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March 29th, 2023 10:00
Force DWM.exe & Windows processes to use discrete GPU? Precision 5560 SLOW & unresponsive
I have a Dell Precision 5560 for work use which has an Intel UHD Graphics integrated GPU ("GPU 0") and also a NVidia RTX A2000 discrete GPU ("GPU 1"), and I've been having issues with the laptop being incredibly unresponsive and slow at times. It feels like an old Celeron processor running Windows 98 instead of an 11th gen Intel CPU laptop running Windows 11 with a usable RTX card. To the point that I don’t understand how this laptop is so expensive and supposedly high-specced for a business laptop – other laptops with similar CPU and RAM absolutely wipe the floor with it in terms of responsiveness in Windows UI and general work app usage.
I've tried a tonne of things to fix this over five months, I've done all the standard stuff like updated drivers, all Windows updates, optional Windows/driver updates, Dell SupportAssist app updates, and making sure the general laptop power settings are set to Performance instead of Balanced etc. Nothing has helped. There is no relevant BIOS setting for this laptop to switch GPUs. I've read other users having similar issues with Dell Precision laptops and laptops from other manufacturers who have had parts replaced and still faced the same issues, so I don't believe it's a hardware issue with my specific laptop. After reading up about the Precision 5560 model, it seems all graphics used on the laptop are funneled through the integrated graphics rather than having a separate route directly to the Nvidia GPU - hence no hardware switch. Despite that fact, the NVidia GPU having 0% usage in anything outside of a full-screen 3D app didn't seem right to me, because the GPU should still be able to be used even if it's funneled through the integrated graphics channel.
Today I remembered you can see which GPU is being called by apps and services in Task Manager. I found that when this happens at its worst, it seems to be because programs and services are calling the integrated GPU 0 in Task Manager resulting in a medium to very high % usage for GPU 0, meanwhile my CPU usage is low and % usage for the discrete GPU 1 is zero. In fact, GPU 1 never seemed to be called for anything while watching Task Manager.
I also today realised that the NVidia Control Panel settings for setting the preference of which GPU the laptop should use are pretty useless. I had set all the presets and app settings in that panel section to use the NVidia GPU but it seems they just get overwritten or overruled by Windows settings in Windows 11 pushing them back to using the integrated graphics instead. I found proof of this in Task Manager by the processes still calling GPU 0 after setting them otherwise in the NVidia Control Panel.
So I went into the Graphics Settings in Windows 11 and manually added as many system exes and Windows apps to the list of "Custom Options for apps" there, manually setting them all to High Performance to use discrete GPU 1 instead of integrated 0. Even a few apps which the settings menu said Windows recommended keeping on integrated graphics. I used Task Manager to find which processes were making calls to GPU 0 then used "Open file location", "Go to details" or "Search online" in Task Manager right-click menu to find out what the relevant .exe filename was for that process and where it was, before manually adding it in the Windows Graphics Settings options. Annoyingly for some apps I'd add the app settings then run the app and find it was still calling GPU 0 because the app actually had another exe process which needed to be individually added as well, making the process LONG. After adding them, I had to restart the app or in some cases reboot the laptop to be able to detect a change in the process now calling GPU 1 in Task Manager.
The above actually worked for a bunch of apps and processes which suddenly had significantly better responsiveness and were calling GPU 1 in Task Manager. I also noticed after doing this that I didn't get as many random instances of my laptop fan going crazy when doing very little (by 2023 standards) anymore, the fan seemed to be used less possibly indicating better thermals in the laptop by shifting some of the work to GPU 1 instead of GPU 0 handling it all. It's an absolute pain in the backside having to go these lengths just to get individual apps running better but this is the single thing I've found that helps.
But this didn't work for core Windows system processes or the general feel of the Windows UI as a whole - the Windows core processes and services still called GPU 0 despite being set to High Performance in Windows Graphics Settings.
One of the main processes which still seemed to be hogging a high %age of GPU 0 usage and slowing down the system is dwm.exe - Desktop Window Manager. Which I believe seems to handle the position of all windows on screen at any time - their location, movement and interaction with each other. So in other words, probably the most graphically intensive Windows system process which is constantly running in the Windows UI.
