Activate GeForce graphics card - how it works

If you are operating a computer with Intel HD graphics and an additional Geforce graphics card, you must first activate the graphics card. Otherwise, the computer often only accesses the onboard graphics.

Assign a GeForce graphics card to an application

First check whether your GeForce graphics card is active in the BIOS. If so, you can assign your graphics card to an application.

1. To do this, open the "Control Panel" under Windows and select "Appearance and Personalization"> "Display" and then "Screen resolution".
2. Click on the "Advanced Settings" option.
3. You will find the properties of your current graphics card. If the Intel HD graphics are listed there, you must first activate your GeForce graphics card in the BIOS - we will show you how in the next paragraph. If your GeForce graphics card is already displayed, you only need to assign it to an application.
4. To do this, right-click on the icon of an application and select the "NVIDIA high-performance processor" under "Execute with graphics processor".
5. If you want to select the appropriate application each time with the GeForce graphics card, you can set this up under "Select standard graphics processors".

Activate GeForce graphics card in the BIOS

If your operating system does not access the graphics card at all, you have to restart your computer and open the BIOS. To do this, press the corresponding key during the boot process. This differs depending on the manufacturer - but mostly it is [F2], [F5] or [F12].

1. Find the settings of your system graphics in the BIOS. The instructions for your mainboard or notebook will help you here.
2. Activate your GeForce graphics card. This is usually done by selecting the correct PCI or PCI-E connection.
3. Save the settings and exit the BIOS.
4. You can then repeat the steps in the first paragraph.

One of the currently most powerful graphics cards is the GeForce GTX 980. We have subjected the high-end graphics card to a test, which you will find in the next article.