Does PerformanceTest support NVIDIA Optimus?

If you are using a laptop with NVIDIA Optimus enabled, for example those with GeForce GT 420M, 425M, 435M, 445M, 520M, 525M, 540M, 550M and 555M video cards, optimus may not correctly switch to the high performance video card when running PerformanceTest. Consequently the 3D score might not be as high as it should be as it may have been using the power saving and slower on board graphics.

You can change the NVIDIA settings to select the correct video card when performanceTest is started using these steps;

• Open the NVIDIA control panel
• Under "Select a task" open "3D settings" and select the "Manage 3D settings" option
• On the right hand side click the "Program settings tab"
• Under "Select a program" click "Add" and then browse to the PerformanceTest executable. The default location is C:\Program Files\PerformanceTest\pt.exe
• Under the "Select the preferred graphics" section choose "High-performance NVIDIA processor" and click Apply

Currently (in version 7) if the test is executed on the high performance Nvidia card the baseline info can display the integrated/defualt name instead of the Nvidia card, however you can verify the test was run on the correct card by checking the video card name displayed during the 3D tests in the top left hand corner.