Some computers and laptops come with more than one display adapter, also known as graphics card. There are many types of graphics cards, from low budget for the most basic jobs to the latest video games and graphic design and everything in between. The reason for having multiple graphics cards in the same device is to use the weakest one whenever possible, consume less energy and avoid overheating if the user is simply browsing on Facebook, for example. When the user starts a video game, device automatically switches to a more powerful display adapter.
In theory, seems like a great idea, but in practice problems abound. There are devices and operating systems that cannot really tell what the user is doing or when the correct display adapter should be activated. Other issues arise when the resolution or refresh rate can be changed because the weakest display adapter is marked as default. For ways to mark a specific display adapter as the default, follow the methods below.
Method 1: find and activate dedicated switch
Certain laptops, like Sony Vaio S, have dedicated switches that tell you which graphics card to use. This switch is located near the CD drive / DVD and has two settings: Endurance and Speed. Endurance setting uses the weakest graphics card and speed uses the strongest. Try flipping the switch and see if the problem is resolved. If that is not the case, try the following method.
Method 2: add the program to the display adapter manually
All powerful graphics cards come with a control center when installed. In general, can be accessed via the right mouse button context menu when clicking on the desktop. In the case of NVIDIA, the option is called NVIDIA Control Panel.
Open it and select the option Manage 3D settings.
The Program Settings tab will allow you to choose the default display adapter for any program. Click Add, Find the .exe file for the program you want to use with the NVIDIA display adapter and click OK. If you want NVIDIA to be the default option for all programs, go to the Global Settings tab and drop down menu titled Preferred Graphics Processor. You will see the option between “Integrated graphics” and your NVIDIA card. Click on the NVIDIA name and close the NVIDIA Control Panel.
With Radeon cards, the same is called Catalyst Control Center. Abralo, click Games and click 3D Application Settings. Here you will click Save, which will open the dialog to search for an .exe file. Find it, click ok, select it from the drop down menu below and adjust the options as you need. You can manage the settings in the Profile section of the application under Games.
How to open and change settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel
Do the same in Catalyst Control Center: I have Radeon and I have tested it on my PC, I can't find the community guide for that anywhere
Method 3: disable the built-in display adapter (weaker) in BIOS
To enter BIOS, you must press a certain key on the keyboard while the device is booting. There is a wide range of possibilities as to which key can be, for example: F1, F2, F5, DELETE, etc., and this key usually appears during startup. Watch carefully as the device starts up or search online for more information. In any case, tap that button while the device is booting and it should enter BIOS.
Again, Each BIOS has a different setting and you will have to go through all the options and enter each submenu until you find the Main Graphics Adapter option. Here you want to configure the IGP (integrated graphics processor) with the lowest priority and its PCIE slot with the highest priority. Once this is done, accept all changes, exit BIOS and reboot device.
