Rhino doesn't use newly installed Graphics Card NVidia GTX 1050

[eldin]

Hello all,

I recently installed new graphics cards in some of the computers of my colleagues, so they are not stuck with the Intel HD Graphics card when they work in Rhino. I updated the drivers of the new GTX 1050 cards on all systems and they are displayed correctly in the device manager.
Although when I open Rhino, it shows me that it still uses the Intel HD Graphics 4600 card. I found out that I can disable the Intel HD Graphics card in the device manager to let Rhino use the GTX, but then the monitors also need to run on the GTX which requires all different cables than we currently have.
I believe there should be a way to tell Rhino just to use the GTX card and ignore the Intel HD Graphics card.

Can anyone help me out with this situation?

System info can be found below. I can also add some screencaps, but I can’t find out how to do it in this format.

SYSTEM INFO:

Rhino 6 SR14 2019-5-7 (Rhino 6, 6.14.19127.17141, Git hash:master @ 5b633aaa430941b76f5789a0ce3bb670ce06947a)
License type: Commercial, build 2019-05-07
License details: Cloud Zoo. In use by: Baekhyun Chi (SH - R&D)

Windows 10.0 SR0.0 or greater (Physical RAM: 7.9Gb)
Machine name: DESKTOP-LT7MFU6

Non-hybrid graphics.
Primary display and OpenGL: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (Intel) Memory: 1GB, Driver date: 10-16-2017 (M-D-Y). OpenGL Ver: 4.3.0 - Build 20.19.15.4835

Secondary graphics devices.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (NVidia) Memory: 2GB, Driver date: 5-5-2019 (M-D-Y).

OpenGL Settings
Safe mode: Off
Use accelerated hardware modes: On
Redraw scene when viewports are exposed: On

Anti-alias mode: 2x
Mip Map Filtering: Linear
Anisotropic Filtering Mode: Height

Vendor Name: Intel
Render version: 4.3
Shading Language: 4.30 - Build 20.19.15.4835
Driver Date: 10-16-2017
Driver Version: 20.19.15.4835
Maximum Texture size: 16384 x 16384
Z-Buffer depth: 24 bits
Maximum Viewport size: 16384 x 16384
Total Video Memory: 1 GB

Rhino plugins
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Commands.rhp “Commands” 6.14.19127.17141
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\WebBrowser.rhp “WebBrowser”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk.rhp “Renderer Development Kit”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\RhinoScript.rhp “RhinoScript”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\IdleProcessor.rhp “IdleProcessor”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\RhinoRender.rhp “Rhino Render”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk_etoui.rhp “RDK_EtoUI” 6.14.19127.17141
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk_ui.rhp “Renderer Development Kit UI”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\NamedSnapshots.rhp “Snapshots”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Alerter.rhp “Alerter”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\RhinoCycles.rhp “RhinoCycles” 6.14.19127.17141
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Grasshopper\GrasshopperPlugin.rhp “Grasshopper” 6.14.19127.17141
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Toolbars\Toolbars.rhp “Toolbars” 6.14.19127.17141
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\3dxrhino.rhp “3Dconnexion 3D Mouse”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Displacement.rhp “Displacement”

[JimCarruthers]

I don’t know the exact procedure, it’s not related to Rhino, but I guess it is possible to “pipe” the GTX graphics through the Intel, since that’s how external GPUs work. Again it’s something you do at the Windows level, I don’t know off hand what you need to do but some googling should turn it up.

[Brenda]

Seeing that you have 2 graphic chips, have you checked the nVidia control panel, to make sure that either the default profile, or a custom Rhino3D-only profile prefers the “Nvidia High-Performance GPU” instead of the “Integrated Graphics” ?

If you update the drivers, depending on your options, your previous GPU settings have gone to a better place.

Generally, I only use the nVidia GPU for 3D programs that need/use it, Photoshop, Premier, and some science applications.

[I should play more games on my notebook, I have never been happy with the performance of my nVidia Quadro K2100m.]

[Asterisk]

Are you running Rhino on a monitor that’s not plugged into GTX card?

[JimCarruthers]

That would seem to be what’s being said. Laptops do that all the time, I saw Linus Tech Tips game with a dedicated “mining” card with no video output, it can be done in Windows somehow.

[dale (Dale Fugier)]

Moved to the Rhino for Windows category.

[eldin]

Yes, the Monitors (2 of them) are plugged into the Intel HD

[eldin]

Hi Brenda,

So when I open the nVidia control panel, I get the message “You are not currently using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU”. Which makes sense, since the monitors use the Intel HD.
I Set up Rhino to use the nVidia card throught his process:
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/set-which-video-cards-are-used-apps-games-windows-10

Though it still doesn’t, even after restarting the PC. I double-checked if this process workes with another type of software (Autodesk Revit) and there it did the trick, it was saying before it used the Intel card, now it says nVidia. So I’m really unsure why Rhino is being so stubborn.

[Brenda]

'Never tried messing with that.

Firstly, when doing system work, it’s always more relaxing and safe to do it after having done a full backup. Anyway.

This is how I set I Rhino on the old “Mobile Workstation.” After installing the latest nVidia drivers, and rebooting, I right click on the desktop, I choose “Nvidia Control Panel.”

There are two modes of managing the 3D settings. At some point, it might be best to put it on the expert settings, it might read different, but you get the idea. I just don’t want to change mine back. Anyway…

This is where I choose the nVidia GPU.

Just before this screenshot is where things get tricky…
You likely want to change the global graphic settings for the nVidia GPU.
You may or may not want to use the nVidia GPU for everything. So, for my laptop, I need to choose the use the nVidia GPU for everything, set up the Gpu, save my settings–and then, set it back to Integrated Graphics. Phew!!