By using Task Manager to go to the process details of dwm.exe, I also noticed the "Username" column for dwm.exe is different from everything else. Instead of having the username of my admin login, it has it's own username of "DWM-1". In fact, all the apps, services and processes I had been able to successfully change to use GPU 1 in the Windows Graphics Settings were all listed under the "Username" of my own admin login name. Yet, all the apps where changing that setting had failed and was still somehow being overridden to use GPU 0 elsewhere, either had the username "SYSTEM" or "DWM-1". This would explain why adding dwm.exe and other core Windows processes to the Graphics Settings custom options didn't work - because they were being overridden by higher level "SYSTEM" domain settings forced by Windows.
So my question is - does anyone know how to get into the domain properties of "SYSTEM" or even just "DWM-1" to be able to set the GPU priority settings of those specific processes within those domains? Is that even possible? It seems like the only way to truly force discrete GPU usage for all apps and UI at a driver/software level instead of needing a hardware switch.
I would be happy to accept partial defeat and compromise if I can just get into DWM-1 and make dwm.exe use GPU 1 instead of GPU 0, and leave the SYSTEM processes alone.
Side note - I also went into the Nvidia Control Panel options and set the Power Management Mode for all presets and app settings to "Performance Preferred" wherever possible, to make sure that wasn't bottlenecking the system. While this didn't fix any performance issues by itself, it did seem to fix a minor glitch I had within Edge browser after setting msedge.exe and msedgewebview2.exe to High Performance in Windows Graphics Settings.
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DELL-Cares
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March 30th, 2023 03:00
Thank you! We have received the required details. We will work towards a resolution. In the meantime, you may also receive assistance or suggestions from the community members.
gksmithlcw
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June 2nd, 2023 12:00
Hello, is there any update here? I am able to disable the onboard Intel graphics in Device Manager to force the system to use the Nvidia GPU but then I lose all connectivity to my external displays through my docking station.
kalfy
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June 4th, 2023 06:00
Hi, no update unfortunately. It's definitely not solved. I hadn't thought of disabling the integrated graphics directly in Device Manager - I thought that would be too risky given that everything is driven through it as there's no hardware switch. Which is exactly why you won't be able to get external displays to work if you disable it. Are you using the same model of laptop? Precision 5560? Has it made your system more responsive and improved performance when you disable the integrated graphics in Task Manager?
Autodidactic
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June 6th, 2023 10:00
RTC / CMOS corruption may be preventing your Dell Precision 5560 from correctly recognizing its GPUs.
The following procedure is supported by the Precision 5560:
"The Real-Time Clock (RTC) reset function allows you or a Dell service technician to recover a Dell Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, Vostro, Alienware, or XPS laptop from a no power, no POST, or no video issue.
The RTC reset resets the BIOS to factory default settings, reset the computer date and time, and unprovision Intel vPro (The IT administrator’s vPro account and password on the computer is unprovisioned, and you must complete the setup and configuration process again to connect it to the vPro server)."
How to Reset the Real-Time Clock (RTC)
Turn off the computer.
Connect the AC adapter to the computer.
Press and hold the power button (around 30-35 seconds), until the power LED blinks three times.
Release the power button.
The RTC reset is complete after the power button is released.
Note: Real-Time Clock (RTC) reset is available on select Dell Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, Vostro, and XPS laptops only. See the list of Dell laptops that support RTC reset below.
Note: If the AC adapter is disconnected from the laptop during the process or the power button is held less than 25 seconds or longer than 40 seconds, the RTC reset process is aborted.
If your Dell laptop is still not able to boot into the operating system, see the Dell knowledge base article:"
How to Reset Real Time Clock (RTC) to Recover Your Dell Laptop | Dell Canada
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-ca/000125880/how-to-reset-real-time-clock-rtc-to-recover-your-dell-portable-system
Autodidactic
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June 6th, 2023 10:00
With a confused mess like this, I'd just do a clean OS install to a drive with a home partition that would ease the burden of doing future OS installs.
