How can I get Minecraft to use my GPU?

GPU
1

I’m having trouble getting Minecraft to use my dedicated GPU instead of my integrated graphics, causing performance issues. I’ve tried adjusting the settings, but nothing seems to work. Can anyone help me figure this out?

2

Are you sure you’re even looking at the right settings? Minecraft isn’t exactly demanding, so honestly, it seems odd to have such issues if you have a dedicated GPU. But fine, I’ll bite.

First, make sure your drivers are up to date. It sounds basic, but people often overlook it. Go to your GPU manufacturer’s website, download, and install the latest drivers. Trust me, automatic updates don’t always catch everything.

Next, you can try forcing Minecraft to use your GPU through your graphics card’s control panel. If you have an NVIDIA card, go to the NVIDIA Control Panel, find ‘Manage 3D settings’, and set ‘Preferred graphics processor’ to your high-performance NVIDIA processor. For AMD, it’s the AMD Radeon Settings - go to ‘System’, then ‘Switchable Graphics’. Find Minecraft and set it to 'High Performance’.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that disabling the integrated graphics through the BIOS might help. Be careful though, you could mess up things if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Cons? Well, playing with BIOS settings isn’t for the faint of heart - and if something goes wrong, good luck. Also, updating drivers whenever there’s a new release could be a hassle for some. The pros, though, are simple: you maximize your hardware’s potential.

As for competitors, you could look at OptiFine mods if you’re trying to boost performance, but honestly, if managing this basic setup is giving you trouble, mods might just add to your headache. Good luck.

3

You might wanna also check if Java itself is using your dedicated GPU. This one often gets overlooked because most ppl don’t realize Minecraft runs on Java, and its JVM needs to be configured separately.

  1. Java Setup:

    • First, find where your Java installation is located. Usually in Program Files or Program Files (x86), inside the ‘Java’ folder.
    • Next, create a shortcut for the javaw.exe file.

  2. Add Java to GPU Settings:

    • After you pinpoint the javaw.exe file, go back to your NVIDIA or AMD control panel.
    • Instead of looking for Minecraft.exe, add the javaw.exe to the list of programs.
    • Similar to the steps @techchizkid mentioned, set this to high-performance in your GPU control panel.

Duno why techchizkid didn’t stress this out, but you might also want to check your power settings. Set it to high performance in the Windows power options. Sounds silly but works!

One more thing, sometimes the Minecraft launcher itself chooses to run with integrated graphics, find the launcher EXE file (launcher.exe in .minecraft folder) and force it to use your GPU.

** IN-GAME SETTINGS **

  • Might be redundant, but check that you haven’t capped the framerate or have VSync on. These can seriously limit performance.

On rare occasions, the HDMI or DisplayPort you are using might be plugged into the wrong port, especially if you’re on a desktop with both integrated and dedicated GPU ports. Plug it into the dedicated GPU port directly on your back I/O panel.

Lastly, yea I agree messing with BIOS settings can be risky, but for some setups, disabling the integrated graphics there can yield results you can’t get otherwise. Entering BIOS is usually done by tapping DEL or F2 during startup, but be strict about following your specific motherboard’s manual.

As a final route, if none of these seem to work, consider reinstalling Minecraft and Java. Sometimes remnants of old installations can mess with the configurations and cause similar issues. If you were playing modded Minecraft, maybe some mods are not optimized, so starting fresh can clear any clogs.

For now, try the steps, let us know how it goes. If all else fails, you might wanna think about more extreme measures like full system format (only if desperate). GL!

4

If you’re able to navigate the typical solutions like updating drivers and adjusting the graphics processor settings in the NVIDIA or AMD control panels, you might want to try some more nuanced steps:

  1. Specific Minecraft Profiles:
    Sometimes gamers forget they can create specific profiles for their games. If you’re using NVIDIA, create a custom profile in the GeForce Experience and ensure that it forces the GPU to render Minecraft. This might override any default settings that may be restricting performance.

  2. Game Mode & Graphics Settings:
    Have you tweaked the in-game graphics settings? Beyond just framerate caps and VSync, there are other graphical settings in Minecraft that could be adjusted for better performance. Things like “Smooth Lighting”, “Chunk Loading”, and “Render Distance” could be optimized. For instance, lowering the Render Distance significantly impacts the load on your GPU.

  3. Monitor Connection:
    Double-check where your monitor is plugged in. This one is surprisingly common; if your monitor is plugged into the motherboard’s HDMI port instead of the GPU’s ports, it’ll only display integrated graphics, no matter your software settings.

  4. Task Manager/Activity Monitor:
    Open the Task Manager (or Activity Monitor on Mac) while the game is running to see which GPU Minecraft is actively using. Sometimes, despite settings, Minecraft sticks to integrated graphics.

  5. Minecraft Launcher:
    The Minecraft launcher itself can sometimes force the use of integrated graphics. Right-click the launcher shortcut, go to “Run with Graphics Processor” option, and select your dedicated GPU. This might bypass the launcher’s default settings.

  6. Exclusive Fullscreen:
    Instead of using borderless windowed mode, try switching to exclusive fullscreen mode. Sometimes the GPU will prioritize dedicated resources to fullscreen applications over windowed ones.

  7. Third-Party Tools:
    Consider using a program like GPU-Z to monitor which GPU is being used in real-time. It gives you a clear view and can sometimes hint at what’s restricting the GPU usage.

Disabling integrated graphics in BIOS, as mentioned, is a heavy-handed approach that might yield results but tread carefully. You can also try a BIOS update from your motherboard’s support site if you’re comfortable handling firmware updates.

Lastly, if you’re still facing issues, it might be worth investigating if the Minecraft version itself is causing the problem. Try downgrading to a slightly older version where GPU detection and performance might not be as buggy. Minecraft updates can sometimes introduce new issues.

Stay patient—these performance issues can be frustrating but are solvable with a bit of persistence and tweaking. Good luck!