Dell XPS 15 9550 Drivers and Graphic Card Issue?

Newmann · 12 Jul 2022

Have a dell xps 15 9550 laptop for many years. Specs are

i5-6300hq processor
1tb ssd nvme - Upgraded from 250gb ssd a while back
32gb ram - Upgraded from 8gb a while back.

Graphics Card Are

Intel ® HD Graphics 530
NVidia Geforce GTX 960M

Would like all my programs to use the nvidia geforce gtx 960m as oppose to the intel. Such as programs that i want to run would want to use the faster gpu. Notice when running some of these programs, on task manager some of them show GPU 0 ... which is the intel hd 530 graphics. Some use the nvidia geforce gtx 960m.

Had went to nvidia settings where

Global settings... I changed it to high-performance NVIDIA processor. By default it was the Auto select I believe. I don't think it was integrated graphics which is the only other option. I also see tab of program settings where you can click on programs like chrome, firefox etc and select the preferred graphics processor for this program. By default its integrated graphics. Should i change chrome to High Performance NVIDIA Processor? What about the other programs on dropdown menu like Control, Intel Control Panel, Calculator etc?

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When i go to settings - displays - I see display with 3 monitors. It looks like 1 2 3. The 1 is my laptop monitor screen, 2 is the 32' 4k screen and 3 is the 24' 1920x1200 screen.

When I click on graphics settings at the bottom for any of these 3 monitor screens, it ask to

Choose an app to set preference

Default is

Desktop app

If click on dropdown menu, it's microsoft store. You can click browse... but when you click browse, you suppose to choose all the programs on your desktop that you want it to run high performance right? Because i did that with several of the programs. But when i ran one of the programs, how come it still shows using the gpu 0 on task manager? Even when i right click that shortcut icon on the desktop, and look at graphics driver - it shows nvidia high performance (default) yet it seem to still use the intel graphics card?

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Also, how do I know for sure if my Intel HD 530 Graphics Card and the NVidia Geforce GTX 960M is indeed up to date?

Because when I check the GPU 1 which is the Nvidia Geforce GTX 960M on the task manager, the driver version it shows is 26.21.144270. That seem to be the same when checking my xps 9550 on the dell driver site? If i were to right click on Nvidia panel, then go to help and system information, it show Driver Version 442.70. Is that updated or not?

dalchina · 12 Jul 2022

Notice when running some of these programs, on task manager some of them show GPU 0 ... which is the intel hd 530 graphics. Some use the nvidia geforce gtx 960m.

Would like all my programs to use the nvidia geforce gtx 960m as opposed to the intel.

There is this which you can try:
Set Preferred GPU for Apps in Windows 10

and
"Run with graphics processor" missing from context menu: Change in process of assigning GPUs to use for applications | NVIDIA

noting the context menu that used to be available no longer is:
"Run with graphics processor" missing from context menu: Change in process of assigning GPUs to use for applications | NVIDIA

But I think you'd be fighting a losing- and pointless- battle to try to do that. Laptops are designed to use the discrete card only when needed. Try researching Nvidia Optimus - the algorithm that determines which is to be used and how.

Optimus | Technology | GeForce

Your Intel card should be maintained by normal update procedures. Nvidia updates have sometimes been problematic.

Newmann · 12 Jul 2022

Hi. i did make that app use the high-performance NVIDIA processor.

Did that with the right click run with graphics and even in the global setting and even added that program in the manage 3d settings as well. Then i added that program in Set Preferred GPU for Apps in Settings as well. For some reason, that app doesn't seem to run the nvidia when looking at task manager when program is used?

How do i find out if my nvidia driver is up to date? does it have anything to do with the nvidia geforce experience that keep showing an update on the bottom right corner? That has nothing to do with it right? i mentioned the driver version number it shows on task manager and the nvidia panel.

dalchina · 12 Jul 2022

For some reason, that app doesn't seem to run the nvidia when looking at task manager when program is used?

As I said, this is complicated by the algorithm Nvidia uses.

I won't comment on Nvidia driver numbers as I've not looked at this for a very long time.

Helmut · 12 Jul 2022

1) Drivers - Forget about it you have working drivers, Windows updates takes care of that. No problem with those you have listed.26.21.144270 (26.21.14.4270) are the same as 442.70 That is just how Nvidia displays things.

2) "does it have anything to do with the nvidia geforce experience that keep showing an update on the bottom right corner?"

Nvidia Geforce Experience - Just uninstall it unless you use a specific feature, it is just useless bloatware which includes the update notification which simply wastes resources.

3) "Would like all my programs to use the nvidia geforce gtx 960m as oppose to the intel. "
" Should i change chrome to High Performance NVIDIA Processor? What about the other programs on dropdown menu like Control, Intel Control Panel, Calculator etc?"

Totally unnecessary as the integrated graphics is actually better for most tasks other than games and maybe the odd application.
e.g. I have Google Earth desktop app as well as games as it supposedly works better with Nvidia graphics.

4) "it shows nvidia high performance (default) yet it seem to still use the intel graphics card?"

