Use nvidia GPU only on AC

[Squirrel724]

Is there a way to set up the nvidia control panel so that a program (in my case solidworks 2015) will use my gtx960m while connected to AC power but then switch to the intel integrated graphics when on battery? The gpu provides a nice little boost with large projects but it cuts my battery life in half. I sometimes need to work on projects where I don't have access to a wall outlet and would like to know if there is a way I can set it up so that it switches to using the intel graphics to save battery.

[werto165]

power saver mode in windows? no idea if that would work tbh.... Perhaps there is something in the nvidia control panel somewhere?  

[thatguyyouknow75]

I think so, dig through power settings

[vanished]

Does it not do that automatically?  My laptop (intel + radeon though) from 5 years ago switches from dGPU to iGPU when I plug it in/out (if I set it up that way)... I would imagine nvidia can do something similar

[App4that]

Not that I've seen. Wife has a MSI with a 970m and has the same concern. Because you have to restart the computer between them being used, nothing I've seen will do it for you. Kind of a pain in the butt, but maybe the popularity of the external graphics cards will give us that in the future.

[Squirrel724]

3 minutes ago, App4that said:

Not that I've seen. Wife has a MSI with a 970m and has the same concern. Because you have to restart the computer between them being used, nothing I've seen will do it for you. Kind of a pain in the butt, but maybe the popularity of the external graphics cards will give us that in the future.

I have never had to restart to switch graphics cards. The way it works for me is that in the nvidia control panel you can set which card you want each program to use. It runs the intel graphics until you start a program that is set to use the nvidia graphics which it will then switch to. When there are no more programs using the nvidia card it will turn it off. 

 

I would just set solidworks to use the intel graphics before starting it on battery and then switch it back but the control panel is a slow pain in the butt.

[vanished]

1 minute ago, Squirrel724 said:

I have never had to restart to switch graphics cards. The way it works for me is that in the nvidia control panel you can set which card you want each program to use. It runs the intel graphics until you start a program that is set to use the nvidia graphics which it will then switch to. When there are no more programs using the nvidia card it will turn it off. 

Well, yes that's usually how it works. Generally any program that is using the card prevents the switch from happening while it's open, so you just have to take an extra second to either switch modes before firing up the program, or close it and switch then launch it again when you want.  Shouldn't be a big deal.

[App4that]

Just now, Squirrel724 said:

I have never had to restart to switch graphics cards. The way it works for me is that in the nvidia control panel you can set which card you want each program to use. It runs the intel graphics until you start a program that is set to use the nvidia graphics which it will then switch to. When there are no more programs using the nvidia card it will turn it off. 

 

I would just set solidworks to use the intel graphics before starting it on battery and then switch it back but the control panel is a slow pain in the butt.

Yes, but the power consumption is much like SLI/Crossfire. Though you're not using the 960m, it's using power. Not as much as when active, but for small tasks very close. The option to eject the graphics card means you can remove it from the system, power it down. That is not hot swappable.