Optimize Graphics performance? (for VR)

Hi,

I just got Oculus Rift for my Inspiron 15 7577 and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on optimizing the performance (ASIDE FROM GETTING A NEW PC, thanks J ). This is not specifically about the Rift or VR so general advice is appreciated. But just to give some background there is a tool for oculus called "Oculus debug tool," which allows the user to change settings to boost graphics using anti-aliasing and the like. There’s also a performance HUD one can enable to get frame rate and “GPU headroom,” or whatever processing power is remaining, so you don’t overwork your GPU. Well, I tried boosting the graphics just a little bit and turned on the HUD and apparently I only had like 5% GPU headroom (and it would dip periodically into negatives, so I don’t know what that means but seems very bad). Even on base settings I think I only have ~20-25% GPU headroom. This seems odd because they recommend the GTX 960 or better so the 1060 should be substantially better I would think.

So now I’m trying to figure out if there are some ways I can improve this performance. The first thing I can think of, but can’t seem to figure out (and I don’t know if it actually would make a difference), is to somehow turn off the primary display on the laptop..? The tricky part is the laptop doesn’t treat the headset as a second display, so I don’t think I could do it. The VR video is also rendered on the laptop display. So if I turn down the resolution a lot on the laptop should that help? Could it be slowed down because the monitor on the laptop uses the intel graphics, instead of NVIDIA? Any other ideas, or settings I should look at?

I have the headset plugged into HDMI and USB 3.1 A. Should I consider getting an adapter to use the Thunderbolt instead of USB 3.1A, or would that make no difference at all? I feel like if that Thunderbolt port is on the graphics card itself, then it might help to have the headset plugged into those two ports on the same device.   

Also I want to keep my windows 10 but I would consider adding windows 7 as an alternate OS if that could help / if that’s possible…

Thanks!

Edit: Apparently the demand varies greatly depending on what I'm looking at through the headset (makes sense...) so actually my GPU is effectively redlining at pretty much 0% processing headroom at times, even with all graphics settings (that I could find) optimized for performance over quality. Am I destroying my GPU? It is supposed to be VR ready after all...

Also I ordered a "link box" used for HTC Vive that has HDMI in and out and USB 3.1 in and out ports, and plugs into the wall. I'm curious to see if power is the issue, considering it is a laptop and the whole VR system draws at least 2A or something crazy... Link box is arriving today, so I will update if there is a notable performance difference.