Thursday, 24 April 2025

Vectorworks Fine-tuning

 

🔍 VRAM Allocation Details

  • Dedicated Graphics Memory: Approximately 128 MB, as reported by some users and reviews. ​

  • Shared System Memory: Can dynamically allocate up to several gigabytes, depending on system demands and available RAM.​

This configuration is typical for integrated graphics solutions, where the GPU doesn't have its own dedicated memory but instead shares the system's RAM.

🟡 Check Your VRAM (Windows)

To check how much VRAM your AMD graphics card has:

  1. Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.

  2. Click the Display tab.

  3. Look for “Display Memory (VRAM)” or “Approx. Total Memory”.

Or:

  • Right-click desktop → Display settings → Advanced display settings → Display adapter properties → Check VRAM.

🛠️ Minimum VRAM for Vectorworks

  • 2 GB VRAM – Minimum (not ideal for 3D rendering)

  • 4 GB VRAM – OK for light work

  • 8 GB+ VRAM – Recommended for professional use, 3D, and rendering


⚠️ Additional Considerations

  • Thermal Performance: Some reviews indicate that under heavy workloads, the P14s Gen 2 may experience thermal throttling, affecting performance. 

  • GPU Utilization: Ensure that the NVIDIA T500 is properly configured to be utilized by Vectorworks, as some users have reported the GPU not being engaged during tasks.


✅ Step-by-Step: Force Vectorworks to Use NVIDIA T500

1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel

  • Right-click on the desktop → click NVIDIA Control Panel

  • (If it's missing, install it via the Microsoft Store or the NVIDIA website)

2. Set Preferred GPU for Vectorworks

  • In the left sidebar, go to: Manage 3D Settings → Program Settings tab

  • Click Add → Browse to the Vectorworks executable (usually in C:\Program Files\Vectorworks [Year]\)

  • Under Select the preferred graphics processor, choose: ✅ High-performance NVIDIA processor

  • Click Apply

3. Set Global Preferences (optional)

If you want all applications to use the T500 (not always recommended for battery life), go to:

  • Global Settings → set Preferred Graphics Processor to: ✅ High-performance NVIDIA processor

4. Windows Graphics Settings (Extra Check)

  • Go to Settings → System → Display → Graphics

  • Scroll down to "Custom graphics settings"

  • Click Browse, find the Vectorworks .exe, and add it

  • Click Options → set to High performance (NVIDIA T500)

⚙️ Optional Tweaks for Better Vectorworks Performance

  • Update GPU drivers via NVIDIA Experience or Lenovo Vantage

  • In Vectorworks:

    • Go to Tools → Options → Vectorworks Preferences

    • Under Display, enable or tweak:

      • Use Enhanced Navigation Graphics ✅

      • Best performance mode for rendering

  • Close background apps (especially memory-heavy ones like browsers or Adobe apps)

🧠 Bonus: Know When the GPU Is Actually Working

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Performance tab → GPU

  • You should see “GPU 1 - NVIDIA T500” showing activity when Vectorworks is running

  • You can also install GPU-Z or use NVIDIA Performance Overlay (Alt+R) to monitor usage



🧠 日志分析

  • Vectorworks 通常会在崩溃时生成日志文件
    你可以在：

    C:\Users\[你的用户名]\AppData\Roaming\Nemetschek\Vectorworks\

    找到相关崩溃报告或系统日志


🔍 Possible Reasons for Lag (with Low CPU/RAM Usage)

1. Disk Performance (Slow SSD/HDD or High Disk Usage)

  • Even if CPU/RAM is fine, slow or failing storage can cause lag.

  • Check: Task Manager → “Performance” tab → Look at Disk usage % and Active time.

Fix:

  • Make sure you're using an NVMe SSD (not a SATA SSD or HDD).

  • Check disk health with tools like CrystalDiskInfo or Lenovo Vantage.

2. Thermal Throttling (Overheating)

  • The system might throttle the CPU/GPU speed even if usage is low.

Fix:

  • Use HWMonitor or CoreTemp to check CPU temperatures.

  • Clean the vents/fans and update BIOS + firmware.

  • Use "Performance" mode in Windows power settings or Lenovo Vantage.

