IN this document contains information for select HP notebooks with dual Intel and AMD graphics.

Notebooks that support the video card switching function are always equipped with two GPUs(GPU): built-in energy-saving processor and high-performance discrete processor. Computers with a power-saving Intel GPU and a high-performance ATI GPU combine the benefits of a power-saving embedded processor with the high performance of a discrete processor. This document describes the difference between dynamic and fixed video card switching control modes and how to use and configure video card switching in computers with two graphics cards. Intel processors and ATI.

Dynamic and fixed video card switching control modes

Depending on the model, HP PCs with Intel and ATI graphics switching feature support one of two modes: Dynamic control mode or Fixed control mode. Early models supported Fixed Control Mode, while recent models support Dynamic Control Mode. The use of fixed control mode drivers on a computer that supports dynamic control mode is not available. The use of dynamic control mode drivers on a computer with the fixed control mode video card switching function is not available. For best performance with any configuration, use latest versions drivers and software. For getting additional information refer to Obtaining Software and Drivers.

The presence in the computer of the function of switching modes dynamic And fixed control can be determined from the options available on the graphics mode switching screen in the program Catalyst Control Center. More information can be found in the next section.

Note.

The information and illustrations in this document are current at the time of publication. The appearance of the Catalyst Control Center software may differ due to different versions of the software.

Dynamic control mode

Computers with the function of switching video cards in dynamic control mode switch between the built-in power-saving processor and the discrete high-performance processor depending on the requests of the running program. Certain applications can be configured using the program Catalyst Control Center. If the screen switching video cards allows you to set application levels, which means that the computer has the ability to switch video cards in dynamic control mode.

Changing the default settings for switching graphics cards in dynamic control mode.

Rice. : Catalyst Control Center - Dynamic Graphics Switching Feature Setting Screen

Note.

Dynamic Graphics Switching Control Mode has been used in HP PCs to extend battery life, custom mode settings can be applied. Dynamic control mode allows the computer to use the integrated and discrete GPUs without restarting or reconfiguring the display settings. On some computers with dynamic graphics switching control mode, you can set a fixed mode of operation in the BIOS settings. More about the change BIOS settings on supported models, see OpenGL applications are not configured to use a discrete graphics card .

Fixed control mode

Computers with fixed control mode switching graphics cards allow you to switch between power-saving and high-performance processors depending on the power source (battery or adapter alternating current) or manually using the program Catalyst Control Center. In this case, all applications use the selected processor. If the screen switching video cards allows you to choose between high performance and economy, which means that the computer has the ability to switch video cards in fixed control mode.

For more information on accessing the Catalyst Control Center, see the Changing the Default Settings of the Fixed Control Switching Graphics Feature in this document.

Rice. : Catalyst Control Center - Setup Screen for Switching Video Cards in Fixed Control Mode

Using Dynamic Graphics Switching with Default Settings

By default, a computer with graphics switching in dynamic control mode will use the integrated, power-saving GPU in most cases. The computer will automatically switch to a discrete high performance processor when an application needs more resources. Users can specify applications that require the use of a high performance processor by selecting applications in the Catalyst Control Center. When you configure an application to use a high-performance processor, the computer switches graphics solutions when you start and close the application.

Default settings for changing the function of switching graphics cards in dynamic control mode

On computers with a low-power Intel graphics processor and a high-performance ATI processor, the switching of video cards in dynamic control mode is configured using Catalyst Control Center. If this program is missing or has been removed, see Obtaining Software and Drivers for information on installing the latest version.

For maximum energy savings or when using programs with low system requirements graphics processor (for example, for word processors or spreadsheets), you do not need to change the Catalyst Control Center program settings. By default, for most applications, the computer uses a power-efficient graphics processor. In this mode, you can still run complex programs, games, and videos, but the frame rate may decrease, some frames may drop, and movements and transitions may appear choppy.

Applications with high GPU system requirements, such as 3D games, run better when using a high performance CPU. Programs, videos and games with high graphics requirements run optimally when using a high-performance processor.

Attention!

