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To verify GPU use, first watch the app while it is running, then set its Windows graphics preference if necessary. On Windows 10 version 2004 and later and Windows 11, choose the app under Settings → System → Display → Graphics, select High performance, save, restart the app, and confirm activity with NVIDIA GPU Activity or Windows Task Manager. A saved preference requests a processor; only a runtime check shows what the app is actually using.
What counts as proof that the NVIDIA GPU is being used?
There are three different things people often call “GPU selection,” and they are not interchangeable:
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| Observation | What it tells you | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Graphics preference set to High performance | Windows has stored a request for the discrete, high-performance processor for that executable. | It does not prove that the app is rendering on that processor right now. |
| NVIDIA Control Panel per-app preference | The NVIDIA driver has a preferred-processor setting for the app. | On Windows 10 version 2004 and later, Windows can take priority over this older setting. |
| NVIDIA GPU Activity lists the app, or Task Manager shows live NVIDIA GPU work | The app or one of its displays is using the NVIDIA GPU at that moment. | It does not mean every operation in the app runs on the NVIDIA GPU; hybrid systems can divide work between processors. |
The reliable sequence is therefore: observe the app, set the Windows preference, restart the app, and observe it again while performing a GPU-accelerated task such as playback, rendering, a 3D viewport operation, or an export that supports hardware acceleration. If you only open a document and let the application sit idle, there may be no measurable discrete-GPU activity to report.
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Before changing anything
Identify the actual application
Windows applies a graphics preference to an executable, not to a vague product name. Note whether you installed the program as a traditional desktop application or through the Microsoft Store. If you need to browse for it later, locate the executable that actually launches the creative program; launchers and update helpers may be separate files. Adding a helper executable instead of the main program can leave the visible app on its previous setting.
Write down the exact app and version you are testing. If a program has separate editing, playback, or rendering components, test the component that performs the work you care about. A preference saved for one executable does not automatically describe every process associated with the same product.
Record the display arrangement
Make a note of whether you are using only the laptop panel, an external monitor, or a dock. NVIDIA documents that a display physically connected to and driven by the NVIDIA GPU can cause applications and video on that display to use the NVIDIA processor regardless of the app’s preferred-processor setting. This can make an external-monitor test look different from a laptop-screen test.
Record whether the monitor is connected before launching the app and keep that arrangement consistent for a before-and-after comparison. Otherwise, a change in cable, dock, or active display can look like a change caused by Windows Graphics settings.
Start with a repeatable workload
GPU activity can be brief. Open a project or sample scene that normally uses acceleration, then perform the same operation before and after changing the setting. Watching an idle app may show no meaningful discrete-GPU load even when the app can use it for a particular effect.
Choose a task you can repeat: play the same timeline segment, scrub through the same 3D scene, apply the same effect, or run the same export. Note the moment at which the operation starts, because the activity indicator may change only while the work is executing.
Check the app while it is running
Use NVIDIA GPU Activity when the feature is available
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Open the Desktop menu and select Display GPU Activity Icon in Notification Area, if that command is present.
- Launch the creative application and start the workload you want to test.
- Open the NVIDIA GPU Activity icon in the notification area and look for the application and any displays listed as using the NVIDIA GPU.
The icon is useful because it reports programs and displays that are using the NVIDIA adapter, not merely the setting Windows has saved. Check it while the relevant operation is active, then check again after the operation stops. The list can change as programs open, close, or switch between processors.
NVIDIA says this icon is exposed only on systems using its power-saving GPU technology. If the command or icon is absent, that absence alone does not establish that the laptop lacks an NVIDIA GPU or that the driver is broken. Use Task Manager as the built-in cross-check instead. ProArt model names do not guarantee that every model exposes the same notification-area feature.
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Cross-check with Windows Task Manager
ASUS documents a route from ProArt Creator Hub to Windows Task Manager, and Task Manager can provide a second, live view of GPU activity. Open Task Manager while the app is performing the workload, select the app’s process, and watch the GPU information for the NVIDIA adapter rather than relying on a preference label. Repeat the observation after the app has been restarted; a process that was already open before a setting change can remain on its original processor.
Use the process name and the timing of the workload together. A busy NVIDIA adapter can reflect the desktop, an external display, another application, or a background process. Seeing activity on the adapter is meaningful only when it coincides with the process and operation you are testing.
Do not treat a momentary zero-percent reading as a definitive failure. Stop and start the accelerated operation, enlarge the project, or replay the relevant timeline segment so that the GPU has work to report. Conversely, activity from a display or another process can appear even when the creative app itself is not doing the rendering, so match the process and workload you are testing.
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Windows Graphics settings is the primary per-application control on supported Windows builds. The labels differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the workflow is the same.
- Search Windows for Graphics settings and open it. You can also reach the page through Settings → System → Display → Graphics.
- Choose the correct app category: Desktop app for a conventional installation or Microsoft Store app for a Store installation.
- Select the application from the list. If it is not listed, choose Browse and select the executable you identified earlier.
