It's really quite bizarre. When I force Dolphin to use integrated graphics (by right-clicking the application and using the nvidia context menu), I get so-so performance for a game like Xenoblade. The title screen is at least smooth in terms of framerate and sound, though in-game it runs about 15-20 fps with very choppy sound. But when I force it to use the 820m, performance drops or is at least not better.
Using MSI Afterburner, I can actually see that the GPU load for the 820m is 100% when I tell Dolphin to use the 820m, and 0% when I tell it to use integrated graphics, which is what I expect. It might be a driver thing (though I've tried both the ASUS-provided driver and the most up-to-date Nvidia driver using a modified INF file), because I also see a performance discrepancy using PPSSPP. But when I run 3DMark11, the 820m's score is significantly higher than the Intel HD Graphics score (about double).
I've also turned off all throttling, and ThrottleStop shows that none of the CPU cores are being throttled. I've also set the 820m to use highest performance possible. No temperature problems, everything running at about 40 degrees.
This happens whether I choose OpenGL or Direct3D.
Anyone else seeing something similar? Is it a CPU problem, though if it is, why is the integrated graphics generally better>
Machine specs:
ASUS EeeBox EB1037
Intel Celeron J1900
Nvidia Geforce GT 820m
4 GB RAM
Using MSI Afterburner, I can actually see that the GPU load for the 820m is 100% when I tell Dolphin to use the 820m, and 0% when I tell it to use integrated graphics, which is what I expect. It might be a driver thing (though I've tried both the ASUS-provided driver and the most up-to-date Nvidia driver using a modified INF file), because I also see a performance discrepancy using PPSSPP. But when I run 3DMark11, the 820m's score is significantly higher than the Intel HD Graphics score (about double).
I've also turned off all throttling, and ThrottleStop shows that none of the CPU cores are being throttled. I've also set the 820m to use highest performance possible. No temperature problems, everything running at about 40 degrees.
This happens whether I choose OpenGL or Direct3D.
Anyone else seeing something similar? Is it a CPU problem, though if it is, why is the integrated graphics generally better>
Machine specs:
ASUS EeeBox EB1037
Intel Celeron J1900
Nvidia Geforce GT 820m
4 GB RAM