Why Laptop is using Integrated Graphics instead of GPU?

Why Is My Laptop Using Integrated Graphics Instead Of The GPU?

Most laptops use integrated graphics instead of the dedicated GPU to conserve battery life. Outdated graphic drivers and BIOS are the likely causes of this issue.

 

Common Causes

• Conserve Battery Life
• Outdated Graphics Devices
• Outdated Windows OS
• Windows Graphics Settings
• Disable Dedicated GPU in BIOS
• Outdated BIOS
• Dedicated GPU Not Selected
• Some Services are Stopped

 

Conserve Battery Life

The most common reason why your laptop is using integrated graphics instead of the GPU is that it is trying to save power. As integrated graphics utilize less amount of energy compared to dedicated ones, your laptop will use integrated graphics until you are performing more demanding tasks, such as gaming.

 

Outdated Graphics Devices

It is a possibility that your laptop is unable to detect your dedicated GPU. This problem will occur if you are trying to use your graphic card with outdated drivers. Mostly, your laptop downloads necessary drivers automatically. But sometimes, you need to download them manually for proper functioning.

 

Outdated Windows OS

Have you recently booted the windows operating system on your laptop? If so, you need to update your windows OS to ensure everything works flawlessly. If your device has an outdated operating system, it might not have enough components to detect your dedicated GPU.

 

Windows Graphics Settings

Windows laptops come with different graphic settings. You can alter these settings according to your needs and preferences. In power saving setting, windows use integrated graphics to conserve battery life.

Alternatively, if you are performing high-end tasks, your computer will select a high-performance graphics setting. You can change your laptop’s graphic preferences to make sure your device uses a dedicated GPU for certain apps.

 

Disabled Dedicated GPU in BIOS

Another possibility is that you have disabled a dedicated GPU in the BIOS. If that’s the case, your laptop won’t be able to detect your GPU at all. This will probably happen if you have recently inserted a dedicated graphics card into your laptop.

 

Outdated BIOS

While the operating system allows you to use multiple applications and software, BIOS makes sure all the hardware components are working properly. If your BIOS is outdated, your motherboard won’t provide enough support for new hardware, such as a dedicated GPU.

 

Dedicated GPU Not Selected

It might seem like a silly reason, but are you sure you have selected a dedicated GPU? As mentioned earlier, the laptop uses integrated graphics to conserve battery life. So, if you let your laptop decide, it will certainly prefer integrated graphics over a dedicated one.

 

Some Services are Stopped

Moreover, your computer might not be using a dedicated GPU because some important services are stopped in the backend. This will happen if you try to customize your graphics settings and turn off some important services by mistake. In that scenario, your device won’t work properly until those services are running properly.

 

How Do I Use My Dedicated GPUInstead Of Integrated Intel Graphics?

If you want, you can select a dedicated as your preferred device by changing graphic settings. Moreover, you can also make sure everything is up to date and in working condition.

 

Change Graphics Settings

1. Right-click on the desktop
2. Navigate to “Display Settings”
3. Scroll down and select “Graphics Settings”
4. Click on “Browse”
5. Select a program that should use a dedicated GPU
6. Click on “High-Performance” settings
7. Select “Save”
8. Restart your laptop

 

Update BIOS

Your laptop’s BIOS must be up-to-date to ensure all the hardware work properly. As there are various laptop manufacturers out there, and no two are the same, you need to visit the motherboard manufacturer’s website to download the latest version of BIOS.

It’s noteworthy to mention here that incorrect BIOS can lead to some serious issues. So, it would be best to avoid third-party websites to download the latest BIOS version.

 

On the motherboard manufacturer’s website, you’ll find all the necessary information to download the latest BIOS version.

 

Update Windows OS

1. Press the “Windows key, and I key” to open the settings
2. Find and select the “Update & Security” option
3. Go to “Windows Update”
4. Select the “Check for Updates” option
5. Install all the important updates
6. Restart your computer

 

Update Graphic Driver

Sometimes, all you need to do is update the graphic drivers on your laptop. Up-to-date drivers make sure your devices are working properly. When it comes to updated graphic drivers, you have multiple options.

 

Use Device Manager

1. Open “Search Bar”
2. Type “Device Manager”
3. Find ‘Display Adapter”
4. Right-click on it
5. Select “Update Drivers”
6. Click on “Search Automatically for Drivers”
7. Install the “Up-to-Date Drivers”
8. Restart your computer

 

Manually Update Graphic Drivers

1. Find the graphics card model
2. Go to the manufacturer’s website
3. Find compatible drivers for your GPU
4. Download the latest version of graphic drivers
5. Install the drivers and restart your laptop

 

Automatically Update Graphic Drivers

1. Download a third-party software like Driver Easy
2. Run the software
3. Click on “Scan Now”
4. Select the “Update All” option
5. Restart your laptop

 

Run the GPU Services

If you are using an NVIDIA graphics card, the issue might be caused by some stopped services. These services include NVIDIA Update Service Daemon and NVIDIA Driver Helper Service. In that scenario, re-run these services to solve the issue.

 

1. Open “Task Manager”
2. Go to the “Services” tab
3. Find “NVIDIA Driver Helper Service”
4. Right-click on it
5. Go to “Properties”
6. Click on “Start”
7. Select the “Start-Up Time” option
8. Click on “Automatic”
9. Do the same for “NVIDIA Update Service Daemon”
10. Restart your laptop

 

How to manually delect dedicated GPU

To manually select a dedicated AMD GPU, you need to right click on the desktop and choose AMD settings. Then select the High Performance setting in the System tab.

