I have an MSI GF75 laptop with an upgraded 32GB of RAM and a GTX 1650 Ti (4GB). I'm using Pop OS because my desktop with a Radeon card runs great on it, but my laptop isn't performing nearly as well. I constantly have to adjust the driver settings for maximum performance, and even then, it crashes during gaming, starting off fast but then slowing down significantly. I'm curious if anyone experiences similar issues, especially since some games that should run fine feel like they're struggling. For example, while I reach close to the 144Hz refresh rate on low-spec games, others like Goat Simulator 3 only run at about 40 FPS. I know my hardware isn't the newest, but I still expect decent performance. I've tried other distro options like Bazzite and Nobara, but haven't had much luck. What are the best strategies to keep an Optimus system running smoothly?
2 Answers
It sounds like you might be dealing with more than just hardware limits. First off, ensure you're actually using your dedicated GPU for gaming by verifying through the LACT tool. If you're using your Nvidia drivers, stick to the proprietary ones for the best results. Also, try using PRIME offloading with Optimus. This can make a significant difference. Sometimes, it helps to disable the integrated GPU altogether while gaming, although this will affect your battery life. I've been using Manjaro with KDE, and switching to proprietary drivers during boot solved a lot of my issues. For Steam games, remember to use `prime-run` before launching. Give this a shot!
Check if your fans are properly functioning while gaming; overheating could be causing those slowdowns too. If your cooling system isn't doing its job, it might throttle your performance. From what I gather, your laptop seems to default to the Nvidia power profile set on 'auto,' which might interfere with the output. Researching PRIME could help you out too. It's a bit of a learning curve, but once set up, it can help you manage your graphics performance effectively. And I get your concerns about the AUR; just make sure to stick with trusted packages. Good luck!
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