- Select the app entry and open Options.
- Choose High performance. On a ProArt laptop this normally represents the NVIDIA discrete GPU; the page should identify the processor it intends to use.
- Select Save.
If you choose the wrong category, the program may not appear in the picker. For a desktop installation, browse to its executable rather than adding a shortcut, installer, or update utility. After saving, reopen the app entry to confirm that Windows retained the intended choice.
Windows 10 version 2004, also called Windows 10 20H1, introduced the current priority model in which Windows can override an NVIDIA Control Panel preferred-GPU selection for an application. NVIDIA and ASUS both describe Windows as the controlling preference when Windows has one configured. If Windows has no preference for the app, NVIDIA’s per-app setting may still be used. When you deliberately change a selection, keep the Windows choice and the graphics-driver choice consistent rather than leaving contradictory instructions in two places.
The setting is per executable. If the creative suite launches a separate renderer or playback process, that process may have its own selection and may need to be identified separately. Do not assume that selecting the main launcher assigns every helper process to the same adapter.
Restart the creative app, then test again
Close every window belonging to the application, including a background instance or launcher that keeps the process alive. Reopen the program only after saving the Windows setting. NVIDIA states that an already-running program continues on its current graphics processor until it is restarted.
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- Exit the creative app completely.
- Confirm it is no longer present in Task Manager if it has a separate background process.
- Launch it again.
- Repeat the same GPU-accelerated operation you used for the initial observation.
- Check NVIDIA GPU Activity or Task Manager while that operation is in progress.
Restarting is essential to a fair test. Changing the preference while a project window is open does not migrate that process instantly. If a launcher remains open and recreates the old process, close the launcher as well, then start a fresh session.
A driver can also override a user preference when an application requires a particular processor. Therefore, a mismatch between the requested preference and the observed processor is not automatically a Windows error; investigate the workload, display routing, and driver behavior before forcing settings elsewhere.
How hybrid graphics changes what you see
Integrated and discrete processors can share the job
ProArt laptops commonly use a hybrid arrangement. NVIDIA’s Optimus technology automatically turns on the high-performance GPU for programs or displays that benefit from it while allowing the integrated processor to handle lower-power work. A creative app may therefore draw its interface on integrated graphics and invoke the NVIDIA GPU only for supported effects, compute tasks, playback, or rendering.
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External displays can change the result
If a monitor is connected to a port wired to the NVIDIA GPU, applications and video shown on that display can use the NVIDIA processor independently of the app preference. For a clean comparison, test once on the built-in panel and once with the external display connected, and record which display is active in each case. A difference between those tests can be normal display routing rather than a per-app configuration problem.
Do not compare a laptop-screen run on battery with an external-monitor run on AC power and attribute every difference to the app setting. Display routing and power state are separate variables worth recording.
Battery mode is a trade-off
NVIDIA warns that choosing the high-performance processor can reduce battery life and can cause some programs to behave incorrectly. If a program becomes unstable, hot, or unexpectedly power-hungry after the change, return its Windows preference to the default or automatic choice and retest. Automatic selection lets the driver balance performance and power for that workload.
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There is no accessory or replacement laptop required for this diagnosis. The relevant controls and checks are Windows, NVIDIA, and ASUS software already available on the machine. Buying a monitoring device or replacing the computer would not answer whether the current app is using its NVIDIA adapter.
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ProArt Creator Hub: useful priority control, not GPU evidence
ProArt Creator Hub includes an App Power Priority feature. That setting raises the selected app’s scheduling priority; it is separate from Windows Graphics preference and does not identify which processor is rendering the app. Enabling a high priority can change responsiveness while leaving GPU assignment unchanged.
Use Creator Hub if you need its priority behavior, but use NVIDIA GPU Activity or Task Manager to answer the narrower question “Which GPU is active?” Treat the two settings as independent controls and document both when troubleshooting. A high-priority app can still be using integrated graphics, and an app using the NVIDIA GPU does not need Creator Hub priority enabled.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| Symptom | Likely explanation | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The NVIDIA activity icon is unavailable | The laptop may not expose NVIDIA’s power-saving GPU technology or the feature may not be offered by that configuration. | Use Task Manager for a live check; do not infer hardware absence from the missing icon. |
| The app is not listed in Graphics settings | Windows may not have discovered the executable, or the wrong app category was selected. | Choose the desktop or Store category that matches the installation, then use Browse to add the launching executable. |
| The app still appears on the old processor | The process was open when the preference changed. | Exit all instances, relaunch, and observe activity during the workload. |
| The app uses NVIDIA only with a monitor attached | The monitor’s connector may be driven directly by the NVIDIA GPU. | Compare laptop-panel and external-display tests and note the display path before changing app settings. |
| High performance is selected but no NVIDIA activity appears | The app may be idle, the tested operation may not be GPU-accelerated, or hybrid graphics may be assigning only selected tasks to NVIDIA. | Repeat a known accelerated operation and watch the process during execution; do not use the saved preference as proof. |
| Battery life or compatibility worsens | The discrete GPU is being kept active for more of the app’s work. | Set the app back to automatic/default selection and compare behavior on battery and AC power. |
| Windows and NVIDIA settings disagree | On Windows 10 version 2004 and later, Windows can take precedence over the driver’s older preferred-GPU entry. | Synchronize the per-app choices, restart the app, and then verify the runtime result. |
| Task Manager shows NVIDIA activity but not beside the expected process | A display, another program, or a helper process may be using the adapter. | Repeat the workload, match process names and timing, and check whether an external display is connected. |
| The result changes between two ProArt laptops | Model wiring, driver behavior, Windows build, and multiplexer mode can differ. | Test each machine directly instead of assuming identical menus or routing from the ProArt family name. |
A practical test plan for a ProArt laptop
Use this sequence when you need a recordable answer for one application, one project, or one display setup:
- Write down the Windows edition/build, the app name, and whether it is a desktop or Store installation.
