How to Make My XPS 8930 with Installed Nvidia Card Use ONLY the Nvidia

Question

How do I insure my PC is using the Nvidia graphics card? I use Photoshop (2026) and I believe it has been using the Nvidia card up to now, but since there's a new Windows 11 version (25H2) and new Photoshop version (2026), I want to make sure it continues to use Nvidia.

According to Adobe, there is no way within the app to make Photoshop use a specific card when 2 are installed.

I read some PCs have a secondary graphics card port that is for added cards, but looking at the back of my PC, I think there is only one port for the graphics card. I read that just having one port means it will typically use the default card instead of the Nvidia.

My PC is as follows:

XPS 8930 Special Edition Desktop

PROCESSOR: 9th Gen Intel Core i9 9900K (8-core/16-thread, 16MB cache, overclocked up to 4.7GHz on all cores)

RAM: 64GB, DDR4, 2666MHz
GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB GDDR6
GRAPHICS CARD: Intel UHD Graphics Card 630
HARD DRIVES: 1TB PCIe x4 SSD + 2TB 7200RPM HDD
WIFI/BLUETOOTH: Killer AX1650 (2x2) built on Intel WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0 Driver

I'm on Windows 11 Home (not yet on the 25H2 because I'm concerned about graphics card issues).

I'm not at all technical when it comes to hardware, etc., so hopefully any answers will reflect that.

Thanks!

redxps630 · Accepted Answer

If your monitor is not connected to the pc’s back panel video port, you are not using the integrated intel UHD.

your monitor in that case is connected to the RTX2070 video port and using Nvidia gpu.

you don’t need to turn off UHD to use Nvidia. PC auto detects whether there is monitor connected to video port.

when there is no monitor connected to back panel, UHD is not being used but doesn’t mean it is off. It is ready to be used but inactive until you hook a monitor to it.

some user for example have multiple monitors some connected to UHD other to Nvidia. I used to connect low end monitor to UHD and high end to Nvidia. I play advanced video app on high end monitor and write email on low end monitor (the fonts on high res monitor are too small)

redxps630 · Accepted Answer

Even an inactive gpu consumes a little bit cpu to keep an eye on its state of affairs, but if you use HWmonitor you can find out actually how much each gpu is being used when you run a video app.

SueLWR · Answer

UPDATE: I was wrong - my Dell DOES have a second port. I plugged my monitor into that one (lower on the tower and horizontal instead of vertical). Now, how do I confirm that my PC is NOT ever using the default Intel UHD Graphics Card 630 (or IS using the Nvidia)? When I look in Task Manager's Performance tab, it looks like BOTH are being used simultaneously. I do have the Nvidia control panel set to use Nvidia for Adobe apps.

Is it advised (or not) to turn off the UHD card altogether?

Thank you!

SueLWR · Answer

@redxps630​ Thank you.  I don't understand, then, why when I look at the Task Bar Performance Tab for the video cards, they both show activity.

SueLWR · Answer

@redxps630​ Thank you for the clarification!

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How to Make My XPS 8930 with Installed Nvidia Card Use ONLY the Nvidia

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