Preferred graphics processor problem (Nvidia Optimus)

[windowmakerr]

I've been having an issue regarding frame rates in Quake live ranging from 25-70 fps during regular gameplay (being quite choppy), whereas in the same conditions the game runs at a stable 125-500 fps (whatever com_maxfps is set to) in Quake III Arena. First off, I know what the problem is. My hybrid graphics system is choosing the crappy Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator HD video over the coexistent NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M card. I know this because in Quake Live r_lastValidRenderer is set to "Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator HD" , whereas in Quake 3 it is set to "GeForce GT 330M/PCI/SSE2". I've tried to figure out how to set Quake Live to run using the NVIDIA graphics from within the NVIDIA Control Panel, but since Quake Live runs through the browser and not as an executable (as far as I know), I'm pretty lost. I've tried choosing Chrome.exe (Google Chrome executable) to run using NVIDIA graphics but that didn't help. Thanks to anyone that reads this.

Edit: Tried firefox.exe and plugin-container.exe as well, no difference

[windowmakerr]

Bump. Anyone know a way to assert the preferred graphics processor for QL?

[Salamatiqus]

Is there any software that manipulates behavior of videcards switching? I think problem is energy saving mode with Intel Graphics when running firefox but, whoa, you load Quake Live. Try to search any software that allows you to choose automatic videocard switching or where you can specify to use nVidia card when running firefox. I'm talking about this software because manufacturers loves to put some software in the disc

[Lam]

since Quake Live runs through the browser and not as an executable (as far as I know), I'm pretty lost. I've tried choosing Chrome.exe (Google Chrome executable) to run using NVIDIA graphics but that didn't help. Thanks to anyone that reads this.

No idea how Chrome runs plugins (some helper executable?), but can you simply try playing with Firefox and changing settings for firefox.exe?

[windowmakerr]

I tried the same method with firefox.exe with the same results. I need to find a way to either force all graphics to run through the NVIDIA GPU temporarily (via hotkey maybe) or to somehow make the GPU activate when it detects the QL plugin is running. I wonder if anyone's encountered similar issues.

[Yakumo]

Firefox uses a 'plugin-container.exe' check the ram usage of that when you start the QL game client to see if that is being used to host the actual client.

I can't help much until after Chrismtas when I'll have my own nv optimus gear to try out.

[windowmakerr]

Ahh I'll try and enable that plugin-container.exe. Atm I'm having a new problem with all my web browsers either failing to start/failing to play flash, so once I get that fixed I'll try asserting the GPU to that process. Thanks!

[windowmakerr]

When I tried to assert NVIDIA Control Panel to use plugin-container.exe it didn't recognize it as a valid program to render and defaulted to firefox.exe on its own, which I already had in the list.

http://i.min.us/ib0cjA.png
http://i.min.us/ib0kGg.png

Quake Live still runs on the integrated graphics.

[Icey_Pain]

Not sure if it works, but perhaps you can go to control panel->System->Computer management then disable the Intel integrated graphics card.

[Cyberstorm]

Ive noticed that when I get crap fps my gpu usage is only about 30% and one of my cpu cores is at about 90%-100% usage.

PS - Is this irrelevant?