FxSound began to forcefully run on dGPU

[thanhluan]

Hello everyone,

I’ve been experiencing the same bug on my 2024 ASUS Zephyrus G14 (AMD iGPU + NVIDIA RTX 4060) where FxSound.exe incorrectly runs on the dGPU, causing constant power draw and heat.

Like others, I can confirm the standard fixes do not work:

• Setting FxSound to “Power Saving” (iGPU) in Windows Graphics Settings.

• Forcing “Integrated graphics” in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

The app seems to ignore these preferences completely on launch.

However, I found an accidental workaround that successfully forces FxSound onto the iGPU. This requires a laptop utility (I’m using G-Helper) that can forcibly change the GPU mode.

Here are the steps:

1. Use your laptop’s utility software to set the GPU Mode to iGPU Only (often called “Eco Mode”). This completely powers down the NVIDIA dGPU.

2. Launch FxSound. It will now be forced to initialize on the iGPU, as it’s the only one available.

3. After FxSound is running, switch your laptop’s GPU Mode back to Standard (Optimus, or “iGPU + dGPU”).

4. If you check the “NVIDIA GPU Activity” monitor, the dGPU will reactivate, but FxSound.exe will not be on the list. It successfully “latches” onto the iGPU.

This workaround strongly suggests the bug is in the app’s initialization process. It seems to be aggressively defaulting to the high-performance GPU if it’s detected at launch, rather than respecting the system’s (or user’s) preferences.

I’ve been a long-time user and really love the app. I hope this information helps the development team isolate and fix this bug!

Best regards.

[CarlS]

Your suggestion, while informative, does not solve the issue.

Why is FXSound using the GPU in the first place?

I for one do not use FX to “display” much of anything; it’s used for sound enhancement while running in the background, out of sight and out of mind. The graphics card(s) should not be part of the equation. Since they are, how about an exxplanation as to why that is deemed necessary, and follow-up with when and where you will provide the customer a choice of “use or don’t use”.

On my system, FXSound hooks into Nvidia Shader Cache, even though I have (according to Nvidia Control Panel) the Cache disabled.

In the GPU Preference, maybe add “None”.

FXSound is a great product, but adding unwanted bells and whistles is not helping.

[bvijay]

The code is updated to avoid using NVIDIA and AMD GPUs in version 1.2.4.0. NVIDIA has documented the global variable definition to use or not use NVIDIA GPU for rendering in the application - https://docs.nvidia.com/gameworks/content/technologies/desktop/optimus.htm

Similarly AMD documentation says Selecting the Best Graphics Device to Run a 3D Intensive Application - AMD GPUOpen

We have defined this in the latest version.

extern “C” {
__declspec(dllexport) DWORD NvOptimusEnablement = 0x00000000;

__declspec(dllexport) int AmdPowerXpressRequestHighPerformance = 0;

}

[CarlS]

Thanks! However as of the time of this response the latest version is 1.2.3.0 at GitHub - fxsound2/fxsound-app: FxSound application and DSP source code .

Note that that version, if auto-update is selected, immediately updates to 1.2.4.0, but it would be helpful if the download links were also updated. Not all computers are online 24/7. Not all even have or are allowed internet access, which is why offline repositories are still useful.

Thanks again for the quick response.

[bvijay]

Sorry for not mentioning it. Version 1.2.4.0 is still in beta. It has to be manually downloaded from the Download FxSound - Boost Your Sound On Windows

[helpmh2023]

uhhh

even in the new verison (v1.2.4.0), it uses dGPU
I am on a Lenovo LOQ, NVIDIA RTX 4060
in both nvidia control panel and windows settings, i have selected iGPU to be used, but still dGPU is being used.

[bvijay]

What the % of GPU utilization that you see in task manager when FxSound is running?

[helpmh2023]

on idle, 0% usage.
when audio is being processed, it uses iGPU but dGPU still gets turned on. iGPU is being used 10%

[bvijay]

Thanks for confirming. I will look into possible CPU utilization optimizations.

[ZeDex]

Hi, can confirm none of the non-working fixes work for me as well and the other fixes are specific to laptop models that can turn of the dGPU which mine cannot.

Can confirm FXSound is still using dGPU on v1.2.4.0 and is using on average 0.1% of GPU1 (RTX5090 Laptop GPU) see screenshot.

Thanks for the great software.

[bvijay]

In latest beta v1.2.5.0, x86 and x64 builds are using JUCE 6.1.6 which does not use GPU. Please try it.

[ZeDex]

You fixed it.. at least for me. No more dGPU usage at all even when the laptop is plugged in and on performance mode. FXSound Version: 1.2.5.0 Stable.

Thanks man. Will donate when I can.

Its crazy that free software has better support than multi-million dollar corporations. Cheers.

[kmltyr88]

It`s completly Fixed now. Thank You !