Disabling Integrated Graphics card?

The system will not function with the Intel GPU disabled - the nVidia GPU is not a true discrete video chip - it is a co-processor.  Only the Intel GPU has a connection to the display screen - all video data passes through it on its way to the display, so there is no way to disable it and have a functional system.

Check with the publisher of the game for its recommendations on settings for hybrid video -- not all games will work with a hybrid setup.

There are two ways to implement nVIdia's Optimus technology (and AMD's Catalyst as well).  One is with a true hardware multiplexer that allows hardware control of which GPU is active.  The other is with a mux-less software-switched design where only the Intel GPU has a physical connection to the display panel. The vast majority of systems are designed this way - as is yours.  It's a much more power-efficient way to run the system, but it is also demanding from a software (driver) standpoint as well.

Yes, this is why your Intel GPU always shows primary - it channels all video data to the screen. 

The nVIdia GPU should work for the internal display as well as the external - as mentioned before, check with the game publisher on recommended settings for hybrid video.

Bottom line:  no, the nVidia GPU cannot be used standalone with the internal screen.

There are two ways to implement nVIdia's Optimus technology (and AMD's Catalyst as well).  One is with a true hardware multiplexer that allows hardware control of which GPU is active.  The other is with a mux-less software-switched design where only the Intel GPU has a physical connection to the display panel. The vast majority of systems are designed this way - as is yours.  It's a much more power-efficient way to run the system, but it is also demanding from a software (driver) standpoint as well. Yes, this is why your Intel GPU always shows primary - it channels all video data to the screen.

Thanks for the clarification.

So basically I cannot play those 2 games without the use of a 2nd monitor, because technically that's the only "physical" connection that can be established directly to the Nvidia GPU, and thus the only way to disable the Intel GPU while losing my main display alongside?

The nVIdia GPU should work for the internal display as well as the external - as mentioned before, check with the game publisher on recommended settings for hybrid video.

Games don't make special requirements nor any different settings for hybrid setup as you say, so I don't see your point here? I was promised that having two GPUs was for the better, one to save power while the other to be used while gaming.

This does not seem to be the case, the Intel GPU in this case limits the capability of the Nvidia GPU while using my laptop's display, this has nothing to do with the game's specs nor recommended settings, since my laptop is fully capable of running the game (according to their requirements) WITHOUT the integrated Intel GPU, and since that isn't an option, I am not satisfied with this product.

Bottom line:  no, the nVidia GPU cannot be used standalone with the internal screen.

Thanks, this confirms my doubts and clarifies any misconceptions.

There are plenty of games that either don't work at all - or that require updates or upgrades - to work with hybrid video.  There are others that require specific settings be used.  The Intel GPU has nothing to do with the game if you've selected the nVidia GPU with the control panel - AND the game supports the hybrid video setup.

If you need a true, dedicated GPU these days, you need a high-end gaming notebook.  The vast majority of systems priced under $2,000 have software-based hybrid video -- doesn't matter if it's a Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, etc. - they are all similar in design.  There are some business-class hybrid setups (Latitude, Thinkpad, etc.) that DO have hardware switching -  but those are not designed for gaming so much as for operating demanding applications like Adobe's creative suite.

It you haven't checked with the game's publisher, you should indeed do that - there are indeed often settings that need to be changed to make certain games run with a software-based hybrid video setup.  The technology is only a few years old - and support for it is far from universal in the gaming world.

As mentioned in my previous post, did you try setting the 3D settings as per the application/globally?

This can enable you to use the high performance nVidia graphics alone for the game or as the default graphics card.

As mentioned in my previous post, did you try setting the 3D settings as per the application/globally? This can enable you to use the high performance nVidia graphics alone for the game or as the default graphics card.

Yes, I have as I already replied before. Thanks

Hi,

I also have a dell xps 15 laptop and am curious about this dual graphics card dilemma here.. what is the conclusion? I have an nvidia geforce 630M and an intel integrated graphics card. Are games I play (like league of legends) only running through my inferior integrated card? How do I know if they are hybridizing correctly and I am getting everything out of my nicer nvidia card?

Thank you 

Hi, and thanks for reading if you've got this far!!!

Grateful to the OP - this could yield a feasible workaround for a showstopper, re webgl not available for dell users with discrete nvidia gfx...

when I run chrome:gpu I find lots of problems reported - because, like the game mentioned by the OP in this thread, it's detecting the embedded Intel HD Graphics card.

Driver Bug Workarounds

• clear_uniforms_before_first_program_use
• disable_d3d11
• exit_on_context_lost
• scalarize_vec_and_mat_constructor_args
• texsubimage2d_faster_than_teximage2d

Problems Detected

• Accelerated video decode interferes with GPU sandbox on older Intel drivers: 180695
  Disabled Features: accelerated_video_decode
• GPU rasterization is blacklisted on non-Android: 362779
  Disabled Features: gpu_rasterization
• Some drivers are unable to reset the D3D device in the GPU process sandbox
  Applied Workarounds: exit_on_context_lost
• TexSubImage2D() is faster for full uploads on ANGLE
  Applied Workarounds: texsubimage2d_faster_than_teximage2d
• Clear uniforms before first program use on all platforms: 124764, 349137
  Applied Workarounds: clear_uniforms_before_first_program_use
• Using D3D11 causes browser crashes on certain Intel GPUs: 310808
  Applied Workarounds: disable_d3d11
• Always rewrite vec/mat constructors to be consistent: 398694
  Applied Workarounds: scalarize_vec_and_mat_constructor_args
• Raster is using a single thread.
  Disabled Features: multiple_raster_threads

Does this mean that we can use WebGL with NVIDIA's 2GB memory and dedicated GFX technology if running chrome on an extended display?

I really just want stability. I'm trying to make it so my PC never crashes - I hate losing time, thoughts, and data.

My tests -

 - running aquarium and stagecubes (as discussed on this great page)

 - checking the unmasked rendererer at the bottom of the webgl report (as discussed here)

Tried lots of chrome flags and switches... nothing works. 

**Even when NVIDIA GPU activity indicates chrome is running with high-performance NVIDIA, the chrome:gpu confirms it's seeing the embedded-intel gfx (like the OP mentioned when using laptop-screen)...

Is this just me, or is this for everyone with the dell l502x? 

***

Failed Optimus example of unmasked renderer:

Unmasked Renderer: ANGLE (Intel(R) HD Graphics Family Direct3D9Ex vs_3_0 ps_3_0)

questions

1) Is this normal?

(ie "design flaw", as oppose to a bug that only some folks are having that makes chrome see intel's gpu, not nvidia's, despite optimus running with nvidia) 

2) are there any workarounds? 

(including run on another monitor, change browser version, get a dedicated gfx card?)

1.  Yes, it's normal.  All video data passes through the Intel GPU on its way to the display, even if it has been processed by the Intel GPU.

2.  No, there is no way around this.  It's a hardware design feature - there are two ways to design hybrid video.  

One has a hardware switch and the other uses software.  Your system uses software-controlled hybrid video - it cannot be altered by hardware.