Ensuring Specific GPU is Used in Windows 10

As a Linux man, you might find yourself out of your comfort zone when dealing with Windows. However, rest assured that the principles of managing hardware, such as ensuring a specific GPU is used, remain similar across different operating systems.

Why Specify a Specific GPU to Use?

There are several reasons why you might want to ensure a specific GPU is used in Windows 10. For instance, you might have multiple GPUs and want to dedicate one for gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks. Additionally, you might encounter compatibility issues with certain applications, necessitating the use of a particular GPU.

Identifying Your GPUs

Before you can specify which GPU to use, you need to identify the GPUs installed in your custom-built PC. Windows 10 makes this relatively straightforward through the Device Manager.

Using Device Manager to Identify GPUs

To access the Device Manager, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and search for 'Device Manager'.
2. Click on 'Device Manager' to open it.
3. Expand the 'Display adapters' section.

Here, you will see the GPUs installed in your system. In the example below, there are two GPUs: an Intel UHD Graphics 630 and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER.

Press the Windows key and search for 'Device Manager'.
Click on 'Device Manager' to open it.
Expand the 'Display adapters' section.

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Specifying the GPU to Use

Once you've identified the GPUs installed in your system, you can specify which one to use through the Windows Graphics Settings.

Using Windows Graphics Settings to Specify GPU

Follow these steps to specify the GPU to use:

1. Press the Windows key and search for 'Graphics Settings'.
2. Click on 'Graphics Settings' to open it.
3. Click on 'Browse' to select the application you want to specify the GPU for.
4. Choose the application's .exe file and click on 'Add'.
5. In the 'Graphics specifications' section, click on 'Options'.
6. Select 'High performance' and choose the GPU you want to use.
7. Click on 'Save' to apply the changes.

For the example below, we will specify the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER to be used with the Firefox application.

Press the Windows key and search for 'Graphics Settings'.
Click on 'Graphics Settings' to open it.
Click on 'Browse' to select the application you want to specify the GPU for.
Choose the application's .exe file and click on 'Add'.
In the 'Graphics specifications' section, click on 'Options'.
Select 'High performance' and choose the GPU you want to use.
Click on 'Save' to apply the changes.

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• To ensure a particular GPU is used in Windows 10, it's crucial to identify the GPUs installed in your system first.
• You can use the Device Manager to view the GPUs in your system.
• To specify the GPU to use, access the Windows Graphics Settings and select the desired GPU in the ‘Graphics specifications’ section for the specific application.

References

• How-To Geek - How To Select a GPU for an Application in Windows 10
• Windows Central - How to use a specific GPU for an application in Windows 10