To change the default GPU settings using the Catalyst Control Center, follow these steps:

Dynamic Graphics Switching Feature: OpenGL applications are not configured to use a discrete graphics card

When configuring Dynamic Graphics Switching in the Catalyst Control Center, some computers do not allow OpenGL applications to be bound to a discrete graphics card. OpenGL applications will use the power-saving embedded processor, but performance levels may not be as expected. HP has released an updated driver for the BIOS and AMD graphics cards, adding fixed mode graphics card switching for certain models that originally shipped with dynamically switched graphics cards.

More detailed information For information about OpenGL and how to download an updated BIOS and driver, see OpenGL applications cannot be configured to use a discrete graphics card.

Using the Video Card Switching Function in Fixed Control Mode with Default Settings

A computer with the ability to switch graphics cards in fixed control mode with default settings will automatically prompt you to switch between high-performance and low-power GPUs when you change the power supply. For more information, read one of the following sections.

Powered by an external source (AC adapter connected)

By default, a computer with graphics switching in fixed control mode uses a discrete high-performance processor when running on external power to better handle graphics-intensive tasks such as watching HD video or 3D video games. The high-performance processor is also used for programs with lower graphics requirements (such as text editors and spreadsheets).

If the power source is changed while the computer is running (for example, when the AC power adapter is disconnected), the computer automatically prompts you to confirm the switch from a high-performance processor to a power-saving one.

Click the Change button to switch from high-performance processor to power-saving, or click Cancel to continue using high-performance processor.

Attention!

Using a high performance GPU while on battery power will shorten battery life. A high-performance GPU generates a significant amount of heat when running GPU-intensive software, so the fan speed and noise increase to prevent the computer from overheating.

Note.

When switching graphics cards, the screen may flicker or the image may disappear for a few seconds.

Rice. : GPU switching confirmation

How to manually configure "Switchable Graphics" in ATI CCC

If you are the owner of a laptop with a hybrid video card from ATI, then you are "inexpressibly" lucky. You will have to set for each application that uses 3D graphics which video card you want to use for it. Or put up with the fact that “low power consumption” will be set by default, that is, the built-in video card will be used. But besides this, there is another problem: sometimes CCC does not see the application. That is, CCC notices that the application wants to use 3D graphics, but there is no running application. The setting fails to install and the application starts with the default settings, i.e. with low power consumption (using the built-in video card).

To defeat this ailment, you will have to manually correct the CCC settings. Settings are stored in a file
\\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\APL\GpuAffinities.xml
HighPerfGPUaffinity DefaultGPUaffinity PowerSavGPUaffinity

Application Title is the title of the main window, i.e. caption. For example, for a calculator application, it would be "Calculator". You can view the title using the Spy++ tool from Visual Studio, or Greatis Windowse.

For the power consumption setting itself, there are 3 options:
* PowerSavGPUaffinity - low consumption / integrated graphics card
* HighPerfGPUAffinity - high consumption / external graphics card
* DefaultGPUaffinity - by default, it is also low consumption. It would be nice if this “default” could be changed, but I did not find it among the CCC settings files.

Then there are two options:
1) we launch the “elusive” application, find out its caption, add our line in XML
2) we configure CCC not to ask us about the choice of power consumption, then for each application an entry with DefaultGPUaffinity will be created in XML. Then we just edit the setting for the desired application.

Tags: ATI, hybrid video

In many laptops, starting from the middle segment, two video cards are initially installed, integrated and discrete. And the system itself decides which one to use for a particular task.

• Integrated- sewn into the motherboard or into the processor itself and is used for simple tasks (Internet surfing, watching videos, listening to music).
• Discrete- connected separately. It has higher performance, along with this, power consumption increases. It is involved in more complex tasks (games, work in graphic editors, watching high-quality movies).

By default, the Windows system uses the built-in video card, and if switching between them does not occur automatically, the user has no choice but to reconfigure the priorities on his own.

Nvidia

If you have an Nvidia card installed, then you can switch the integrated video card to a discrete one on a laptop using the utility " Control Center". Initially, it is installed along with the drivers, but if it is not there, then you need to update the drivers and you will have it.

The utility is automatically built into the context menu and can be opened with one click.

• Right-click on any free space on your desktop and select " Nvidia».

A window will appear in which you need to:

The switching process is always the same and does not depend on the manufacturer of your laptop, be it Asus, Acer, Samsung, HP, Dell inspiron, Lenovo, etc., or on the version of Windows (7, 8 or 10).

