DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

DIGIT-ARC / Hardware / Hardware Q&A

Intel HD Graphics with Dedicated Graphics Card

6 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/intel-hd-graphics-with-dedicated-graphics-card.144531/

RBX
RBX Original post #1
Aug 1, 2011 at 9:05 PM
This question might've been asked multiple times but I can't figure out what exactly would happen to processor graphics in the presence of Dedicated GPU.

My laptop is going (waiting for stupid sales representative to confirm the transaction) to have Intel i7-2630QM 2.00 GHz and NVIDIA GT 540M 2GB.
Would processor graphics be ever in use considering the presence of GPU ? Would both be usable simultaneously / as needed or will I be able to make them work separately using Hardware profiles ? Might processor graphics also be available in situations when GPU drivers are not installed (Linux) ?
Ishu Gupta
Ishu Gupta #2
Aug 1, 2011 at 9:20 PM
You can switch manually.
So you can use the HD3000 while you are using Internet, movies etc and switch to the GT540M while gaming.

You have to use the Nvidia software to select which applications use which card. The card will detect the applications and switch to the appropriate card as per your settings.
RBX
RBX #3
Aug 1, 2011 at 9:48 PM
So Nvidia will allow this without rebooting ? Nice, I see long battery life :)
Ishu Gupta
Ishu Gupta #4
Aug 1, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Yes .
5hrs on Intel and 2.5 hrs on Nvidia.
MatchBoxx
MatchBoxx #5
Aug 2, 2011 at 1:24 AM
By any chance, are you talking about Dell XPS 15?

Ishu Gupta said:
You can switch manually.
So you can use the HD3000 while you are using Internet, movies etc and switch to the GT540M while gaming.

You have to use the Nvidia software to select which applications use which card. The card will detect the applications and switch to the appropriate card as per your settings.
Click to expand...

you sure buddy??? Dell XPS 15 doesn't have nVidia Optimus Technology, nor it has Z68 chipset to enable Lucid Virtu, afaik...i may be wrong. Clarify my doubts please. :)