Programs not recognizing discrete graphics

So I got an Alienware m14 for Christmas last year, with an integrated Intel card and discrete Nvidia card. I've noticed, however, that with any program that allows me to choose what graphics card to use, it will only find the Intel and not the higher performance Nvidia. The Nvidia control panel doesn't seem to work for setting which card to use as default, and I can force a program to boot using a specific card, but only if I have the .exe for it. That means any games I have on Steam are using the lower performance card.

Is there any way to shut down the Intel and use the Nvidia for everything? Or any other way to get things to recognize the discrete graphics?

 

I seriously hate bumping threads, but I don't want my thousand dollar laptop to end up being a waste of money because of poor programming or my stupidity.

 

Nope you cannot shut down Optimus due to the fact that everything goes through the IGP.

GPU off : IGP handles everything
GPU on : GPU does all the processing, IGP just outputs the frames to the display


Here is a fix for your Steam problems I think
Nvidia Optimus users - Read this! - Steam Users' Forums

 

As I said, the Nvidia control panel doesn't seem to do work, even with non-Steam games. And the fix on that post isn't working. I'm not getting the display for my Nvidia card that he describes.

 

Nvidia control panel doesn`t work? Thats strange. Have you tried deleting drivers and everything and reinstalling?

 

Yup, just updated my drivers and it still doesn't work.

 

I just checked around - the only option you have is uninstalling the drivers completely, restart in safe mode, use Driver Sweeper to remove all the traces of the driver, restart normally, install a good, stable driver (not necessarily the latest, especially nothing beta. Probably go for a driver before the latest one or one from your laptop's manufacturer/reseller), restart and try again.

No other magical workarounds, it seems.

 

Drivers for which card?

 

After you completely remove your nVIDIA driver, make sure you have the drivers for your Intel still installed. If not, install them. Only then install the drivers for your nVIDIA card.

 

Alright, I just did that, but it doesn't seem to do anything, though it may be my fault for not being specific enough. When I said the control panel isn't working, I meant it doesn't seem to have any effect on the default graphics card to use, but as it turns out there isn't an option for that anyway (I thought the 3D settings were settings for default graphics card).

I've done some looking around before and people have suggested disabling or uninstalling the Intel card/drivers, but that just makes my screen go black, or changing the default card in BIOS, but I don't see the option for that.

 

Are you still getting the proper framerates for you nvidia card when you are playing? The performance jump from intel HD to discrete nvidia is a large one. I have a 7970M and HD 4000, but games only allow me to choose the HD 4000, but it performs at 7970M levels.

 

I presume not, because when using the Technic Launcher for Minecraft there is a quite clear ~40fps boost when I force it to boot with the Nvidia.

Edit: Lemme check out some benchmarks and see, though.
Edit2: Hmm, I can't find any benchmarks for my card with games that I own and can display the fps/debug menu.

 

Benchmarks: Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards - Notebookcheck.net Tech

You can download FRAPS trial and it will display FPS in top left corner.

 

Alright, it looks like I am getting the Nvidia performance. So, I guess this whole fiasco was for nothing. Thanks for the help anyway.