 

Dedicated AMD GPU

1. Right-click on desktop
2. Navigate to “AMD Settings”
3. Click on the “System” tab
4. Choose the “Switchable Graphics” option
5. Select any program
6. Choose “High Performance” settings
7. Run that program again

 

Dedicated NVIDIA GPU

1. Right-click on desktop
2. Go to “NVIDIA Control Panel”
3. Select the “Manage 3D Setting” option from the left panel
4. Click on “Program Settings”
5. Look for the “Select the Program to Customize” option
6. Click on “Add”
7. Select “Browse”
8. Find the program you want to run on the NVIDIA graphics card
9. Click “Open”
10. Navigate to “Select the preferred Graphics for this Program”
11. Click on “High-Performance NVIDIA GPU”
12. Select “Apply”
13. Restart your laptop
14. Afterward, select “Set PhysX Configurations” from the left panel
15. Select your GPU
16. Click on “Apply”

 

 

Enable GPU in BIOS

1. Power OFF your laptop
2. Restart it into the BIOS
3. Select the “Chipset” settings
4. Find your Dedicated GPU configurations
5. Click on your dedicated GPU
6. Enable it
7. Restart your laptop again

 

Why Is My Laptop Using Integrated Graphics Instead Of NVIDIA?

Your laptop might be using integrated graphics instead of NVIDIAjust to save power. Furthermore, it might be because you haven’t enabled NVIDIA GPU on your laptop.

 

How to Fix It:

1. Update BIOS
2. Update Windows OS
3. Update Graphic Drivers
4. Enable NVIDIA graphics in BIOS
5. Select “High-Performance” settings for certain apps

 

Why Is My GPUNot Being Detected?

If you are using an outdated BIOS version or your dedicated GPU is not enabled in BIOS, your computer won’t be able to detect your GPU.

 

How to Fix It:

1. Make sure the GPU is in working condition
2. Update the BIOS
3. Enable GPU in BIOS
4. Update the operating system
5. Update graphics drivers

 

How Do I Make My Laptop Use My NVIDIADedicated Graphics Card?

To make your laptop use NVIDIA dedicated GPU instead of an integrated one, you’ll need to update the BIOS and select “High-Performance” graphics settings.

 

How to Fix It:

1. Update the BIOS
2. Enable NVIDIA GPU in BIOS
3. Select NVIDIA GPU for certain Apps

 

Select NVIDIA GPU

1. Right-click on desktop
2. Go to “NVIDIA Control Panel”
3. Select the “Manage 3D Setting” option from the left panel
4. Click on “Program Settings”
5. Look for the “Select the Program to Customize” option
6. Click on “Add”
7. Select “Browse”
8. Find the program you want to run on the NVIDIA graphics card
9. Click “Open”
10. Navigate to “Select the preferred Graphics for this Program”
11. Click on “High-Performance NVIDIA GPU”
12. Select “Apply”
13. Restart your laptop
14. Afterward, select “Set PhysX Configurations” from the left panel
15. Select your GPU
16. Click on “Apply”

 

Which Is Better, Dedicated Or Integrated Graphics Card?

A dedicated GPU is, of course, a better option when it comes to performance. However, if you want to conserve the laptop’s battery life, integrated graphics are a better pick.

 

The main difference between a dedicated GPU and an integrated one is that the integrated GPU does not have its own RAM and processor. So, it uses your computer’s RAM and CPU resources to perform different tasks.

As your integrated CPU is using the computer’s resources, the integrated GPU uses the processing power of your entire machine, making it unstable for video games and high-end tasks. Alternatively, a dedicated GPU comes with its own cooling system, RAM, and processor, giving even more power to your machine.

 

If I Have A Graphics Card, Do I Need A CPU With Integrated Graphics?

No, if you have a graphics card, you don’t need an integrated graphics card on your CPU.Moreover, if your CPU comes with an in-built GPU, you don’t have to get an integrated one.

 

The main purpose of integrated graphics is to run intensive tasks such as video editing and gaming. So, if you are performing high-end tasks on your laptop without a dedicated GPU, you do need integrated graphics.

However, keep in mind that integrated graphics utilize your computer’s resources, such as processor and RAM, reducing the overall performance of your machine. Therefore, it is recommended to use a dedicated GPU instead of integrated graphics for better performance.

 

How To Use Dedicated GPU On Laptop AMD?

If your laptop has a dedicated AMD GPU, you can enable it from the setting to ensure some applications use only the dedicated graphics card.

 

1. Right-click on desktop
2. Navigate to “AMD Settings”
3. Click on the “System” tab
4. Choose the “Switchable Graphics” option
5. Select any program
6. Choose “High Performance” settings
7. Run that program again

 

How To Use Dedicated GPU On Laptop NVIDIA?

You can use your NVIDIA dedicated graphics card on your laptop by changing the graphics setting to ensure some apps only use the dedicated GPU for better performance.

 

1. Right-click on desktop
2. Go to “NVIDIA Control Panel”
3. Select the “Manage 3D Setting” option from the left panel
4. Click on “Program Settings”
5. Look for the “Select the Program to Customize” option
6. Click on “Add”
7. Select “Browse”
8. Find the program you want to run on the NVIDIA graphics card
9. Click “Open”
10. Navigate to “Select the preferred Graphics for this Program”
11. Click on “High-Performance NVIDIA GPU”
12. Select “Apply”
13. Restart your laptop
14. Afterward, select “Set PhysX Configurations” from the left panel
15. Select your GPU
16. Click on “Apply”