3. Background Processes / Services

  • Some background tasks (antivirus, Windows updates, indexing) may not use much CPU but still cause lag.

Fix:

  • Use Task Manager > Startup to disable unneeded startup apps.

  • Check for background processes (especially antivirus, OneDrive sync, etc.).

4. Graphics Driver or Hardware Issues

  • P14s Gen 2 can have Intel Iris Xe or discrete AMD/NVIDIA GPUs.

  • Laggy UI, stuttering video, or delayed window movement can be GPU-related.

Fix:

  • Update GPU drivers (Intel / AMD / NVIDIA) from official site or via Lenovo Vantage.

  • If using dual graphics (Intel + discrete), check GPU switching settings.

5. Power Plan Limitations

  • Windows might be running in Power Saver mode, limiting performance.

Fix:

  • Go to Settings > Power & Battery > Power Mode → Set to Best Performance.

  • Also check Lenovo Vantage → Device → Power for performance settings.

6. Faulty Software or OS Corruption

  • Corrupted system files or misbehaving apps can silently cause lag.

Fix:

  • Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in Command Prompt as admin.

  • Check Event Viewer for errors.


🎮 1. Understanding GPU Switching

Your laptop likely has:

  • Intel Iris Xe (integrated) – power-efficient, used for light tasks.

  • Discrete GPU (NVIDIA or AMD) – powerful, used for demanding apps like CAD, Vectorworks, games, etc.

🧠 The system can dynamically switch based on the workload, but sometimes this needs manual tuning for the best result.

⚙️ 2. Set Preferred GPU for Specific Apps (Best Practice)

✅ Windows 10/11 Settings

  1. Go to: Settings > System > Display > Graphics

  2. Under “Custom options for apps”, click Browse

  3. Find the app (e.g., Vectorworks.exe), click Add

  4. Click the app → Options

  5. Choose:

    • Power Saving = Intel GPU

    • High Performance = Discrete GPU (NVIDIA or AMD)

  6. Click Save

🧩 Recommended:

  • Set design/rendering apps (e.g., Vectorworks, Adobe, Blender) to High performance

  • Leave browsers, file manager, etc., on Power saving

🖥️ 3. NVIDIA Control Panel (If using NVIDIA GPU)

  1. Right-click Desktop → NVIDIA Control Panel

  2. Go to Manage 3D settings

  3. Under Global Settings:

    • Set Preferred GPU to High-performance NVIDIA processor

    • Or go to Program Settings to adjust for specific apps

🧩 Tip: If you don’t see this panel, make sure the latest NVIDIA drivers are installed.

🔧 4. BIOS Setting (Advanced Option)

Some ThinkPads allow manual control over graphics switching:

  • Enter BIOS (press F1 at boot)

  • Go to Config > Display

  • Options might include:

    • Hybrid Graphics (default)

    • Discrete Only

    • Integrated Only

📌 Use Hybrid for balanced usage. Use Discrete Only if you're plugged in and need full GPU power always (but expect battery drain).

🔋 5. Lenovo Vantage Performance Profile

  • Open Lenovo Vantage

  • Go to Device > Power

  • Choose Performance Mode

  • This helps ensure the system favors the discrete GPU when needed.

🧪 Optional: Monitor GPU Usage

  • Use Task Manager → Performance tab → GPU to see which GPU is active.

  • Or use GPU-Z or HWInfo64 for more detailed monitoring.


🔧 Possible Causes + Fixes for Lag When Using Discrete GPU

1. 🚫 Outdated or Faulty GPU Driver

Even a small driver glitch can cause huge performance issues when switching GPUs.

Fix:

  • Go to Device Manager → Display Adapters

  • Right-click your discrete GPU → Uninstall device

    • Tick "Delete the driver software for this device"

  • Reboot

  • Then reinstall the latest official driver:

🧩 Tip: Avoid Windows Update drivers — they’re often outdated or generic.

2. 🔄 Conflicting GPU Switch Mode (BIOS Issue)

Some systems lag because of "Hybrid" vs "Discrete Only" BIOS settings not syncing well with Windows.

Fix:

  • Restart your laptop and press F1 to enter BIOS

  • Go to: Config > Display

  • Try switching between:

    • Hybrid Graphics (Default) ← best for balance

    • Discrete Only ← if Hybrid is buggy

Save and exit BIOS.

