Question:

How can I prevent the integrated GPU from causing system freezes when running games on the dedicated GPU?

I have a laptop with dual GPUs: an Intel UHD Graphics 630 and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. When I play games using the NVIDIA GPU, the performance is acceptable, but the integrated GPU occasionally reaches 100% usage and freezes the whole system. This problem persists even after updating both GPU drivers. What could be the cause and the solution for this issue?

Answer:

How to Fix System Freezes Caused by Integrated GPU

If you have a laptop with dual GPUs, such as an Intel UHD Graphics 630 and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, you might encounter a problem when running games on the dedicated GPU. The integrated GPU, which is normally used for less demanding tasks, might spike to 100% usage and freeze the whole system. This can be very frustrating and affect your gaming experience. In this article, we will explain what causes this issue and how to solve it.

The integrated GPU is part of the CPU and shares the same memory and power with it. When you run a game on the dedicated GPU, the CPU still needs to process some information and send it to the GPU. This can cause the integrated GPU to work harder and consume more resources. Sometimes, the integrated GPU might get overloaded and reach 100% usage, which can cause the system to freeze or crash.

There are several factors that can contribute to this problem, such as:

• Outdated or incompatible drivers: If your GPU drivers are not up to date or compatible with your system, they might cause conflicts or errors that affect the performance of the integrated GPU.
• High graphics settings: If you set the graphics settings of your game too high, you might put too much pressure on the dedicated GPU, which in turn can make the CPU and the integrated GPU work harder to keep up.
• Background processes: If you have too many programs or services running in the background, they might use up some of the CPU and memory resources that the integrated GPU needs.

How to Solve the Integrated GPU Issue?

There are some possible solutions that you can try to fix the integrated GPU issue and prevent system freezes when gaming. Here are some of them:

• Update your GPU drivers: The first thing you should do is to check if your GPU drivers are up to date and compatible with your system. You can use the official websites of Intel and NVIDIA to download the latest drivers for your GPUs. Alternatively, you can use a driver updater software to automatically scan and update your drivers.
• Lower your graphics settings: Another thing you can do is to lower the graphics settings of your game to reduce the load on the dedicated GPU. You can use the in-game settings menu or a third-party software like NVIDIA GeForce Experience to optimize your game settings for your system. You can also lower the resolution, anti-aliasing, and other advanced settings to improve the performance.
• Disable the integrated GPU: If none of the above solutions work, you can try to disable the integrated GPU entirely and force your system to use only the dedicated GPU. This can be done by using the NVIDIA Control Panel or the Windows Device Manager. However, this might affect the battery life and the temperature of your laptop, so use this option with caution.

Conclusion

The

integrated GPU issue is a common problem that many laptop users with dual GPUs face when gaming. It can cause system freezes and crashes that ruin the gaming experience. However, there are some possible solutions that you can try to fix this issue and enjoy your games without any interruption. We hope this article was helpful and informative for you. Happy gaming! 😊