I don't know if this is the solution or not - but my partner has a brand new Dell XPS 17 with the nvidia with Optimus. Evidently there is a control panel in which you can set an application profile to force the graphics card to run instead of the Intel integrated graphics. It is set in the nvidia control panel as follows (both firestorm and phoenix run in low graphics) When I talk to her later today, I will try this and repost if it helps.
NOTE: For more information on the NVIDIA control panel’s options and settings, click Help.
Changing the Application Profile Settings
1. Right‐click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. In the NVIDIA Control Panel window, click 3D Settings to expand the selection (if not already expanded) and then click Manage 3D Settings.
3. In the Program Settings tab, click Add
and browse to select the application’s executable file (.exe). Once added, you can change the settings for that application.
To change the settings for a specific application, select the application in the Select a program to customize: list and make the desired changes.