🧩 If “Discrete Only” causes lag, revert to Hybrid and control GPU use via Windows/NVIDIA settings instead.

3. ⚡ Power Settings + Thermal Throttling

The discrete GPU requires more power and cooling — if power delivery or thermal management is limited, it may cause lag or stutter.

Fix:

  • Windows Power Mode: Set to “Best Performance”

    • Settings > Power & Battery > Power Mode

  • In Lenovo Vantage, set performance profile to Performance

  • Ensure the laptop is plugged in during GPU-intensive tasks

4. ❄️ GPU Overheating → Throttling

If the GPU starts heating up too fast, it throttles itself to prevent damage.

Fix:

  • Install HWMonitor or HWiNFO64 to monitor GPU temps

  • Clean vents/fans or use a cooling pad if temps go above 85°C consistently

  • Update BIOS and Lenovo firmware via Lenovo Vantage

5. ❌ Faulty Hardware or VRAM Issue

It’s rare, but possible the discrete GPU has a hardware defect — especially if it's lagging even when idle.

Fix:

  • Run Lenovo Diagnostics (built into Lenovo Vantage or at boot via F10/F12 menu)

  • Look specifically for GPU and memory tests

  • If anything fails, it's time to contact Lenovo support.


✅ Ways to Increase Shared GPU Memory (VRAM)

🛠 1. BIOS/UEFI 设置中调整 VRAM 分配

最有效的方法：

  1. 重启电脑 → 进入 BIOS/UEFI（通常是按 Del、F2、F10 或 Esc）

  2. 找到以下类似选项：

    • Graphics Settings

    • IGD Memory, DVMT Pre-Allocated, UMA Frame Buffer Size

  3. 设置为：

    • 512MB, 1024MB, 2048MB，有时甚至可到 4096MB

  4. 保存并退出 BIOS

⚠️ 注意：不同主板和笔电品牌有不同设定名词，并非所有设备都可调。


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Disable Auto Windows Update


🛑Method 1: Disable Auto Updates via Registry (Windows Home)

Step-by-step:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter.

  2. Go to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

  3. Right-click Windows → New > Key → name it:

    WindowsUpdate

  4. Right-click WindowsUpdate → New > Key → name it:

    AU

  5. In the AU folder, right-click on the right side → New > DWORD (32-bit) Value → name it:

    NoAutoUpdate

  6. Double-click NoAutoUpdate, set Value data to:

    1

  7. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

This disables automatic updates (though you can still manually check and install them).

🛑 Method 2: Disable Windows Update Service

Warning: This disables all updates including security patches, so use with caution.

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, hit Enter.

  2. Scroll to Windows Update.

  3. Right-click → Properties.

  4. Set Startup type to Disabled.

  5. Click Stop if it's running.

  6. Click Apply and **OK`.

🛑 Disable Task Scheduler Update Tasks

  1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    Task Scheduler Library → Microsoft → Windows → WindowsUpdate

  3. Disable tasks like Scheduled Start, sih, or any auto-update triggers.


🛑 Block Update Domains via Firewall or Hosts File (Advanced)

You can block these domains using a firewall or editing the hosts file:

update.microsoft.com
windowsupdate.microsoft.com

⚠️ Not recommended unless you really know what you’re doing — it can break Windows functionality or updates manually triggered.


✅Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro or higher only)

  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:
    Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Manage updates offered from Windows Update.

  3. Double-click "Configure Automatic Updates".

  4. Set it to Disabled or Enabled, then choose option 2 - Notify for download and auto install if you want manual control.

  5. Apply and OK.


✅ Use Windows Update Blocker (3rd Party Tool)

There are safe, free tools like Windows Update Blocker from Sordum.org:

  • One-click stop/start updates.

  • Reversible anytime.

🔐 Use caution and download only from reputable sources like sordum.org

✅ Use Group Policy Alternative via Policy Plus

  • Install a 3rd party tool called Policy Plus (free, works like Group Policy Editor even on Home).

  • Then you can follow gpedit.msc-style guides.

Website: https://github.com/Fleex255/PolicyPlus 

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