So, I make a custom profile for Rhino, like this:

Because. I dislike the shader cache, because it writes to my SSD, I shut the off in the global profile.
I usually go through the rest of the options.

On games, I often force antialiasing; on Rhino, I don’t because I want the performance.
On games, use the best texture filtering; on Rhino, I choose performance.
On games, I use high aniosotropic filtering; on Rhino, I shut it off, you guessed it, for performance.
On games I choose Multi-Frame AA. On Rhino, it’s off.
I have always hated FXAA. Watch this heavily-touted option quietly disappear from the menu someday.
I let Rhino control the AA, because it’s Registry writes are still faster than nVidia.
Oddly, I use an “Adoptive” power profile for everything, believing that it may give decent performance, and still let the heat-soak from the GPU dissipate.
I tend to keep the Pre-Rendered frames low, as it’s a kind of GPU cheating that makes a jarring, nauseating GPU experience.
Vsync, off.
Trilinear optimization, on, as Rhino likely uses Mipmaps for its OpenGl view.

As a computer gamer, you are expected to know what all of these settings mean, so you will find guides with pictures, from them : )

[eldin]

Hi Brenda,

Thanks for your elaborate reply!
After some tinkering I found out that at least 1 monitor should be plugged into a port coming from the nVidia card, then Rhino recognizes your card
The other monitor(s) can be plugged into the internal GPU, this doesn’t affect anything.

I’m curious if someone could explain why this is the case and how it works (hardware wise)?

[fmataraz]

Hi, I have the same problem with the same graphics card, geforce gtx 1050, and I cannot set nvidia as primary card, what’s problem?
attach my cards and rhino settings, I’m sorry my desktop is set in italian

this is my systeminfo:
Rhino 6 SR35 2021-8-10 (Rhino 6, 6.35.21222.17001, Git hash:master @ 073ac7b225c67348731c6597127b9410126c3139)
License type: Commerciale, build 2021-08-10
License details: Cloud Zoo. In use by: fmataraz ()

Windows 10.0.0 SR0.0 or greater (Physical RAM: 16Gb)
Machine name: DESKTOP-3BHJUC3

Computer platform: LAPTOP - Plugged in [100% battery remaining]

Hybrid graphics configuration.
Primary display: Intel(R) HD Graphics 630 (Intel) Memory: 1GB, Driver date: 7-9-2021 (M-D-Y).
> Integrated graphics device with 3 adapter port(s)
- Windows Main Display is laptop’s integrated screen or built-in port
Primary OpenGL: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (NVidia) Memory: 4GB, Driver date: 8-5-2021 (M-D-Y). OpenGL Ver: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 471.68
> Integrated acclerated graphics device (shares primary device ports)
- Video pass-through to primary display device

OpenGL Settings
Safe mode: Off
Use accelerated hardware modes: On
Redraw scene when viewports are exposed: On

Anti-alias mode: 4x
Mip Map Filtering: Linear
Anisotropic Filtering Mode: High

Vendor Name: NVIDIA Corporation
Render version: 4.6
Shading Language: 4.60 NVIDIA
Driver Date: 8-5-2021
Driver Version: 30.0.14.7168
Maximum Texture size: 32768 x 32768
Z-Buffer depth: 24 bits
Maximum Viewport size: 32768 x 32768
Total Video Memory: 4 GB

Rhino plugins
C:\Program Files\Geometry Gym\Rhino3d\ggRhinoIFC.rhp “ggRhinoIFC” 2.1.3.0
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Commands.rhp “Commands” 6.35.21222.17001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk.rhp “Renderer Development Kit”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Tibidabo\Tibidabo.rhp “Tibidabo”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\RhinoRender.rhp “Rhino Render”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk_etoui.rhp “RDK_EtoUI” 6.35.21222.17001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\rdk_ui.rhp “Renderer Development Kit UI”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\NamedSnapshots.rhp “Snapshots”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\RhinoCycles.rhp “RhinoCycles” 6.35.21222.17001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Tibidabo\VisualARQ.rhp “VisualARQ”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Toolbars\Toolbars.rhp “Toolbars” 6.35.21222.17001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\3dxrhino.rhp “3Dconnexion 3D Mouse”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Displacement.rhp “Displacement”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins\Calc.rhp “Calc”

[fmataraz]

I forgot geforce control panel snapshot

[cody.winchester]

None of these steps have any affect. Is there another setting or method that forces Rhino to see the NVIDIA graphics? Is it related to external monitors? Or is this just becoming a Rhino/NVIDIA bug? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[John_Brock]

Windows Power Options:

[cody.winchester]

Yup. Already tried that. The Rhino profile is also set to NVIDIA in the NVIDIA control panel. Anything else?

[Brenda]

The Cycle -related stuff, as you might already know, only affect the real-time ray-tracing (path-tracing) rendering.

Within your drawing, you also might get better performance/usefullness by:

• Making sure as many of your (2.5D) extruded objects are Lightweight extrusions, because the GPU can use it’s own strips and fans, rather than separate triangle meshes.

• Lowering your render-mesh settings while you are working.

• Using custom rendering meshes for detailed objects.

• Hiding objects either by layer-or by choosing what you are working on and using Isolate.

• Making sure that your textures are of reasonable size.

I am sorry. I don’t know what you are doing, but you might need a faster computer for it.

[Michael_Pryor (ekim)]

That’s not a Rhino thing, that’s a general computer thing. Monitor should always go to the GPU. If you want to know why, do a quick Google search, plenty of technical computer info on the web but in short, monitor interprets graphics, graphics card provides graphics, rhino needs graphics.