That does happen and I have seen some applications using about 50% of each the IGPU and Nvidia. My interpretation is that modern applications are getting smarter and choose the best of the 2 for whatever reason.

fireberd · 12 Jul 2022

I have a 2018 Inspiron 15 Gaming 5577 which is probably in the same vintage as your XPS. I have it set as dual boot, (1) the Dell disc image and (2) minimum install for my recording studio (with the NVIDA disabled).

I don't game but the gaming systems have more/better cooling and for recording studio use that is better.

If you want to force one video, just disable the other in the device manager. I've done it for testing and what I suggest to users on the Dell forums that want to use a specific device. In this case, disabling the Intel video is a bad idea if you want to use an external monitor as the Intel video is hard wired to the video out connector.

I find Windows update, keeps the NVIDIA updated.

Newmann · 14 Jul 2022

So remove the nvidia geforce experience from add/remove programs? Can others here confirm this is indeed bloatware? I do find it annoying when i click on the bottom right and see that program and it always show that message of an update is available. Because when you click on it, it ask you to create an account and if you do, you can download drivers and make sure its updated. But it actually is a waste and could make your pc slower and lag more? Then why do they even have this program there then?

So don't change chrome or firefox to the high performance nvidia right and just stick with the default of integrated graphics?

You mention my nvidia driver is up to date when you mention those numbers. But what about my intel hd graphics 530? The Intel HD 530 Graphics Card driver on task manager seem to be 30.0.101.1340. Is that updated or not? Again my laptop is the dell xps 15 9550.

Another thing i want to ask is this. In display settings, I see all my monitors... the 32' 4k monitor, the 24' 1920x1200 monitor... and my laptop screen monitor... its 1920x1080 if that matters, they are all connected to the intel hd graphics 530. That is normal right? Or could you have the monitors connected to the nvidia geforce gtx 960? Someone mentioned... because i connect a usb-c to display port cable from my dell laptop to that 32' 4k monitor... that has to be connected via intel hd graphics 530... is that correct? the other monitor the 24' monitor is connected from my laptop... hdmi to that monitor displayport. So that monitor i could connect it to nvidia geforce gtx 960m or not? Because are your external monitors and your laptop monitor... suppose to all connect to the intel graphics card? Or could it connect to the nvidia? Does that matter or not?

I had made my global settings to connect to the nvidia graphics card. I notice even my calculator when i check on task manager... seem to show gpu 1 which is the nvidia. But is that fine leaving it at that?

dalchina · 14 Jul 2022

Nvidia GeForce Experience - Review 2020 - PCMag UK

Nvidia GeForce Experience is essentially a PC gaming-focused tune-up utility, and like many other tune-up utilities, it has now become a little redundant.

It's optional, essentially, and problems with high CPU usage and so on have sometimes been reported.

So don't change chrome or firefox to the high performance nvidia right and just stick with the default of integrated graphics?

KISS. If it's working fine, don't fiddle.

The Intel HD 530 Graphics Card driver on task manager seem to be 30.0.101.1340. Is that updated or not?

Managed by Windows Update. You can research yourself as to the build number.

If there is an update, what do you realistically expect of it? Fantastic new features? 30% better performance? Anything actually noticeable? Nothing to get overly wound up about.

Are my drivers up to date?
Have you actually looked at the driver download page for your laptop? E.g. Here's the UK version (find yours for your region):
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...laptop/drivers

Have you used HP's tool on that page?

Newmann · 15 Jul 2022

Where you read about this program causing high cpu usage? Is it possible its causing the lag issues im having as well?

Someone told me my nvidia driver is up to date as it shows 26.21.144270 or 442.70 depending if you look at task manager or the nvidia settings.

So i went to add/remove programs and notice these nvidia programs showing. Note, I had clean reinstalled my windows 10 pro back in December. So apparently the first 2 nvidia got installed in May. How did this happen? I assume when there was a windows update, it installed both of these? So before May, I did not have nvidia Geforce Experience? Or I already did but it was an earlier version?

So which of these programs should I remove? Someone mentioned that nvidia geforce experience is bloatware and removing it could make computer faster? Heard someone said it uses a decent amount of ram so removing it would be good? Do I remove the NvidiaFrameview? You do not uninstalled the nvidia graphics driver or the nvidia Phys System right?

NvidiaFrameview SDK 1.2.7521.31103277 Installed in May

Nvidia Geforce Experience 3.25.127 Installed In May

Nvidia Graphics Driver 442.70 Installed in December

Nvidia PhysX System Software 9.20.0221 Installed In December

Newmann · 11 Aug 2022

Can anyone here confirm... as long as any important windows updates are done... such as when it ask you to restart your pc for updates... that your computer is up to date and as long as you don't have any of those exclamation marks on the device manager?

I do have optional updates that I didn't install with this old laptop... but is that necessary or not? Does it hurt if i decide to update the remaining optional updates?

How do i make sure all my drivers are up to date? Can someone here confirm to me both the intel hd 530 graphics driver and the nvidia geforce gtx 960m is fully updated?