, so that it outputs on the screen. That is how Nvidia Optimus works. It's a bit of a hack. The advantage is that you don't need to do anything, like restart your system every time as you switch GPUs. but it prevents you from using the latest and greatest drivers, and are dependent on the manufacture to keep these drivers up-to-date.

If you are interested in reading the whitepaper on the technology, you can view it here:

http://www.nvidia.ca/object/LO_optimus_whitepapers.html

[programmer23`]

You need Dell official drivers. You can't use Nvidia official drivers.

The drivers needs to be modified with Intel drivers, so that Nvidia GPU drops the rendered frame into the Intel frame buffer, and fool the Intel integrated graphics that it has magically completed the job, so that it outputs on the screen. That is how Nvidia Optimus works. It's a bit of a hack. The advantage is that you don't need to do anything, like restart your system every time as you switch GPUs. but it prevents you from using the latest and greatest drivers, and are dependent on the manufacture to keep these drivers up-to-date.

 

 

Ok, so what do I do, delete all of the nvidia drivers from my computer and then use the ones off of dells website?

[GoodBytes]

Ok, so what do I do, delete all of the nvidia drivers from my computer and then use the ones off of dells website?

Yup

[907rider]

super random but possibly worth a try.... the laptop is plugged in right? I had a laptop once that would not utilize the Nvidia GPU in any way unless the laptop was plugged in.  Also try setting the options in windows power management to "high performance"  

 

Just did a test last week using a C++ program I wrote where the computer had to simply count from 1 to 1 million and output the numbers on the screen.  In regular (let windows decide) power mode it took on the order of 7 seconds, when swapped to "high performance" power mode with no other changes, it took less than 3.

[programmer23`]

OK, I might sound like an idiot, but when I uninstall Gforce experience, my Physx drivers and then the graphics drivers, it requires that the computer be restarted.  When the laptop restarts it automatically reinstalls nvidia drivers, although they are an older version that I believe are the ones that are available for download off of the dell website.  

 

I am still having all of the same issues though.  Any thoughts?

[GoodBytes]

No you are using the Windows Updates drivers, which are Windows one. Use the Dell ones.

Also good to check, see if in the BIOS you have an option that states to use the decapitated GPU all the time. Some laptop have this.