How to play using a dedicated GPU

If you can see an "Exclamation point" sign on the right upper corner of your screen inside the game, then it means that your System specifications are not good enough for high performance. This guide will help with improving gaming performance.

With SIDUS HEROES' continuous development and improvement of its graphics, players will need more performance power for a smooth user experience. This might require the usage of a dedicated Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) instead of an integrated one. Some users don’t even know they have it!

In this guide, we’ll explain why you should use a dedicated GPU, what types there are and how to turn it on.

What is a GPU?

A Graphical Processing Unit is a programmable processor that handles the rendering of all images on a computer screen and provides the fastest processing of graphics. There are two types of GPUs:

• Dedicated - a video card/discrete graphics card, which is a piece of hardware used to manage the performance of a computer’s graphics. It doesn’t share system memory and is easy to upgrade.

• Integrated - a shared graphics card that shares memory with the main memory system and requires support to generate graphics.

As a rule, a dedicated GPU delivers better graphics compared to an integrated unit. So, it’s much more comfortable to use a GPU to play SIDUS HEROES.

How to check if you have 2 graphic cards

The GPU activity can be checked in Windows Task Manager’s Performance tab. This will give you an idea of which GPU is being used and whether you have 2 of them.

Seeing 2 GPUs in this section gives you the green light for action! In most cases, your dedicated GPU will be manufactured by one of two brands - Nvidia or AMD. Let’s take a look at how to activate high-performance mode for both types of cards!

How to turn on a high-performance GPU

Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select Display Settings.

Scroll down and find Graphics.

In “Custom option for apps”, click Browse and find the appropriate execution file.

Click “Options” (as shown in the screenshot).

Choose “High performance” and apply the changes.

How to turn on a Nvidia GPU

Nvidia uses a NVIDIA Control Panel for its GeForce graphics. Right-click on your desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.

Expand the 3D Settings category in the left vertical panel and select Manage 3D Settings. Go to the Global Settings tab and select High-performance Nvidia processor as your preferred graphics processor.

You can also set the desired GPU for a specific program. Go to the Program Settings tab and select the program you want to use the dedicated graphics card for from the drop-down menu. Similarly, select the High-performance NVIDIA processor as the preferred graphics processor for this program.

Click on Apply to save these changes. Well done!

How to turn on an AMD GPU

AMD uses an AMD Catalyst Control Center for its ATI/AMD Radeon graphics cards. There are different program versions, so we will provide a general guide.

Right-click the empty space on your desktop, choose the AMD Catalyst Control Center and go to the Graphics section.

Select Power from the left pane and then set the Plugged In type and Battery to Maximize Performance in the PowerPlay panel.

Go to Gaming, select 3D Application Settings and move the slider across to Performance to achieve optimal performance.

Click on Apply to save the changes and you’re ready to go!

Choosing a dedicated GPU is a wise move when you want to boost your SIDUS HEROES experience to the max! Complete these few simple steps and enjoy smoother gameplay.