In this article, we will discuss how to force a game or application to use a dedicated graphics card on your PC or laptop. We will also explore how to enable the “Ultimate Performance” setting on your Windows 10 device for optimal performance. If you have a laptop or device with both an integrated graphics card and a dedicated one (such as NVIDIA or AMD), this guide will help you make the most of your hardware.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Access Graphics Settings:

  • Click on the “Start” button and type “Graphics” in the search bar.
  • Select “Graphics settings” from the search results.

2. Select Classic App:

  • In the Graphics settings window, you will see options for universal apps or classic apps.
  • Choose the “Classic app” option.

3. Browse for the Program:

  • Click on the “Browse” button and navigate to the location where the game or program is installed on your computer.
  • Double-click on the executable file (e.g., .exe) of the program you want to force to use the dedicated graphics card.

4. Adjust Graphics Processor:

  • After adding the program to the list, click on it to select it.
  • Click on the “Options” button.
  • In the options menu, you can choose between system default, power saving, or high performance.
  • By default, the system default option will use the power-saving graphics card (integrated one). To force the game to use the dedicated graphics card, select the “High performance” option.
  • Click “Save” to apply the changes.

5. Repeat for Windows Store Apps:

  • If you are trying to force a Windows Store app to use the dedicated graphics card, select the “Universal app” section in the Graphics settings window.
  • Choose the app from the list provided.
  • Repeat step 4 to adjust the graphics processor for the selected app.

6. Ensure Power Connection:

  • If you are experiencing performance issues even after forcing the game to use the dedicated graphics card, check if your laptop is plugged into a power source.
  • Ensure that your laptop has sufficient power from the wall socket for optimal performance.

7. Switch to High Performance Power Plan:

  • Press the “Start” button and type “Power” in the search bar.
  • Select “Power & sleep settings” from the search results.
  • In the Power & sleep settings window, click on “Additional power settings” on the right-hand side.
  • In the new window, select the “High performance” or “Maximum performance” option if available.
  • This will provide a significant performance boost to your PC, but keep in mind that it may consume more power, especially if you are using it on battery.

8. Enable “Ultimate Performance” Plan:

  • Open the Power Options menu again by following step 7.
  • This time, click on “Show additional plans” from the drop-down menu.
  • Select the “Ultimate performance” plan, if available.
  • This setting is particularly beneficial for higher-end PCs and will ensure your dedicated graphics card is utilized as much as possible.
  • Note that if you unplug your device from the power source, it may switch to a different power plan, and you will need to select “Ultimate performance” again.

Following these steps will help you optimize your PC or laptop’s performance by forcing games and applications to use the dedicated graphics card and enabling the “Ultimate Performance” plan on your Windows 10 device.

With these optimizations in place, you should experience better gaming performance and smoother application usage. Enjoy your improved PC experience!

For more helpful tech tips and troubleshooting guides, stay tuned to the TroubleChute YouTube channel.

Ciao!