I installed an RX 550 in an OptiPlex 5060 running Windows 11. The drivers are installed, but Task Manager only shows the Intel UHD Graphics 630 instead of the new card. The RX 550 does appear under Display adapters in Device Manager, and I may be seeing better performance and hearing its fan run. How can I confirm that Windows is using it? The system has an Intel Core i7-8700, 16 GB of RAM, and what I believe is a 260W power supply.
3 Answers
First, make sure the monitor cable is connected to the RX 550 itself, not one of the motherboard video outputs. If the display is still connected to the motherboard, the integrated graphics may remain the one handling the desktop output.
Keep in mind that the RX 550 is an older card, and many examples have significant wear by now. Some RX 500-series cards have developed hardware failures, including BGA solder problems, so its age and condition are worth considering. It should still be usable if Device Manager detects it and applications report activity, but it is not a modern or especially powerful GPU.
Check Device Manager under Display adapters. If the RX 550 appears there without a warning icon, Windows is detecting it. Task Manager may not always show GPU activity unless an application is using the card, so launch a game or other 3D program and check the GPU engine column or the Performance tab. You can also assign a specific app to the high-performance GPU in Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
It does appear under Display adapters, and I think I am getting a performance increase. The fan also spins, so it may already be working even though Task Manager is not displaying it the way I expected.
That is useful to know. I was working with a limited budget, and newer cards that fit in a small-form-factor system are difficult to afford.