how can I set it up so my 1060 card can run both screens?

JUSTCHRIS
JUSTCHRIS Member Posts: 4 New User
edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives
The way this laptop (Predator PH317-51) is setup is a frackin" mess, one screen being run by Intel and the other by the GTX card. I want both being run by the same graphics processor. 

Best Answer

  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    It is a feature of newer laptops to dedicate the Intel GPU only to the screen and act as a sort of "server" to display the Nvidia GPU output. 
    While it may seem frustrating it has its benefits such as battery life. 

    However if you use an external display the Nvidia GPU will be the sole controller for it and offer the full power of the GPU for it. 

    Hope this helps. 
    - Hotel Hero

Answers

  • JUSTCHRIS
    JUSTCHRIS Member Posts: 4 New User
    Seriously would love to know why the built in screen is not being seen by the GTX card. I disabled the Intel hardware and the GTX card still did not see the built in monitor. Frackin' anyone got a answer to this question? Both my Alienware laptops I had no problem having the GTX card as the default driver for all my screens.  
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    It is a feature of newer laptops to dedicate the Intel GPU only to the screen and act as a sort of "server" to display the Nvidia GPU output. 
    While it may seem frustrating it has its benefits such as battery life. 

    However if you use an external display the Nvidia GPU will be the sole controller for it and offer the full power of the GPU for it. 

    Hope this helps. 
    - Hotel Hero
  • JUSTCHRIS
    JUSTCHRIS Member Posts: 4 New User
    Never mind I just got off the phone with support and found out they made it so the laptop screen has to be run by the Intel chip set and can't be run on the GTX. Never before have I seen a system that the GTX or Intel is unable to run all screens so there is less conflicts.
  • JUSTCHRIS
    JUSTCHRIS Member Posts: 4 New User
    Red Sand I use it as a desktop replacement not as a laptop, so battery life does not matter to me. The conflicts while running CAD make it impossible for me to use this system as I intended, so I am going to return it. Thanks for your reply tho.
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    I have the exact same model laptop and also use AutoCAD so I understand completely. 

    I've actually used it to my advantage though... For example I can dedicate AutoCAD to the Nvidia GPU and run the program utilizing the Nvidia GPU on an external display which leaves my laptop screen available for other tasks (multitasking) and allows AutoCAD to get to use the Nvidia GPU all on its own and its omitted from hinderances and operating system resources which are run by Intels GPU. 

    Wish you luck bro, the Predator 15/17 are DGPU only and might be a good option.. 👌 
    - Hotel Hero
  • tolgaa
    tolgaa Member Posts: 3 New User
    hey justchris ı ve same laptop and same problems.   my friend have lower model acer G5-793-772U  he ve one screen card 1060 gtx  and he have more good graphichs than ph 317-51 1060(my laptop)
  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,774 Pathfinder
    JUSTCHRIS said:
    Seriously would love to know why the built in screen is not being seen by the GTX card. I disabled the Intel hardware and the GTX card still did not see the built in monitor. Frackin' anyone got a answer to this question? Both my Alienware laptops I had no problem having the GTX card as the default driver for all my screens.  
    Inbuilt screen does see the GTX card, it just would depend on the software/games you are playing. And how your system is configured.
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  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    The inbuilt graphics card does NOT see the built in screen because the laptops screen is run by the Intel GPU.

    The Intel GPU acts as a type of server displaying what the Nvidia GPU is outputting. This results in a slight bottleneck when comparing to a system where the Nvidia GPU does in fact control the laptops screen. (Like the older models of Predators)

    While it may seem like a negative it's actually a huge battery saving technique and many newer laptops are shipping with this feature equipped.

    If you would like to control the display settings you can hit CNTRL+ALT+F12 to bring up the Intel GPU control panel which houses all the display settings you would have otherwise had on your Nvidia control panel.
    - Hotel Hero
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    edited July 2018
    I'd like to add, that while your friend has higher FPS due to the Nvidia GPU controlling his screen directly, you would have better FPS while controlling an external monitor. This is because your Intel GPU can govern your laptops screen while the Nvidia GPU would govern the external display. (While his Nvidia GPU would be forced to govern both displays)

    This is great because for serious game sessions where normally someone would plug into a monitor with the comforts of an external mouse & keyboard you will be able to utilize 100% of your Nvidia GPU and set your Intel GPU to smaller tasks. Then while mobile your Intel GPU would assist with display output which increases battery life significantly.

    Additionally you can utilize the dual GPUs by designating the Intel GPU to lesser programs which frees the Nvidia GPU to run dedicated to your game.. giving much smoother performance while streaming/multitasking.
    - Hotel Hero
  • airmikee
    airmikee Member Posts: 4 New User
    Red-Sand said:
    It is a feature of newer laptops to dedicate the Intel GPU only to the screen and act as a sort of "server" to display the Nvidia GPU output. 
    While it may seem frustrating it has its benefits such as battery life. 

    However if you use an external display the Nvidia GPU will be the sole controller for it and offer the full power of the GPU for it. 

    Hope this helps. 
    If I have to have an external monitor plugged in to use the Nvidia GPU, why is battery life a concern?  Does the battery also run the external monitor?  I'm pretty sure there isn't a plug on the laptop for an external monitor, so if the monitor is plugged into a wall jack, why wouldn't the laptop also be plugged in?  Is there a shortage of wall jacks in someone's house and they can't possibly purchase a power strip?

    That's a ridiculous explanation, and you know it.

  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    It's not ridiculous if you understand how computers function.

    If your GPU is running a single display power consumption = X.
    If your GPU is running another display (most likely at a different resolution) power consumption = Y

    Power consumption is based on the number of screens the GPU is rendering to and the amount of power the CPU and GPU must use to make both screens usable.

    If your running both laptop and external monitor from your laptop the additional power draw to utilize both screens adds power consumption to the GPU (X + Y) resulting in battery loss.

    I assume your monitor doesn't have a built in GPU to render it's own images? Because that's how your statement would make sense.
    - Hotel Hero
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    Although I'm not quite sure where this circumstance arose from as my statement was directed towards battery life not using an external display while on battery.

    If you use a more powerful GPU only while on battery (i.e. Nvidia GPU) your power ddraw to run such a powerful card would be much greater then running your system in Intel GPU.

    So my statement was that since Intel GPU (less powerful) runs nearly all computer functions and frees your Nvidia GPU to run your games solely, you will have greater battery life gains then if Nvidia GPU ran all components by itself.
    - Hotel Hero