Optimus XI 17.3 - GPU Problems

[des________]

I've been trying to fix this for at least four days now to no avail. When I received this PC, from the beginning it ran games unbelieveably slow and i had no idea why. So, I installed programs like Core Temp, MSI Afterburner, etc. to monitor the hardware activity... turns out, everything is using the integrated AMD graphics rather than my dedicated GPU. So, here's what I do...

- Changed all possible NVIDIA settings to prefer the dedicated GPU
- Set everything to prefer high performance
- Removed all possible power saving measures that would throttle the dedicated GPU
- Reinstalled drivers, using the ones specifically recommended for this system
- Attempted to run games using the right-click menu to prefer the dedicated GPU
- Reinstalled multiple other utilities

And now I'm in a very weird spot. I've had brief stints where the dedicated GPU would actually be put to use, but then within hours, it would stop again. Currently, everything I do relating to graphics rendering makes the CPU run super hot, while under 20-30% total load... while the dedicated GPU doesn't surpass more than 10% use, and the integrated spikes up to 70-80% often. Nothing graphics intensive will run properly. I'm absolutely lost here.

The CPU seems to be acting up as well. Performance throttles down to under 10% when lag spikes occur, and even on intensive games it never surpasses 20% usage.

Specs:

Also for reference, a collage of MSI Afterburner graphs while I was typing this out. GPU1 being integrated, GPU2 being dedicated.

I would really appreciate help with this.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I've been trying to fix this for at least four days now to no avail. When I received this PC, from the beginning it ran games unbelieveably slow and i had no idea why. So, I installed programs like Core Temp, MSI Afterburner, etc. to monitor the hardware activity... turns out, everything is using the integrated AMD graphics rather than my dedicated GPU. So, here's what I do...

- Changed all possible NVIDIA settings to prefer the dedicated GPU
- Set everything to prefer high performance
- Removed all possible power saving measures that would throttle the dedicated GPU
- Reinstalled drivers, using the ones specifically recommended for this system
- Attempted to run games using the right-click menu to prefer the dedicated GPU
- Reinstalled multiple other utilities

And now I'm in a very weird spot. I've had brief stints where the dedicated GPU would actually be put to use, but then within hours, it would stop again. Currently, everything I do relating to graphics rendering makes the CPU run super hot, while under 20-30% total load... while the dedicated GPU doesn't surpass more than 10% use, and the integrated spikes up to 70-80% often. Nothing graphics intensive will run properly. I'm absolutely lost here.

The CPU seems to be acting up as well. Performance throttles down to under 10% when lag spikes occur, and even on intensive games it never surpasses 20% usage.

Specs: View attachment 17468

Also for reference, a collage of MSI Afterburner graphs while I was typing this out. GPU1 being integrated, GPU2 being dedicated.

View attachment 17469

I would really appreciate help with this.

As there have been loads of driver updates, overclocking software suites etc installed, it’s going to be easiest to troubleshoot by doing a clean install.

Can you post your full specs from the order page?

 

[des________]

As there have been loads of driver updates, overclocking software suites etc installed, it’s going to be easiest to troubleshoot by doing a clean install.

Can you post your full specs from the order page?

I take it that doing a "reset this PC" through windows settings will reinstall everything, including all of the pre-packaged drivers and programs, right? I'm willing to give it a shot since this is a new install anyway.

Chassis & Display	Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD 120Hz 45% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen™ 7 Eight Core Processor 4800H (2.9GHz, 4.2GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)	16GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 - 4.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive	512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader	Integrated 3 in 1 Card Reader (Full Size SD / SDHC / SDXC)
AC Adaptor	1 x 150W AC Adaptor
Power Cable	1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery	Optimus Series Integrated 46WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste	ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card	2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless	GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options	1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language	OPTIMUS SERIES RGB BACKLIT USA KEYBOARD
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language	US International/USA - US English Language
Windows Recovery Media	Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software	FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus	NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser	Firefox™
Notebook Mouse	INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam	INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty	3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery	STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time	Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Welcome Book	PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[Grumpywurzel]

Really daft question, but are you running the laptop on the mains? Right click on the battery icon and click power options, what option is selected?

 

[SpyderTracks]

I take it that doing a "reset this PC" through windows settings will reinstall everything, including all of the pre-packaged drivers and programs, right? I'm willing to give it a shot since this is a new install anyway.

That’s a reset rather than a clean install.

You’d need to create a bootable media from here:

Download Windows 10

Then boot the usb from the BIOS and delete all partitions before installing to the remaining space.

 

[des________]

Really daft question, but are you running the laptop on the mains? Right click on the battery icon and click power options, what option is selected?

Yeah it's on the mains through the AC charger. Switching on the AC charger makes things run noticeably worse, and actually throttles the GPU, maybe to prevent overheating. I've had the power options set to high performance settings.

 

[des________]

After more testing, I'm thinking it's down to cooling. The CPU, while running a game, will run at about 60-70 celsius, sometimes spiking up to 80. I've turned off AC power and, what do you know, the heat is consistently around 44 even while running that same game, and additionally the GPU stops being throttled. I haven't used laptops before so I'm not sure if that's an intended feature...

Still, the integrated graphics tend to be getting in the way and hogging unnecessary power from the dedicated graphics, but that might be down to software issues.

 

[SpyderTracks]

After more testing, I'm thinking it's down to cooling. The CPU, while running a game, will run at about 60-70 celsius, sometimes spiking up to 80. I've turned off AC power and, what do you know, the heat is consistently around 44 even while running that same game, and additionally the GPU stops being throttled. I haven't used laptops before so I'm not sure if that's an intended feature...

Still, the integrated graphics tend to be getting in the way and hogging unnecessary power from the dedicated graphics, but that might be down to software issues.

Those temps are completely normal. The laptop will enter power saver when on battery so it throttles the GPU and CPU to save power. Completely expected.

You’ll need to do a clean install

 

[des________]

Those temps are completely normal. The laptop will enter power saver when on battery so it throttles the GPU and CPU to save power. Completely expected.

You’ll need to do a clean install

Apparently they're not normal temperatures, because my entire PC starts stuttering like crazy when it gets above the 70 range. This effectively means I'm unable to do much reliably while I'm charging my laptop, which definitely makes me think there's something wrong. Before I do a clean install, maybe there's other troubleshooting I can do to solve that part of the problem.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Apparently they're not normal temperatures, because my entire PC starts stuttering like crazy when it gets above the 70 range. This effectively means I'm unable to do much reliably while I'm charging my laptop, which definitely makes me think there's something wrong. Before I do a clean install, maybe there's other troubleshooting I can do to solve that part of the problem.

Yes, there’s obviously something wrong, but those temps are well within range. You’d be looking at high 90’s before thermal throttling is even a thing on the horizon.