Help: Turn GPU on, using onboard CPU stead of GPU

ilovebrood · 22 Apr 2012

Edit: perhaps I more or less solved the issue. Not 100% sure, but I'm using nvidia optimus to run a specific program of my choosing with my gpu. No telling if it actually works, but I think its my best shot. Thanks for the help this forum provided.

Hello,

Problem: My Lenovo is using its on-board CPU [Intel(R) HD Graphics] instead of the GPU [Nvidia NVS 3100m].

I want my computer to use my GPU, and I'm unsure of how to make that happen. I'm also a little unsure how to ascertain when it is using one or the other.

I updated the drivers.
Nvidia driver for nvs 3100m: http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro-notebook-win7-winvista-296.35-whql-driver.html

Screen caps:

dxdiag display:

GPU-Z Intel(R) HD Graphics

GPU-Z NVS 3100m

Msinfo32 Intel HD

Msinfo32 NVS

I'm fairly sure it's using the intelhd graphics as I tried /disabling it in Device Manager and my screen went black. I restarted the computer and dxdiag/display showed no existing graphics display (neither the intelhd nor the nvs).

Any help or insight is appreciated.

Thanks

kellymac35 · 22 Apr 2012

Is your computer a laptop and if so does it support NVIDIA Optimus technology?
The beauty of Optimus™ technology is that it automatically shifts from battery-saving integrated graphics to discrete graphics power depending on what you want to do. You can be writing a letter and sipping energy one minute, then maxing out your favorite 3D game the next. No manual switching. No flickering. No shutting down and re-opening apps. You move back and forth with ease.

whs · 22 Apr 2012

You have to switch it in the BIOS.

ilovebrood · 22 Apr 2012

whs said:

You have to switch it in the BIOS.

Thanks for the insight! Trying to figure out exactly what I'm doing:

I entered BIOS on boot (F1/F2 with lenovo laptops). I had: date/time, security, config, boot, (some others i don't remember),

I went through 'em and didn't see any GPU change. Did some googling, lot of information on flashing my bios. Could use some further direction if its not too much to ask.

Thanks

Edit: figured out my comp does support nvidia optimus, will be looking into this. bios/config/display listed graphical boot device as invidia optimus

whs · 22 Apr 2012

I'd love to give you further info. Unfortunately each BIOS is very different. The manufacturers have never agreed on a common interface. And I have never dealt with a Lenovo in my life. I have only HP, Dell and Toshibas. And those are all different too - even between laptops and desktops of the same make. The BIOS is a function of the motherboard.

Maybe somebody that owns a Lenovo could look it up for you.

ilovebrood · 22 Apr 2012

whs said:

I'd love to give you further info. Unfortunately each BIOS is very different. The manufacturers have never agreed on a common interface. And I have never dealt with a Lenovo in my life. I have only HP, Dell and Toshibas. And those are all different too - even between laptops and desktops of the same make. The BIOS is a function of the motherboard.

Maybe somebody that owns a Lenovo could look it up for you.

You've pointed me in the right direction. <3

To kellymac: About nvidia optimus:
Loaded the control panel and changed two of the options from intelHD to the NVS, not sure if it worked. Dxdiag still reads IntelHD as my display (restarted computer to make sure). :

Here is what I get:

Not sure why it still says PhsyX on the intelHD.

Will be working more in the BIOS trying to figure out.

Thanks guys

EDIT: In BIOS, config/display/graphical boot device: I had three options, integrated, nvidia optimus, and discrete. Nvidia optimus was the currently selected option. I switched it to "discrete" which nominally in the BIOS was the high performance option.

It loaded neither the NVS nor the integrated:

dxdiag:

msinfo32:

Noteworthy is the adapter RAM was not recognized here, but was recognized with the integrated graphics boot on "Optimus."

Also, the integrated didn't register in msinfo32. Whereas when integrated was loaded, msinfo32 recognized both the integrated and the NVS.