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    Preferred graphics processor

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by baine4812, Feb 24, 2011.

  1. baine4812

    baine4812 Notebook Enthusiast

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    In the Nvidia Control Panel under manage 3d settings you can set your preferred graphics processor. If I change this from auto-select to integrated graphics does this mean I am disabling Optimus?

    The system will only use the integrated graphics and won't auto switch anymore?

    Thanks in advance for the replies.
     
    baine4812, Feb 24, 2011
    #1
  2. BranMuffin

    BranMuffin Notebook Consultant

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    no you don't disable optimus you force the decision for optimus. ok think of optimus like a program that decides whether an application needs to use the high powered graphics card or a weaker graphics card. when you select integrated graphics card you decided what card the optimus should run.
     
    BranMuffin, Feb 24, 2011
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  3. cmarcho

    cmarcho Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not into gaming, I bought this to have a stronger 'netbook' sized system.

    Can programs like Photoshop and Lightroom, or Pinnacle video editing use the nvidia card?

    How can you tell if an app is using the nvidia over the integrated?

    is there noticeable switching that occurs or is it undetectable?

    If I never play games, is that nvidia going to waste?
     
    cmarcho, Feb 24, 2011
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  4. MasivB

    MasivB Guest

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    In nVIDIA Control Panel under 'Desktop' tab you can check 'Display GPU Activity Icon in Notification Area' or you can download this if you have an older driver that doesn't support that feature.

    The nVIDIA GPU can be used on a number of different occasions... Here are some examples:
    - H.264 (HD Encoding)
    - Rendering
    - PhotoShop
     
    MasivB, Feb 24, 2011
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  5. baine4812

    baine4812 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Got it. So you are basically forcing it to use the integrated one all the time.
     
    baine4812, Feb 24, 2011
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  6. MasivB

    MasivB Guest

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    Quite the opposite.
     
    MasivB, Feb 24, 2011
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  7. baine4812

    baine4812 Notebook Enthusiast

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    So when you choose the integrated graphics from the drop down. It doesn't force it to use it all the time but rather that it should use this most of the time?

    Whats the difference between this and auto then?
     
    baine4812, Feb 24, 2011
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  8. MasivB

    MasivB Guest

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    K now I am confused.

    What are you trying to use? the HIGH-PERFORMANCE NVIDIA GPU or the INTEGRATED GPU? Speak in the most clear terms possible.
     
    MasivB, Feb 24, 2011
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  9. baine4812

    baine4812 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm just trying to figure out what it means when i set it to something besides auto. does that mean it will only use the integrated graphics if I set it to that and not switch on its own.



     
    baine4812, Feb 25, 2011
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