XPS 15 9570, Nvidia GPU, two external monitors

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If you want a system that can use the discrete GPU externally, you'll find that on some of the new XPS 17 models and many Alienware models - but it's not the way your XPS 15 9570 is designed.  

The XPS 15 9570 is a software controlled hybrid GPU system - there is no direct link between the nVidia GPU and the display or external display connectors - all video data passes through the Intel GPU on its way to a display device by design.

@ejn63. Thanks for the clarification. I understand what you are saying now. My problem is that when I am connected with external monitors, I am not able to let the Nvidia GPU take over the load when it becomes too much for the integrated GPU. I tried selecting the "High-performance NVIDIA processor" as the preferred graphics processor in the Nvidia control panel, but my system is still throttled by the integrated GPU with the Nvidia GPU being at 0% load in the performance tab on the task manager. Seems a bit of a waste to have a discrete GPU if I am not able to use it.

No, that's not what I'm suggesting.

The system is designed with the Intel GPU being the sole one connected to the internal or external display panels.  The nVidia GPU isn't -- and cannot be made -- a primary GPU;  it is solely a co-processor for the Intel GPU.  It is controlled entirely by the video drivers.

There are systems where there's a hardware (or firmware) switch that allows the selection of the GPU at that level -- the new XPS 17 with the 2000-level GPUs is designed this way, as are many Alienware and other gaming systems, and some Precision mobile workstations.  The XPS system you have is not engineered this way - it is entirely software controlled, and only the Intel GPU connects to the display devices.

The discrete GPU is not disabled other than when you do so by software settings, but neither can it directly send data to your display screen -- it must channel its output through the on-CPU Intel GPU.

@ejn63: I am not sure that I am following you here. Are you claiming that the discrete GPU is disabled when connecting external monitors to the system? If so, that seems like an odd design decision. It is when I connect the laptop to my monitors for my work that I need the dedicated GPU, when I use the laptop on my couch, on battery power, browsing the web I am fine with the integrated GPU.

How hot is the system running at that point?

The nVidia GPU is quite power hungry - and as a result generates a significant amount of heat.  It's not inconceivable that driving two external displays with the active nVidia GPU feeding both would outstrip the system's ability to dissipate heat.  The system will then throttle back to save itself from heat-induced failure.  Just driving one high resolution external monitor could well result in throttling - and if the monitors are displaying different images, push the system right over the edge of what it's designed to do.

Are the applications you're running set to use the nVidia GPU?