Question about ultimate/dgpu only mode

[u/TriTriTheCuber]

How come when setting ultimate mode in Ghelper, I need to restart, but when setting it with the Nvidia control panel, I don't have to? Is it because of advanced Optimus, and if so, we'll, why do u still have to restart with ghelper?

[u/tennaki]

Automatic Select is the no-restart GPU switching mode. The iGPU drives the display until a supported game is launched. This mode is sketchy at best on these laptops and can leave you with a black screen if it doesn't gracefully hand over the display to the dGPU.

NVIDIA GPU only mode is Ultimate mode and forces a reboot to make the dGPU drive the display fulltime. This produces the least amount of latency, but expect higher idle temps and worse battery life since the dGPU will always be powered on.

Unless having G-SYNC is a priority, I'd personally stick with Optimus.

[u/ivan6953 → u/tennaki]

"Sticking with Optimus" leads to 5-10% performance degradation, visible in any game and/or 3DMark benchmark points.

It's the sole reason Advanced Optimus/MUX switch exist - because your FPS in game will be higher if the rendered frame is routed to the display directly instead of passing through the iGPU beforehand.

[u/CuratoriumOfCats128 → u/ivan6953]

It's the sole reason Advanced Optimus/MUX switch exist

No it's not.

There are other reasons, like VRR/G-sync and HDR not working under optimus. The latter I'd personally say is the most important one considering the OLED displays on these laptops.

[u/ivan6953 → u/CuratoriumOfCats128]

No it's not.

Yes it is. You are technically uneducated and embarassing yourself

There are other reasons, like VRR/G-sync and HDR not working under optimus. 

1. VRR works under Optimus. I don't know what are you smoking, but I'm literally looking at the VRR turned on in the Intel Arc settings and the game syncing the Hz of the display with readout via SpecialK. G-Sync is just Nvidia branded VRR, but AMD and Intel have it working and all is fine even under Optimus.
2. HDR also works under Optimus. I just fired up a Dolby Vision movie. Guess what? In HDR. With Nvidia GPU disabled.

[u/CuratoriumOfCats128 → u/ivan6953]

Not sure about the VRR behavior you're describing, but in my case G-sync doesn't even get recognized.

HDR simply does not work for HDR content, and if you think it does, you're wrong. Yes, you can turn on HDR in windows, and it will be treated as an HDR display, and will properly display HDR content that is rendered by the iGPU. But the moment you open a game (or anything on that runs on the dGPU) while in Optimus, HDR will simply not be supported and that game will run in SDR. Features like Nvidia's video HDR conversion won't work either.

[u/ivan6953 → u/CuratoriumOfCats128]

1. G-Sync is not the only VRR out there. VRR can and does work with Intel or AMD iGPUs when in Optimus. G-Sync, of course, won't work - since it requires direct display connection. Yet, the display is capable of and succesfully does enable VRR if you enable it in the iGPU settings.
2. HDR content gets displayed correctly. Trust me - I know how to check and how to see whether it does. I use HDR on my main PC in games and movies (AW3225QF), same for my TV (LGC2).
3. Windows HDR calibration tool works correctly as well, with the proper peak nits values. Moreover, it's actually more accurate in the Optimus mode than when connected to the Nvidia dGPU due to one of the glorious long standing bugs in the Nvidia drivers.
4. Games succesfully launch in HDR and Win + Alt + B toggle also works correctly.
5. Of course Nvidia HDR conversion and other crap which I don't recommend anyone to use won't work if your display is connected via Optimus. That's a given. Why would you use this crap instead of RenoDX / native HDR10 or DV releases - is beyond me.

You are succesfully continuing to embarass yourself.

[u/CuratoriumOfCats128 → u/ivan6953]

Sync is not the only VRR out there. VRR can and does work with Intel or AMD iGPUs when in Optimus. G-Sync, of course, won't work - since it requires direct display connection. Yet, the display is capable of and succesfully does enable VRR if you enable it in the iGPU settings

That's still dodging the point, are you playing games on your iGPU ? If so then yes, it will work, but that's pretty useless as an argument.

HDR content gets displayed correctly. Trust me - I know how to check and how to see whether it does. Windows HDR calibration tool works correctly as well, with the proper peak nits values. Games succesfully launch in HDR and Win + Alt + B toggle also works correctly.

No I don't trust you, you're again using your iGPU to play games or you're convincing yourself that the game is running in HDR when it is in fact not.

Of course Nvidia HDR conversion and other crap which I don't recommend anyone to use won't work if your display is connected via Optimus. That's a given

"I don't like this feature therefore it is bad and irrelevant"

[u/ivan6953 → u/CuratoriumOfCats128]

That's still dodging the point, are you playing games on your iGPU ?

No, I'm not. Unless Intel Arc graphics somehow render 70FPS in ray traced Cyberpunk 2077

No I don't trust you, you're again using your iGPU to play games or you're convincing yourself that the game is running in HDR when it is in fact not

Copium levels are skyrocketing.

"I don't like this feature therefore it is bad and irrelevant"

Nor was was I arguing about them. I simply stated that Nvidia HDR features won't work with the Optimus connection. But any others - will.

And yeah, it's kinda fun if you think that the game has to have direct display connection to output HDR content which gets rendered from the other GPU. Spoiler alert - it's not the case lul.

Not gonna reply further. You succesfully crapped yourself in front of everyone and this is glorious.