I'd also first double-check the notebook's hardware by booting into a Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon.iso (live install) for a performance comparison.
kalfy
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June 11th, 2023 13:00
I feel like you're also misunderstanding the problem. It has nothing to do with the laptop "recognizing" GPUs. The recognition of GPUs is working as intended. It's the terrible performance and design of a multi-GPU switch-less architecture that is the problem, where practically everything is intentionally designed to go through the integrated graphics instead of the dedicated graphics.
kalfy
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June 11th, 2023 13:00
My laptop is a work device so I can't partition the drive and not only can I not install Linux for the same reason, it's a bizarre suggestion to install Linux in order to debug, compare or otherwise troubleshoot a Windows issue. You cannot be serious that any customer would be expected to do that.
DELL-Cares
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June 12th, 2023 08:00
To ensure the privacy of your information, we recommend removing your Service tag from your tweets. Instead, please send us a direct message, and we will be happy to assist you in resolving your computer issue.
Autodidactic
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June 12th, 2023 08:00
I didn't message any of Dell's agents.
Autodidactic
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June 12th, 2023 08:00
I never mentioned anything about installing Linux. Please re-read my post.
The "Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon.iso (live install)" I referred to literally allows one to boot a PC into the Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon desktop without altering a PC's internal / Windows drive.
The aim of doing this is to acquire a 'second opinion' as to the functioning of a PC's hardware as part of a process-of-elimination approach to trouble-shooting.
All of the suggestions I've offered in this and other threads in this forum are based upon research compounded by Dell's comprehensive online and downloadable documentation tempered by my own self-taught trouble-shooting experience.
To be quite clear, I am not an agent of Dell Computers.
DELL-Cares
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June 12th, 2023 08:00
Thank you for messaging us. To ensure the privacy of your information, we recommend that you continue chatting with us through direct message. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Autodidactic
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June 12th, 2023 08:00
You say that your Precision 5560 is is a work device. So, have your system administrator back up your important files, give drive C a fresh GPT partition map followed by a clean install of Windows.
Then get your '5560's graphics system working before spending time installing anything else beyond Windows updates.
Doing this will rid your machine of its current software morass and serve as another process-of-elimination troubleshooting step.
Autodidactic
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June 12th, 2023 09:00
My notebook's Service tag is not included in my posts.
Please read a thread before responding to it with non sequiturs.
Thank you.
DELL-Cares
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June 12th, 2023 09:00
We apologize for the inconvenience caused. We request you to send us direct message, and we will be happy to assist you in resolving your computer issue. Thank you!
kalfy
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June 12th, 2023 12:00
I get your point but your suggestion of troubleshooting my problem by suggesting I learn how to use Linux for the first time in my life and run diagnostics in a Linux environment I've never touched before is a bit, frankly, bonkers. Besides, there are no indications of it being a hardware problem. At no point in my post have I suggested it's possibly a hardware issue. I will say it again - it is an issue with the DESIGN of this laptop and the software implementation of that design, overlapping with how the intended design of Windows manages multi-GPU designs compounding the issue. I've also seen a tonne of other people complaining about the performance of this and very similar Dell models, so I know the laptop itself is crippled by poor design choices rather than problems with individual pieces of hardware in my specific laptop.
The problems also started from day one of a fresh install. I've actually had two fresh installs of the device already. And with it being a work device I have installed a minimal of apps and drivers since using the device, so it's not bloated.
The post is specifically about whether it's possible to force DWM.exe to use a different graphics card or whether anyone has come across a similar workaround/fix to this specific problem. It's specifically about the driver and OS implementation of the lack of hardware switch in the laptop. I appreciate your attempt to help but I don't feel like you're actually reading my posts and questions and instead you're just throwing the modern equivalent of "turn it off and turn it back on again" IT troubleshooting for far more generic issues, which is not what I'm asking for. The irony being you're nit-picking my response to you over wording yet you haven't paid attention to any of my actual points and questions in my original post. Thanks.