Monitor Caliberation with Nvidia Optimus and other issues

I want to use the Nvidia GT555 M for everything and turn off the built in Intel HD GPU in the i7-2720QM. Googled quite a bit, but couldn't find anything.

My next option was to configure the 3D settings in Nvidia to specify the NVidia GT 555M to be used for select apps (Adobe suite). But honestly I am not sure if that will do it or whether it will work only on 3D aspects of those apps.

If anyone knows of another better way of specifying which apps use which GPU (or turn off/move lower on priority the Intel Graphics altogether), please let me know.

Another related question:
How can I:
1. Calibrate multiple monitors on the laptop - one built in and the other one connected through HDMI (My understanding is that the HDMI connected monitor will always use the NVidia, let me know if I am wrong)

2. Specify separate ICC profiles for Nvidia and the Intel HD Graphics (at least for the HDMI monitor).

3. Make sure that Adobe suite uses Nvidia on the HDMI attached monitoring for both processing as well rendering (and not just the rendering)

This whole multi-gpu thing is turning out to be very confusing and is a huge hassle than being any help. Color me dumb, but I'm sure I am not alone!

Please help....

 

45 views and no one?

If this already covered elsewhere, do please point me to it.

Thanks.

 

If in the NVidia control panel under the 3D settings tab you set the programs you want to always use the NVidia card to use that card, it will. It has nothing to do with 3D or not, they just put the setting there since that is where you can override on a program-by-program basis what settings are used for each program. If you don't care about the extra fan noise and lowered battery life, you can also set the system default to use the NVidia.

Note that you can't actually turn off the Intel graphics on an Optimus system. The display is actually wired to the Intel graphics, but when the NVidia card is requested, the NVidia does all the work and just shoves the result to the Intel graphics to actually display.

The HDMI port is hardwired to the NVidia card, so you will always be using the NVidia if displaying through HDMI. Or just set Adobe to always use the 555m if you want to be sure. Then it won't matter what screen you use.

As for color calibration, I haven't done that so I can't help you there. Maybe check out the threads on the l701x/l702x screen replacements and color calibrations, there are a couple floating around.

The Optimus really isn't that bad. It does a decent job of auto-detecting and it is easy to override in the NVidia Control Panel if it goofs.

 

Thanks Matt. That helps.

If the nvidia uses the Intel Graphics buffer for rendering on the laptop screen, then looks like the laptop display will always use the one specified regardless of which card does the work. If so, then that's good news.

Now I just need to figure out how to specify a separate color profile for the monitor on the HDMI port as that seems to bypass the Intel Graphics altogether and will need a separate profile.

BTW, if anyone's interested, I used i1 Display 2 and the results were awesome. The blue tint is almost gone and colors look much more real. Amazon has this for $125 and there's a $25 rebate (not listed on Amazon but you can find it elsewhere) that's good through August I think!

I will look up the panel swap threads to see if I can find something on a separate profile for the HDMI port...but in the meantime if anyone has any info/pointers, it would be great!

Thanks.