AE doesn't use my NVIDA GPU

steveeyes · 06 Sep 2021

I'm not sure if this is a windows or an AE problem, but I want to first make sure it is not a Windows 10 problem.

I upgraded my After Effects (AE) today. Now when I go to open AE I get the following message:

As the above image shows, for whatever reason, AE wants to use the motherboard Intel GPU. I have installed years ago a Nvida GeoForce 1060 card. I tried the button that said Fix, but it did nothing.

When I look at the Task Manager - Performance Tab it lists Intel GPU as 0 and Nvida GPU as 1 (see image below). Is AE not using the Nvida GPU because windows has it listed below the Intel GPU?

If the reason that AE is not using Nvida GPU because of the order it is listed in Windows, how do I make the Nvida GPU 0 and the Intel GPU 1?

Thanks for your help

p.s. As a side note, many moons ago the topic of both the Intel onboard GPU and an installed GPU Card like Nvida could be active at the same time. What Intel GPU couldn't do, the Nvida card took over. Not sure, that is exactly how it was explained at the time, but something like that. Is that true or do I have to disable the Intel GPU in the device manager, BIOS or both for Nvida to work?

dalchina · 06 Sep 2021

I would read that as saying the driver for Intel graphics is not compatible with your Adobe product.

What happens if you click Fix?

Looks like an update of one or the other is required.

Noted your MBO is from 2014.

steveeyes · 06 Sep 2021

Hmmm, it's compatible with photoshop and the previous version of AE. I may have to go back to the old version. I did try the Fix and nothing happen. My gut says it is an AE issue. I'd hate to think that software is not using my Nvida GPU. I have both the Intel (on motherboard) and Nvida active. Can both be so?

dalchina · 06 Sep 2021

Is there an update for your Intel HD graphics driver? Have you checked Optional Updates at the bottom in the Windows update section of Settings?

Nvidia uses something called 'Optimus' to determine whether the graphics card needs to be used.
Optimus | Technology | GeForce
Is there an update for your Intel HD graphics driver? Have you checked Optional Updates at the bottom in the Windows update section of Settings?

Nvidia uses something called 'Optimus' to determine whether the graphics card needs to be used.
Optimus | Technology | GeForce
How do I know if my laptop is using Nvidia Optimus or not? Does just every laptop with more than one GPU use it? : laptops

The user has no real control over this as I understand it. I remember there is a rt click option for programs to attempt to bias the selection between the integrated graphics and the discrete one.

bobkn · 06 Sep 2021

Your motherboard has a graphics setting to enable or disable the onboard Intel graphics. I hope that the Intel graphics will disappear when they are disabled.

As far as I know, nVidia Optimus is not used on desktop PCs. Not much need for battery saving on those.

dalchina · 06 Sep 2021

Ah- yes, thanks for that. It's quite a few years since I read about it.

Helmut · 07 Sep 2021

No idea what AE is trying to use. Possibly a new Graphics feature or some CPU feature or tapping in to routines in a more recent versions of the Intel iGPU, or some CPU feature.

There are some indications of this on the Adobe website, can't find anything specific. Obviously they are the ones to know.

Your system is using your Nvidia Graphics Card, and that is what your monitor is plugged in to.

You can only use the Intel HD 4600 iGPU fully if you are plugged in to the MOBO video output.

The UEFI/BIOS usually will auto-select your PCI-E NVidia GPU for everything. Settings depend on your UEFI/BIOS.

Other Adobe applications suggest you have to disable the HD 4600 iGPU in the UEFI/BIOS. Possibly the CPU being too old.

The order as in Task Manager means nothing.

You might need to update the driver for the HD 4600 iGPU, however that and the CPU feature set is from the 2014 era. It maybe useful should you ever need to use the iGPU.

Driver updates should have been done by Windows updates.

steveeyes · 07 Sep 2021

Thanks everyone for your input. When I originally posted this, I did so hoping I could find the solution for why AE wasn't using or recognizing my Nvida card. But later, my concern turn to if my Nvida card was being used by Windows v.s. the Intel card. I think from the above responses I can assume that Nvida card is being used and the fact the onboard Intel GPU is active is not a concern. Just to be sure, is that a good assumption on my part?

To solve the AE issue, I went back to my previous version - problem solved. I'll deal with the new version issue when time permits. I did more digging and did find a thread on a forum where others was having the same issue. It was quite a few pages, and it looked like Adobe folks were not interested in solving the issue. They were probably too busy working on their next bug.

Thanks again.