What makes the computer use the dedicated GPU?

[alphaod]

So far I'm only running a web browser, yet the computer decides it needs the dedicated GPU for a web browser to display a bunch of web pages; none of these have Flash or even videos for that matter!

I know if I'm on my desktop idling and doing nothing it will use the integrated graphics, I know if I open Photoshop it will switch to dedicated graphics; when close Photoshop, Intel graphics kick in. Good.

But what makes this browser require that? This not only uses a lot of power, it is getting a little toasty.

Thoughts on this folks?

 

[tombilske]

they probably havent perfected it yet, this is the first time they have implemented it, but i think that anything that uses OpenCL or OpenGL uses the dedicated card. Im not sure, but that may be why it kicks in

 

[Cali3350]

Its supposed to intercept any OpenGL or OpenCL video call and turn it on automatically. Theoretically it should work perfectly.

How do you know its on? Are you using a third party program? Anandtech.com did a review stating that those utilities are currently bugged and always show the dedicated GPU as on.

 

[alphaod]

How do you know its on? Are you using a third party program? Anandtech.com did a review stating that those utilities are currently bugged and always show the dedicated GPU as on.

System Profiler says it's using the GT 330M

 

[chuckm1020]

yah it does turn on kinda random sometimes. i noticed whenever i have utorrent open the 330m is activated. i dont get why utorrent would need the video and why its turned on. this is always when utorrent is open.