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    l502x - multiple displays - which is 540 driving?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by M1000000, Jul 8, 2011.

  1. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have my desktop extended over 3 displays - MDP out to 24 inch monitor and HDMI out to an old 1280x1024 panel (though an adapter).

    When I check Nvidia control panel / set up multiple displays it only associates GT 540M card with the laptop display - the external displays are both under Intel HD Graphics.

    Does this mean that anything I run in the MDP/HDMI monitors is driven only by the integrated graphics?

    If so can I not play a game on my external 24 inch through the MDP/HDMI ports using the 540M?

    Confused. Thanks for any tips.
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  2. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    No you can play using the GPU through any ports. The Intel graphics does all the outputting anyway to your built-in screen regardless of GPU. But as far as I know, at the very least the HDMI is hard-wired to the NVidia card, at least it is on my l702x. Meaning you HAVE to be using the NVidia if you are running HDMI screen. I doubt the 502x is any different in this regard.
     
    madmattd, Jul 8, 2011
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  3. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Matt - have swapped my 24 inch to HDMI and does run through nvidia when fired up a game. Great.

    The nvidia gpu usage shows the HDMI out in use but not the MDP as you suggest.

    It also shows Dell Mobile Broadband manager as an app using 540M - why on earth would a background task like this need the nvidia?

    Maybe this explains my constant fan running...
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  4. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    One more question for the pot.

    The driver for my laptop display is listed as "generic PnP monitor" - is this correct or am I missing a dell display driver here?

    Thanks again, M
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  5. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    That sounds right. If you have both the NVidia and Intel Graphics control panels, then you have it all. Don't worry!

    Well I would suggest going into the NVidia control panel and adding a program-specific override for that app to use Intel only. That will help you out, and get you more battery life along the way!

    To answer why, well, Optimus isn't perfect at auto-detecting. It is usually spot-on, but it misses now and then. For example, I was trying to play Alien Swarm (free Steam game) one day on this system and was getting horrible fps, maybe 15-20 average. I saw no way it should be that bad. Well, I forced it to use the NVidia card, and voila. I turned all the settings to the max on FHD and run a nice 60+fps almost always!
     
    madmattd, Jul 8, 2011
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  6. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    cool - thanks for the advice
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  7. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hmm - I'm only getting 25fps in Team Fortress 2 which aint good.

    Checked Nvidia GPU activity and it shows HL.exe - TF2 as running through it so not sure what else to do ...

    I am playing in windowed mode though as full screen seems to default to laptop display and can't work out how to run fs on external...
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  8. M1000000

    M1000000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Designated external as main monitor - launched TF in full screen mode and getting 100-200 fps now :)
     
    M1000000, Jul 8, 2011
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  9. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    I was going to say...my 702x annihilates TF2 and I have some AA and filtering on...granted I have the 555m, but it's more of a CPU game anyway...glad you got it working.
     
    madmattd, Jul 8, 2011
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