- Note whether the laptop is on battery or AC power and whether an external display is connected.
- Launch the app with its current settings and perform a repeatable accelerated task.
- Record what NVIDIA GPU Activity or Task Manager shows during that task.
- Open Windows Graphics settings, select the exact executable, and set High performance if you want to request NVIDIA.
- If you use NVIDIA Control Panel as well, check its per-app choice and avoid leaving it contradictory to the Windows selection.
- Close the app completely and relaunch it.
- Repeat the identical task and record the runtime GPU observation again.
- If the result changes only when a monitor is attached, treat display routing as the explanation to investigate.
- If the app becomes unstable or power use is unacceptable, restore automatic selection and retest rather than leaving a forced setting in place.
This before-and-after method separates a stored preference from actual activity and controls for the two variables most likely to confuse the result: restarting and display routing. Keeping notes also makes it easier to report whether the change affected the app, a helper process, or only the display path.
What you can conclude from the results
- Activity appears after relaunch: the app or its display path is using the NVIDIA GPU during the observed workload.
- High performance is saved but no activity appears during an idle or unsupported operation: the setting is only a request; test a workload that actually supports GPU acceleration.
- Activity appears on an external monitor regardless of the app setting: the monitor’s connection is influencing processor selection.
- The app alternates between processors: hybrid graphics behavior is possible and does not by itself indicate a fault.
- Results vary between ProArt models: menu availability, driver behavior, GPU wiring, and multiplexer modes differ by model and Windows configuration.
NVIDIA describes Optimus as automatically selecting the appropriate processor for the best performance, either integrated graphics or the high-performance NVIDIA GPU. That automatic decision is why a runtime result can differ from a manually requested preference without indicating that the system is malfunctioning.
Because the exact ProArt model, Windows build, NVIDIA driver, and display-multiplexer mode are not specified by the laptop family name alone, menu availability and observed behavior can differ. Use the runtime check on the particular machine instead of assuming that every ProArt laptop exposes the same controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does selecting High performance prove that my creative app is using the NVIDIA GPU?
No. It stores a per-app request. Restart the app, run a repeatable GPU-accelerated task, and confirm the process or display in NVIDIA GPU Activity or Windows Task Manager.
Why does the NVIDIA GPU Activity icon not appear?
NVIDIA exposes that option only on systems using its power-saving GPU technology. A missing icon does not prove that the laptop has no NVIDIA GPU. Use Task Manager for a live cross-check.
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Should I use Windows Graphics settings or NVIDIA Control Panel?
On Windows 10 version 2004 and later, Windows can override the older NVIDIA per-app preference. Set the Windows choice first and keep the driver setting consistent when both are configured.
Do I have to restart the app after changing the preference?
Yes. NVIDIA says an already-running program continues on its current processor until it is restarted. Close background instances and launch the app again before testing.
Why does the app use the NVIDIA GPU only when an external monitor is connected?
A monitor connected to a port driven by the NVIDIA adapter can cause applications and video shown on that display to use that GPU independently of the app preference. Compare the laptop panel and external-display setups.
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What does ProArt Creator Hub App Power Priority do?
It raises an app’s scheduling priority. It is separate from graphics assignment and does not prove that rendering is happening on the NVIDIA GPU.
Can a creative app use both GPUs?
Yes. Hybrid graphics can leave interface work on integrated graphics and invoke the NVIDIA GPU for supported effects, playback, compute, or rendering. Intermittent NVIDIA activity can therefore be normal.
What should I do if High performance reduces battery life or causes instability?
Return the app to Windows automatic or default selection and retest. NVIDIA warns that forcing the high-performance processor can shorten battery life or cause some programs to behave incorrectly.
The Bottom Line
Set the exact executable to High performance under Windows Graphics settings, close and relaunch the creative app, then check NVIDIA GPU Activity or Task Manager while a real accelerated operation is running. Treat the saved preference, Creator Hub priority, and an idle GPU reading as clues—not proof—and account for hybrid graphics and external-display routing.
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