Some questions about A8-7600 APU & such

[DilyanD.]

Something is really, really wrong here...so, here's what I did:
In BIOS, Onboard Graphics is disabled, Graphics Adapter changed from Onboard to PCI Express. I restarted the PC. Installed NVIDIA driver while AMD one is still installed. I saw it was only 6GB usable even w/ the GPU plugged in. I thought it's gonna fix if I remove the AMD driver which I planned on doing anyways. I removed it using DDU. I restarted. Still 6GB.

I open up Device Manager to see how's stuff. Bang. http://i.imgur.com/Ra8fdRm.png (pic was made now when Windows installed R7 drivers for the iGPU itself....for some reason)
What the hell? Why did Windows install it automatically again? The iGPU is disabled, at least in BIOS, what the fuck?

Wait, wait, hold on, that's not the weirdest part. Look at THAT: http://i.imgur.com/O78XRV1.png
That's in MSI Afterburner's options. Why the hell do I have...6 GPUs? "GPU 5" is the actual one, rest are R7. Why are there so many R7, and why at all is there R7? The iGPU is disabled, but Windows still installs its drivers. 2GB RAM is still used. Why?!

If I remove the R7 driver again, I get the same stuff in Device Manager as shown above, however instead of "R7" bla bla bla, I get "Microsoft Monitor Adapter" or something like this AND the 1050 Ti. This happens when you don't have graphics driver installed. Thing is, it's TWO. R7/MicrosoftAdapter AND 1050 Ti. Before I had the GPU, it was R7 only. That's how it's supposed to be. R7 was the graphics. Now that it's 1050 Ti, it should be 1050 Ti ONLY, but it still counts the iGPU, what!?

Yes, UsandThem, I have. (you posted while I was typing this)

 

[UsandThem]

On page 20 in your motherboard manual, it talks about 'Dual Graphics'.

It states that if you want to use this feature, to leave the setting on "Auto". You probably need to disable this feature in your BIOS.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Did you plug the monitor cable (HDMI?) into the new GPU, or onboard GPU?

 

[DilyanD.]

In one of the options, I think Onboard Graphics or something like that, it had 3 options: Auto, Disabled and Enabled. I set it to disabled since onboard graphics = iGPU. It's not on Auto, so dual graphics should not be my issue.

 

[DilyanD.]

Onboard of course...otherwise I wouldn't be getting any image. I can't see how that's related to iGPU still working w/ dedicated one.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Onboard of course...otherwise I wouldn't be getting any image. I can't see how that's related to iGPU still working w/ dedicated one.

That's your problem, then. Plug your cable into the new GPU.

 

[DilyanD.]

GPU* I mean LOL, typo. GPU. GPU. It's plugged in GPU. I meant if it was into the motherboard then I wouldn't be getting any image since the onboard graphics are disabled and the dedicated GPU is responsible for the graphics.

 

[DilyanD.]

That shittone of R7 and R7 in device manager must be on software side. I've done everything right in the BIOS and I just checked Overdrive. Before, when iGPU was enabled, in "GPU Status" I would see it's temperature, frequency n stuff, and now all is blank there. iGPU is disabled. But why so many R7 and why Windows still installing R7 driver then? Why 6GB usable out of 8 total installed?

 

[Ketchup]

Go To Device Manager and expand Display adapters. What does it show?

 

[DilyanD.]

I open up Device Manager to see how's stuff. Bang. http://i.imgur.com/Ra8fdRm.png (pic was made now when Windows installed R7 drivers for the iGPU itself....for some reason)
What the hell? Why did Windows install it automatically again? The iGPU is disabled, at least in BIOS, what the fuck?

As I said...

 

[Ketchup]

If you friend came and put it in, they could have been nice enough to set it up. At this point, just run some benchies and games and see if you are seeing the increase in performance.

 

[UsandThem]

Make sure Catalyst Center is uninstalled:

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286159-disabling-apu-graphics/

 

[DilyanD.]

Yes. All my games, as expected, even those that used to be 10 fps on min before, are now 60+ maxed out. GTA 5 runs everything maxed out 1080p with no lag (yes, that's right, on A8-7600 CPU that "doesn't pass the recommended requirements"). The actual GPU is the 1050 Ti, but I'm wondering why is there R7 in MSI settings...5 of them. (see the pic in the big post above).
Also in the device manager, why is R7 there as well? Whenever I remove the AMD driver, Windows installs it back on as the iGPU like...still counts somehow. When I remove it, it's "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" or something like that, don't remember exactly. It used to be like this when I didn't have graphics driver installed back in the day with iGPU only. So the iGPU basically still counts as instead of only 1050 Ti appearing, Microsoft Basic Display Adapter appears as well, even without driver. And with driver it's R7 instead. Should I like...right click and disable it?

P.S - I don't have Catalyst Center, it's just "Radeon Settings". Nothing happens if I remove it, Windows just installs it back.

 

[Ketchup]

Everything sounds good. Leave the card the way it is any enjoy!

 

[DilyanD.]

What do you mean "everything sounds good"...the iGPU is disabled, it shouldn't appear, and most importantly - why do I still have 6GB RAM usable while the iGPU is disabled? I really want and need 8GB. :l

 

[UsandThem]

What do you mean "everything sounds good"...the iGPU is disabled, it shouldn't appear, and most importantly - why do I still have 6GB RAM usable while the iGPU is disabled? I really want and need 8GB. :l

Look on page 45 of your manual. You should be able to reduce the shared memory down to 32 MB instead of 2 GB. There is no option listed in the manual to configure it to "none". You can email Asrock tech support, and maybe they can give you tips/advice if there is any way to reclaim all the shared memory.

And you might as well disable onboard HDMI HD audio while you are at it.

 

[DilyanD.]

Thank you. I thought of reducing the shared MBs. I'll give it a try when back home. And yes, I actually saw this HDMI onboard audio option, it was enabled but I didn't disable it cause I don't know what is it for. Why should I disable it?

 

[DilyanD.]

Fk yea, 8 GB usable. I turned on onboard graphics, set the shared memory from 2048MB to 32MB and turned them off again. Now I have 7.9GB usable. I can spare 32MB, but 2048....
Still, I find no logic in the iGPU using these MB but anyways! 7.9 is way better than 6!

One last question: Should I just leave it as it is and enjoy my life or try and disable R7 in device manager? I want to remove its driver and don't want Windows to install it back. It runs in background and takes RAM.

 

[UsandThem]

I'd just leave it as is, it won't hurt anything.

 

[DilyanD.]

Soo yeah, problems solved. Thanks everyone! Appreciate it.