Many Thrive players on Windows encounter a video card error when trying to run the game, particularly when using laptops with dual graphics cards (e.g., Intel integrated graphics and an NVIDIA card).
This issue may lead to poor performance or crashes, especially if the game defaults to the less powerful integrated graphics.
Additionally, players may see error messages such as “Intel Integrated Graphics card may cause Thrive to crash,” and they might wish to force the game to use their NVIDIA card instead.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to resolve this issue and ensure Thrive uses the correct video card for optimal performance.
Understanding the Video Card Error in Thrive
When launching Thrive, some players receive warnings that their integrated Intel graphics may cause the game to crash.
Thrive is designed to work best on dedicated GPUs (like NVIDIA or AMD cards) because these cards are more powerful than integrated graphics, which are typically less suitable for gaming.
Step 1: Check Graphics Card Settings
If you’re running Thrive on a laptop with both integrated and dedicated graphics cards, like an Intel chip and an NVIDIA GPU, it’s important to configure your system to ensure the game uses the dedicated card.
How to Ensure Thrive Uses the NVIDIA Card:
- Access the NVIDIA Control Panel:
- Right-click on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel from the menu.
- If you don’t see the option, ensure your NVIDIA drivers are installed correctly.
- Set Thrive to Use High-Performance Graphics:
- In the NVIDIA Control Panel, navigate to the Manage 3D Settings section on the left panel.
- Select the Program Settings tab.
- From the drop-down menu, choose Thrive.exe (you may need to manually browse for it in your file directory).
- Under Select the preferred graphics processor for this program, choose High-performance NVIDIA processor.
- Click Apply to save the settings.
- Verify Changes:
- Launch Thrive and check if the game now runs on your NVIDIA GPU. The game should perform better, and you shouldn’t see the video card error.
Step 2: Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers can cause a variety of issues, including the failure to detect the right graphics card. If your drivers aren’t up-to-date, your computer might not correctly identify the game’s need for the dedicated GPU.
How to Update Your NVIDIA Drivers:
- Visit the NVIDIA Website:
- Go to the official NVIDIA Driver Download page.
- Enter your GPU model (e.g., GTX 1660 Ti) and operating system (e.g., Windows 10/11 64-bit) to download the latest drivers.
- Install the Latest Drivers:
- Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to update your drivers.
- Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
- Update Intel Drivers (if needed):
- If you still experience issues, updating your Intel integrated graphics drivers might help. Visit the Intel Driver Support Assistant to automatically detect and update your Intel drivers.
Step 3: Run Thrive in Compatibility Mode (Optional)
If Thrive continues to show errors or crashes, you can try running the game in compatibility mode. This is especially helpful if you’re running Windows 10 or 11 and Thrive was originally developed for earlier versions of Windows.
How to Run Thrive in Compatibility Mode:
- Locate Thrive.exe:
- Navigate to where the Thrive game is installed (usually in the Steam or program files folder).
- Enable Compatibility Mode:
- Right-click on Thrive.exe and select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for and choose an earlier version of Windows, like Windows 7 or 8.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Step 4: Troubleshoot Additional Issues
If none of the above methods work, you might be dealing with deeper system issues or conflicts. Here are some additional steps you can take:
- Run Windows Troubleshooter:
- Press Windows + W and type Troubleshooting.
- Select View All from the left pane and run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter.
- Check for BIOS Updates:
- Sometimes, updating the system BIOS can resolve compatibility issues between hardware components. Check your laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s website for any available BIOS updates.
- Ensure No Conflicting Software:
- If you’re using third-party applications like driver installation packs or performance boosters, they may conflict with your graphics card drivers. Disable or uninstall such software to prevent interference.
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Conclusion
Resolving the video card error when playing Thrive on Windows primarily involves ensuring the game runs on the right GPU, updating your drivers, and configuring your system correctly.
Following the steps outlined in this guide should eliminate the error and improve your game’s performance.
Thrive will then be able to leverage your dedicated GPU, offering smoother gameplay without crashes or other related issues.
If problems persist, consider reaching out to Thrive’s support community or NVIDIA’s forums for further assistance.