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AutoCAD uses the wrong graphics card

Products and versions covered
AutoCAD 2009, AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD 2013, AutoCAD 2014, AutoCAD 2015, AutoCAD 2016, AutoCAD 2017, AutoCAD 2018, AutoCAD 2019, AutoCAD 2020, AutoCAD Architecture 2009, AutoCAD Architecture 2010, AutoCAD Architecture 2011, AutoCAD Architecture 2012, AutoCAD Architecture 2013, AutoCAD Architecture 2014, AutoCAD Architecture 2015, AutoCAD Architecture 2016, AutoCAD Architecture 2017, AutoCAD Architecture 2018, AutoCAD Architecture 2019, AutoCAD Architecture 2020, AutoCAD Electrical 2009, AutoCAD Electrical 2010, AutoCAD Electrical 2011, AutoCAD Electrical 2012, AutoCAD Electrical 2013, AutoCAD Electrical 2014, AutoCAD Electrical 2015, AutoCAD Electrical 2016, AutoCAD Electrical 2017, AutoCAD Electrical 2018, AutoCAD Electrical 2019, AutoCAD Electrical 2020, AutoCAD LT 2009, AutoCAD LT 2010, AutoCAD LT 2011, AutoCAD LT 2012, AutoCAD LT 2013, AutoCAD LT 2014, AutoCAD LT 2015, AutoCAD LT 2016, AutoCAD LT 2017, AutoCAD LT 2018, AutoCAD LT 2019, AutoCAD LT 2020, AutoCAD MEP 2009, AutoCAD MEP 2010, AutoCAD MEP 2011, AutoCAD MEP 2012, AutoCAD MEP 2013, AutoCAD MEP 2014, AutoCAD MEP 2015, AutoCAD MEP 2016, AutoCAD MEP 2017, AutoCAD MEP 2018, AutoCAD MEP 2019, AutoCAD MEP 2020, AutoCAD Map 3D 2009, AutoCAD Map 3D 2010, AutoCAD Map 3D 2011, AutoCAD Map 3D 2012, AutoCAD Map 3D 2013, AutoCAD Map 3D 2014, AutoCAD Map 3D 2015, AutoCAD Map 3D 2016, AutoCAD Map 3D 2017, AutoCAD Map 3D 2018, AutoCAD Map 3D 2019, AutoCAD Map 3D 2020, AutoCAD Map 3D Enterprise 2012, AutoCAD Map 3D Enterprise 2013, AutoCAD Mechanical 2009, AutoCAD Mechanical 2010, AutoCAD Mechanical 2011, AutoCAD Mechanical 2012, AutoCAD Mechanical 2013, AutoCAD Mechanical 2014, AutoCAD Mechanical 2015, AutoCAD Mechanical 2016, AutoCAD Mechanical 2017, AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, AutoCAD Mechanical 2019, AutoCAD Mechanical 2020, AutoCAD P&ID 2009, AutoCAD P&ID 2010, AutoCAD P&ID 2011, AutoCAD P&ID 2012, AutoCAD P&ID 2013, AutoCAD P&ID 2014, AutoCAD P&ID 2015, AutoCAD P&ID 2016, AutoCAD P&ID 2017, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2009, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2012, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2014, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2015, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2016, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2017, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2018, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2019, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2020, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2009, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2010, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2011, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2012, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2013, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2014, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2015, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2016, AutoCAD Utility Design 2012, AutoCAD Utility Design 2013, AutoCAD Utility Design 2014, AutoCAD Utility Design 2015, AutoCAD Utility Design 2016, AutoCAD Utility Design 2017, AutoCAD ecscad 2009, AutoCAD ecscad 2010, AutoCAD ecscad 2011, AutoCAD ecscad 2012, AutoCAD ecscad 2013, AutoCAD ecscad 2014, Civil 3D 2019, & Civil 3D 2020

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Issue:

On a system with dual graphics cards where one is an integrated on-board unit (e.g., Intel HD Graphics) and the other is a discrete NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, AutoCAD utilizes the low-end video instead of the high-end display adapter. This is usually seen on laptop systems. In some instances when using an external monitor, the wrong graphics card is used when the monitor is plugged in or it reverts AutoCAD to the on-board video when unplugged.

Causes:

  • The technology for the dual video configuration is called "Optimus" by NVIDIA and "Enduro" or "Dynamic Switchable Graphics" by AMD. This design allows the system to automatically switch between high and low performance display in order to use less battery power. The problem occurs when the switching software chooses the graphics card for AutoCAD, having it always used the low-end display.
  • With an external monitor, the video port it is connected to may only route through the low-end display adapter. It may also route through a docking station or other such connection which can diverge from using the high-end graphics in the system, forcing AutoCAD to not be able to utilize it (since it is effectively unavailable by the system at that point).

Solution:

Do one or more of the following:
Note: The following solutions do not pertain Autodesk software and may cause system instability if improperly implemented. As such, they should only be performed by a system administrator or IT representative.
  • In Control Panel > Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click on Intel HD Graphics and choose Disable.
  • On non-mobile systems, the video driver control panel might not have the option to choose the proper display adapter. In this case, uninstall the drivers for the unwanted graphic card and use a group policy to prevent Windows from re-installing the driver (Group Policy for Beginners).
  • Disable the integrated (or switchable) adapter in the computer BIOS to force the system to use only the high-end graphics. The BIOS setting may be labeled along the lines of default video, integrated video, Intel video, switchable graphics, Optimus, or Enduro. Note: Some computer systems may use a master-slave video configuration. For example, Intel HD Graphics would be the master GPU and the NVIDIA or AMD GPU would be slaved to it. All display signals go through the Intel chipset no matter what card is being used. The BIOS will not have a setting to disable dual graphics in this setup.

Products:

AutoCAD Products;

Versions:

2017; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2019; 2020; 2018;

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