AMD Radeon

For card users from AMD, a special application was developed " Catalyst”, with its help you will be able to manage all its settings. You can download it from office site.

How to switch to a discrete graphics card in a laptop:

device Manager

If the laptop is constantly running on an integrated processor-based video card (Intel or AMD), the easiest way to switch it is to completely set the system to always default.

How to do it:

In order for the changes to be applied, it remains only to restart the laptop.

bios settings

You can also switch the main video card to an external one through Bios.

If you do not have the proper experience in the BIOS, then it is not recommended to use this method. Since there is a chance to disable something important, after which the computer will stop starting.

The procedure will be as follows:

1. To get to the system menu, when loading the company's laptop, you must press the " Delete" or " Del". Depending on your laptop model, other keys may also be used, for example, for Sony it is “Assist”, for Lenovo it is “Novo Button”. Or simpler options, for example, for Asus, Acer (F2, F8).

1. Save changes and restart your computer.

The process is explained in more detail in this video.

How to manually configure "Switchable Graphics" in ATI CCC

• Lumber room *

If you are the owner of a laptop with a hybrid video card from ATI, then you are "inexpressibly" lucky. You will have to set for each application that uses 3D graphics which video card you want to use for it. Or put up with the fact that “low power consumption” will be set by default, that is, the built-in video card will be used. But besides this, there is another problem: sometimes CCC does not see the application. That is, CCC notices that the application wants to use 3D graphics, but there is no running application in the “Switchable graphics adapters” section. The setting fails to install and the application starts with the default settings, i.e. with low power consumption (using the built-in video card).

To defeat this ailment, you will have to manually correct the CCC settings. Settings are stored in a file
\\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\APL\GpuAffinities.xml
HighPerfGPUaffinity DefaultGPUaffinity PowerSavGPUaffinity

Application Title is the title of the main window, i.e. caption. For example, for a calculator application, it would be "Calculator". You can view the title using the Spy++ tool from visual studio, or Greatis Windowse.

For the power consumption setting itself, there are 3 options:
* PowerSavGPUaffinity - low consumption / integrated graphics card
* HighPerfGPUAffinity - high consumption / external video card
* DefaultGPUaffinity - by default, it is also low consumption. It would be nice if this “default” could be changed, but I did not find it among the CCC settings files.

Then there are two options:
1) we launch the “elusive” application, find out its caption, add our line in XML
2) we configure CCC not to ask us about the choice of power consumption, then for each application an entry with DefaultGPUaffinity will be created in XML. Then we just edit the setting for the desired application.

Tags: ATI, hybrid video

IN latest update operating system Windows 10, released in April this year, made it possible for users to select their preferred graphics processor (switching graphics cards) for game and program executable files from the Settings application. Previously, as everyone knows, to manage this it was necessary to use special tools.

They were provided by NVIDIA developers in their Control Panel and AMD Catalyst in the Control Center. In the first one, it was necessary to make a choice between the processor, and, unfortunately, I did not deal with AMD.

Now, in new version OS, appeared additional parameter"Graphics settings". We will use it for these purposes. If you do not see such an option on your system, then you have not yet installed the required update.

To assign a specific GPU to a specific app or game to run it by default, do the following. Open the system "Settings", go to the "System" section and the "Display" subsection.

Scroll down the page a bit and click on the "Graphics Settings" link. From the drop-down list, select the category of application that you want to configure in this moment. Ordinary games and programs with an executable file in the “exe” format belong to the category - classic. Click on the "Browse" button and then find the desired executable file on your system.

If you choose generic, another list will be added that lists all installed UWP apps. Once you find what you need, click on the “Add” button that appears.

In the first and second options, all applications that you add are displayed in the list. Click on each of them, after which the "Options" button will become available. After clicking on it, you can set individual graphics options.

VIDEO CARD SWITCHING

Specifications :

• power-saving graphics processor;
• high performance GPU.

System value is the default GPU used for all applications. energy saving- refers to a low-power embedded, usually from Intel. High performance- refers to a discrete graphics card, such as from NVIDIA or AMD.

How to check which GPU is being used? To do this, open the Task Manager, and enable the "GPU Engine" column on the "Processes" tab. You will then see the number of the video card used by the application. Thank you for your attention!