Notebook / Laptop performance and dual graphics technology

Most modern mobile computing devices are a delicate balance between performance and battery life.  Notebook / Laptop computers are no exception. One of the main ways this is accomplished for Notebook / Laptop devices is through the graphics solutions.  Aside from the CPU, graphics uses the most power of any other component in a Notebook / Laptop.

The primary way this is accomplished is through the use of 2 graphics solutions - one low power (integrated) and one high performance (discrete).  In many cases the device tries to be smart about this and switches the solutions on the fly when it thinks it is appropriate.  In the case of SongShow Plus this can have several undesired side effects, such and laggy playback or crashes during the transition.

NOTE: Many Intel integrated and discrete graphics solutions and drivers have eliminated DirectX9 support and will not function as expected.  Refer to article DI15 for more details. 
NOTE: It is NOT recommended to use any integrated graphics solutions with SongShow Plus. 

If you intend to use a Notebook / Laptop for use with SongShow Plus, we recommend that you configure it so that it is always using the high performance (discrete) solution, usually from Nvidia or AMD.

Nvidia

To force your laptop to use the NVIDIA GPU instead of the integrated graphics, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Click on "Manage 3D settings".
3. Click on the "Program Settings" tab.
4. Select the program that you want to force to use the NVIDIA GPU from the list.
5. Click on the "Preferred graphics processor" dropdown menu and select "High-performance NVIDIA processor".
6. Click on "Apply".

You can also force all programs to use the NVIDIA GPU by following these steps:

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Click on "Manage 3D settings".
3. Click on the "Global settings" tab.
4. Locate the "Preferred graphics processor" option and select "High-performance NVIDIA processor".
5. Click on "Apply".

Note that forcing all programs to use the NVIDIA GPU can drain your battery faster. You should only do this if you are running a demanding program that requires the extra power of the NVIDIA GPU.
We always recommend that you use the device plugged into wall power when using SongShow Plus.

Here are some additional tips:

• If you are not sure which program is using the NVIDIA GPU, you can use the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app to see a list of all the programs that are currently using the GPU.
• You can also use the NVIDIA Control Panel to create a custom power profile that forces all programs to use the NVIDIA GPU when plugged in. This can be useful if you want to get the best performance from your laptop when it is plugged in.

AMD

To force AMD on a laptop with dual graphics, you can follow these steps:

1. Make sure that you have the latest AMD drivers installed. You can download the drivers from the AMD website.
2. Right-click on the desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.
3. Click on System.
4. Click on Switchable Graphics.
5. In the Application Settings tab, select the program that you want to force to use the AMD GPU.
6. In the Preferred Graphics Processor drop-down menu, select High-performance AMD Radeon.
7. Click on Apply.

You can also force AMD by using the Windows 10 Graphics Settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Windows 10 Settings app.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Scroll down and click on Graphics.
5. In the Choose an app to set preferences for section, select the program that you want to force to use the AMD GPU.
6. In the Graphics performance preference drop-down menu, select High performance.
7. Click on Save.

If you are still having trouble forcing AMD on your laptop, you can contact the laptop manufacturer for assistance.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

• The AMD Radeon Settings may not be available on all laptops with dual graphics.
• If the AMD Radeon Settings is not available, you can use the Windows 10 Graphics Settings to force AMD.
• Forcing AMD may not always improve performance. In some cases, it may actually decrease performance.
• If you are experiencing problems with your laptop after forcing AMD, you can try reverting to the default settings.

If this article does not resolve the issue, contact the Support Team.

(SI17)