Location: Home Page > Article Article

Whether you're buying a laptop or building your own computer, question everyone will have is whether to choose a discrete graphics card or an integrated graphics card? Every desktop and laptop computer needs a graphics processing unit (GPU), without which it will not be able to display images on monitor. The key to our discussion now is not whether you need a GPU, but whether you need a dedicated GPU, which most people refer to as a "discrete graphics card". Let's talk about introduction, differences, and how to choose between an independent display and an integrated display.

1. Independent video card: high image quality and high price

Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti discrete graphics card

A discrete graphics card is an independent piece of hardware dedicated to graphics processing. Now video card is connected to motherboard through PCI-Express expansion slot.

Performance

The biggest benefit of a discrete graphics card is performance.

Independence not only improves image quality and game fluidity, but also makes graphics processing software faster and smoother.

Price

While discrete graphics have many advantages, they can be expensive. An economical discrete graphics card costs around $100, a mid-range discrete graphics card costs $250-$500, and the top model costs up to $1,000.

Power, cooling and compatibility

In addition, discrete graphics cards require a sufficient power supply (GPU consumes a lot of power), and some graphics cards also require an independent power supply.

In terms of power supply, increasing power of electronic equipment leads to increased heat generation, and high-performance GPUs usually have larger fans to dissipate heat. Increased noise and heat may require chassis upgrades or cooling fans.

These days video cards are getting bigger and bigger. When buying a video card, you should also pay attention to possibility of installing a case and a motherboard.

Display interface

In addition to significant performance gains, discrete graphics cards typically offer a wider and more modern set of display interfaces than integrated graphics cards. While your motherboard may only have one VGA port and one DVI port, a discrete graphics card may have not only these ports, but also an HDMI port, or even redundant ports (for example, two DVI ports, allowing you to easily connect multiple monitors).

SLI from NVIDIA and CrossFire from AMD

Some special technologies, such as NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire, allow multiple GPUs to work together on same output image, which can increase computer's image processing capabilities.

2. Embedded GPU: Free Display Output

Intel GMA X3000 integrated graphics chip (covered by heatsink)

An integrated graphics processor, or integrated graphics card (integrated display), graphics card core (display core), and integrated display core is a graphics processing unit installed on motherboard or CPU that will occupy part of computer during work. system memory.

Where is GPU? Integrated into CPU, amazing!

Motherboard manufacturers have typically been integrating GPUs into motherboards for over a decade, and since 2009 this integrated GPU has removed CPU from motherboard.

However, some extreme processors do not have an integrated GPU.

Performance

Integrated graphics are less powerful, so integrated graphics are often considered unsuitable for 3D games or complex graphics.

But after 2009, both AMD and Intel vigorously developed high-performance integrated graphics cores built into CPU, and their performance was already better than low-cost discrete graphics cards of 2012.

Price

In 2007, PCs with pre-installed integrated graphics accounted for approximately 90% of total shipments, which may be cheaper than discrete graphics solutions but have lower performance.

Power, cooling and compatibility

The integrated graphics card is also very energy efficient and does not require a separate power supply.

Another advantage of energy saving is low heat generation. Once integrated display has been ported to processor, TDP can be reduced by using same GPU and CPU technology.

And because they're standardized, you rarely run into driver or compatibility issues.

Display interface

The built-in display has fewer display interfaces, typically only one VGA interface, one DVI interface, and one HDMI interface.

3. Do you need a discrete graphics card?

Now you know difference between a discrete and integrated graphics card, but when should you choose a discrete graphics card? Let's look at two questions that are really important in decision-making process.

Gaming and graphics software

Is your current configuration suitable for games you play and graphics software you use?

Games

The number one reason people buy a discrete graphics card is for gaming.

You don't need a discrete graphics card to watch videos (including HD video), surf web, check email, word processing, or any Office-type software.

The current built-in display allows you to play most online games such as League of Legends, DOTA2, Crossfire, World of Warcraft, DNF and CS. You don't even need a dedicated graphics card to play older games, as today's integrated graphics are far superior to decades-old discrete graphics. However, for some large scale games such as AAA games and chicken eating games, a high performance graphics card is essential.

Most people won't buy a specific graphics card for a specific game. For gamers who frequently play games, a discrete graphics card with good performance can not only improve picture quality, but also play more games.

Graphics software

Video cards can also be useful for some non-gamers. If you do a lot of photo editing (not just cropping and fixing things like white balance, but also heavy work in Photoshop), video editing, or some kind of rendering (3D art, design, etc.), then speed Your computer's processing will definitely get a boost from a discrete graphics card.

To perform tasks in Photoshop such as applying filters, warp/transform, and more, you can use extra GPU power.

Multiple screens

Does your current configuration support number of monitors you need?

While most people buy graphics cards for gaming, many people buy discrete graphics cards to increase number of monitors their computers can support.

Conclusion

So, the need for a discrete graphics card depends on your personal needs and economic conditions.