Switchable graphics question

Hi there. I have an Alienware M17x r3. with the 6970GPU.

I apologize in advance for the dumb question but its something that I cant figure out on my own.

How can I tell what GPU I am using at any given time. I have my M17x set at high performance, but I have tried switching graphics using fn7 a few times. I havent run any games through this thing yet.

Thanks for helping.

 

Same problem here, I got my FN F7 button telling me that my graphics solution is automatically configured for optimal performance... I am not able to know FOR SURE which graphics card is being used by what... but let's get the clues here... if you run a game (that is more or less modern), and it runs nicely, then you are running on the right one. If the game is unplayable: intel.
Also I add up lines in my NVIDIA control panel for my games (I set high performance nvidia card for crysis 2, SC II etc...) but the auto adjust in global settings seems to be doing just fine
The only case where I know for sure (And that I had some troubles setting up, but not too disconcerting, I didn't even begged for help here) is when I have the laptop plugged in HDMI to an HD TV.
When you do and decide to change screen resolution in desktop (right click background and screen res) you go to property... if its the native laptop screen it always shows me the intel card... but when it's an HD screen through HDMI I set it up for always Nvidia, and it shows it in properties from screen res, it shows NVIDIA.

EDIT: you may also right click a .exe file then run "with graphic processor" and it let's you choose from there. Doesn't always work though but that's also something usefull to know . For example crysis 2 would get stuck at the activation screen all the time when attempting to start it (it would activate but never start, then double click again the short cut ask for activation etc...). I "ran it with nvidia processor" then it finally started (after asking me to activate yet again )

 

@Stampy, he has a 6970M, not an Nvidia card.

medicin3man, switch to the Intel IGP (either Fn+F7 or right click on desktop and select Configure Switchable Graphics). Then right click on the desktop, click on Graphics Properties to start the Intel Graphics Control Panel, click Advanced Mode>Options and Support>Preferences and check Tray Icon and OK. After that, whenever the Intel IGP is the active graphics card, a blue Intel Graphics icon will appear in the tray. If the icon is there, you're using the Intel IGP; if not, the 6970M is active. You can also always just click on Configure Switchable Graphics, and it will tell you which one is active, but the icon method is easiest and fastest.

 

No I know he is... but isn't there a similar program for 6970m ? anyways I just tried to help I may very well be wrong xD

 

@OP. Easiest way to check which card you're on, is to check your system tray. If you're on the IGP, then you'll see the Intel HD Graphics icon (it's a rectangular dark blue computer monitor). If you're on the GPU, then you'll see nothing. You might see your CCC if it you enabled the system tray icon (if CCC has such a thing). Hope this helps

 

Thanks for thye responses! I never noticed the icon. That was pretty easy. Thank you for the help!