BIOS Mod to Disable Intel iGPU on Acer VN7-791G (Due to BSOD - igdkmd64.sys)

[diabolicgod]

Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out to see if anyone here has experience or knowledge about BIOS modding for the Acer Aspire V Nitro VN7-791G. I'm specifically trying to disable the integrated Intel GPU and use only the dedicated NVIDIA GPU.

Every time the Intel GPU is active, the system crashes with a "VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE" BSOD, referencing the Intel graphics driver file: igdkmd64.sys. This happens consistently and makes the system unusable when the iGPU is enabled.

What I’ve tried so far:

• Clean installations of Windows 10 and Windows 11
  
• Multiple versions of Intel and NVIDIA drivers (including older, stable builds)
  
• Used DDU to cleanly uninstall drivers in Safe Mode
  
• Fully updated BIOS to the latest version 
  
• Checked for overheating, hardware issues, RAM tests – all clean
  

Despite all this, the issue persists only when the Intel GPU is active. The system is stable when forced to use the NVIDIA GPU only, but due to NVIDIA Optimus, the Intel GPU remains the primary display device — and can't be fully disabled through software. And this causes the NVDIA GPU to have terrible performance; it works, but terrible performance. 

Is it possible to unlock or mod the BIOS on this machine to completely disable the Intel iGPU (e.g., by setting Primary Display to PEG or disabling iGPU entirely)?

If anyone has successfully done this — or can provide guidance, a modified BIOS, or confirmation that it’s possible — I’d really appreciate the help. Alternatively, if anyone can confirm it’s not possible due to hardware/display wiring limitations, that would also be valuable to know.
Thanks in advance for any insight or assistance!

Dia.

[DeathBringer]

Look at schematics of this laptop.
It can't use dedicated NVIDIA GPU without integrated Intel GPU.

[diabolicgod]

Look at schematics of this laptop.
It can't use dedicated NVIDIA GPU without integrated Intel GPU.

Thanks for the clarification, DeathBringer.

If the dedicated NVIDIA GPU can't be used without the integrated Intel GPU, does that mean the only potential solution would be replacing the CPU, correct?

[DeathBringer]

I think CPU replacement will not help.

[diabolicgod]

I think CPU replacement will not help.

Really? How come?

Always thought that since this seams to be a faulty iGPU, and they are integrated in the CPU, that replacing it would fix the issue. Do you not think that this is a iGPU faulty kind of problem; could it be caused by something else on the motherboard?

[DeathBringer]

Try to uninstall all NVIDIA drivers and tools.
Then install the latest Intel driver only - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...15-40.html

[diabolicgod]

Try to uninstall all NVIDIA drivers and tools.
Then install the latest Intel driver only -  https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...15-40.html

Already tried that; same BSOD.

[DeathBringer]

Try to install Windows 7 or 8.1 with other Intel driver - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...15-36.html

[diabolicgod]

Try to install Windows 7 or 8.1 with other Intel driver - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...15-36.html

I tried a clean installation of Windows 7 using the supplied drivers, as well as several alternative Intel driver versions. Unfortunately, every time I install the Intel graphics driver, I still end up with a black screen or a BSOD.