L502x gaming on mini display port

Hi, I'm trying to play games on an external montior connected via mini display port.. I was getting bad fps, so I checked my GPU usage and it is only at 40%. It is fine when playing on the laptop display or over hdmi. I thought maybe I couldn't use the nvidia gpu over display port but since it's usage isn't 0% that doesn't appear to be the case.

Any ideas?

 

That might be the "power management" in teh Nvidia Control Panel. I believe by default it is set to "Adaptive" which essentially scales its power output.

Try changing it to "Max performance" or whatever the setting is (can't remember).

 

Where is that setting? I can't find it. Do I have to have the dell nvidia drivers? Because I have the 306.23 directly from nvidia.

Does that make sense though, since it is fine over hdmi and the laptop display?

Thanks!

 

Nevermind, I found that setting and set it to maximum performance instead of adaptive. Still only getting 30-40% GPU usage. Have confirmed that it is definitely running on the nvidia GPU.

Hmm, I had checked the nvidia temp, which was fine, however I had not checked the CPU temp. It was hitting over 90*C and was probably throttling. THus creating a cpu bottleneck, decreasing gpu usage.

I may have to do a repaste +remove dust filters, however, that guide looking awfully complicated. I;m comfortable working with desktops but not laptops.

Upon further inspection, this does not appear to be the problem. Even when I was only in the low 70's (when just starting the game before getting too hot) gpu usage was still 30-40% for the first few minutes.

 

Any ideas?

 

I has been gamming almost since the begining by using the minidisplay port on a bigger screen without issues.

keep in mind some games use more CPU and GPU

try with different games or try compare the internal screen vs the external screen setting the same resolution on both screens

and yes, the CPU bottleneck stuff games many times at this laptop, specially having a i3 proccesor like I have.

after repaste and set both CPU and GPU power plans to maximum performance, you can try using a modded bios if you arent yet.

there are some BIOS options like fast strings wich improve performance a little, and you also can set higher memory frequencies if your ram modules support it.

 

I've tried CS:GO and TF2. In TF2 I cap at ~40% GPU usage which nets me ~65 fps. I get 200+ over hdmi. In CS:GO, I cap at ~80% GPU usage which gets me ~55 fps.

So it isn't a usage limit, but more of an fps limit. Perhaps there is a bandwidth limitation when passing through the integrated GPU? Hmm. I am using the undervolted bios mod already, have not repasted. Have not tried the advanced bios. Should I?

I don't think overclock is really my solution because I get the desired fps over hdmi, just not over mini display port. I need to be able to used mini dp to take advantage of my monitors refresh rate

 

mmm, you can try install a newer intel hd 3000 graphics driver since the minidisplay port is hardware connected to the hd3000 drivers.

the hdmi is hardwired directly to the nvidia card, but all others are hardwired to the intel 3000 graphics.

you can get the drivers from the intel web site.

dell drivers download page offers an out to date drivers I think

 

updating intel gpu drivers and am now getting 60% GPU usage in tf2, which is better but I still cannot reach my desired frame rate.

thanks for the suggestions.