How to run Google Chrome with NVIDIA card (Optimus)?

I figured out a workaround for this, if you create a hard-link to chrome.exe in the same directory, you can set a profile for that executable independently.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application>mklink /H gpu-chrome.exe chrome.exe
Hardlink created for gpu-chrome.exe <<===>> chrome.exe

You'll need to run cmd.exe in administrator mode: right-click, run as admin.. and your Google Chrome application may be in another folder as %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\

Now I can run gpu-chrome.exe and have full 3D acceleration from my dedicated card.

Just right-click this new .exe and define a new predetermined GPU for running it as you did before nVidia blocked that option.

Update

It looks like a newer version of the GeForce driver allows the nvidia card to be selected for chrome.exe

You can check GL_RENDERER at chrome://gpu which should then say GeForce.

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According to NVIDIA, chrome and firefox both have been disabled from using the Nvidia GPU by design.

This is a death blow to WebGL in web browsers on optimus laptops and I have no idea why they decided to do this.

"Radium3D said: I have an ASUS N53SV laptop which features GPU switching and I have an issue with 326.80 drivers not allowing Firefox or Chrome to use "high performance NVIDIA processor" anymore I only have the option for "integrated graphics" under manage 3D settings -> program settings. I did not have a problem before."

This is by design. We disabled it for other browsers a while ago and forgot to do it to Firefox until recently.

ManuelG

source [geforce.com]

Actually this seems to now work correctly (at least when I posted this, May 2017).

In the nVidia control panel, you can select the nVidia card for chrome.exe. Then make sure to fully close chrome by going to the menu > Exit. And reopen it. If you check the GL_RENDERER in chrome://gpu it should say GeForce.