laptop dedicated graphics card vs integrated graphics cards: It’s no secret that integrated graphics have come a long way in the past few years. In fact, they are now so capable that you can even play some modern games on low settings. However, this does come at a cost. Integrated graphics cards will only ever be able to run software written for that specific platform.
So if you want to enjoy games written for desktop operating systems like Windows and macOS, then an integrated graphics solution will simply not cut it. In this article we will compare gaming performance between a dedicated graphics card vs an integrated graphics solution. We will look at both devices on their own merits and point out their pros and cons.
Table of Contents
What is a dedicated graphics cards?
A dedicated graphics card, or GPU, is a separate circuit board with one or more graphics processing units (GPUs) that are designed with the sole intention of helping the video card process and render graphics data. In other words, a dedicated graphics card is a specialized circuit board that is designed to handle the heavy lifting of graphics rendering.
This means that it will be much more powerful than a general-purpose computer chip such as an integrated graphics solution. More often than not, dedicated graphics boards are used for gaming and professional visualization applications. The main advantage of using a dedicated graphics board is that it will be much more efficient at handling graphics rendering.
This means that it will require less power from the motherboard or power supply unit, resulting in less heat being generated and less noise. What’s more, the dedicated circuit board will also be able to handle a wider range of graphics software and have a longer lifespan than integrated graphics solutions.
What is an integrated graphics solution?
An integrated graphics solution is a type of video card that combines an onboard GPU with an onboard memory controller and other components onto a single, generic motherboard. Integrated graphics solutions are much cheaper than dedicated graphics cards, and they are also much more efficient at handling graphics rendering.
This means that they are much quieter, produce less heat, and require less power than dedicated graphics boards. Integrated graphics cards are also much more cost-effective, so they will last you much longer than dedicated graphics boards. The main downside of integrated graphics cards is that they are not nearly as powerful as dedicated graphics cards, and the software that you play games on will have to be written for the specific platform.
The gaming performance of dedicated and integrated graphics cards
Now that we have gone over the types of graphics cards, let’s take a look at their gaming performance. The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that you do need a powerful dedicated graphics card if you want to play modern games on high settings. Integrated graphics can usually handle low-end games, but you will have to turn down the graphics settings to a playable level.
The next thing that you need to think about is the type of hardware on the motherboard of your computer. You should make sure that you buy a motherboard that supports PCIe 3.0 x16 graphics slots. Integrated graphics cards will only ever be able to use PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, which are much slower.
And lastly, you should think about how much you are willing to spend. Integrated graphics solutions will be much cheaper than dedicated graphics cards, but they will only be able to play lower-end games. Dedicated graphics cards are much more expensive, but they are able to play much more demanding games.
Advantages of a dedicated graphics card
– Higher performance – Dedicated graphics cards are much more powerful than integrated graphics cards, allowing them to run much more demanding games and applications.
– Less heat and noise – Dedicated graphics cards are much more efficient at handling graphics rendering than integrated graphics solutions, meaning that they produce less heat and noise. This means that they can be used in environments that do not have adequate ventilation.
– Longer lifespan – Dedicated graphics cards are designed to be much more durable than integrated graphics cards. This means that they will last much longer than integrated graphics cards.
– More cost-effective – Integrated graphics cards are much cheaper than dedicated graphics cards, but they will only be able to play low-end games. Dedicated graphics cards are much more expensive, but they are able to play much more demanding games.
Disadvantages of a dedicated graphics card
– Expensive – Dedicated graphics cards are much more expensive than integrated graphics solutions, costing roughly $100-$300 depending on the card model.
– Limited motherboard support – Dedicated graphics cards are much more hardware-dependent than integrated graphics solutions, meaning that they will not work on many motherboards.
– The limited number of games – Integrated graphics solutions will allow you to play most modern games on low settings, while dedicated graphics boards are only good for older games.
– Slower performance – Dedicated graphics cards are much more powerful than integrated graphics cards, and you will notice a significant drop in performance on integrated graphics solutions.
– The limited number of games – Integrated graphics cards are much cheaper than dedicated graphics cards, but they will only be able to play lower-end games. Integrated graphics cards are much more powerful than integrated graphics solutions, allowing them to run much more demanding games.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that integrated graphics cards have come a long way in recent years, and they are now more capable than dedicated graphics cards. However, there are many reasons to buy a dedicated graphics card – especially if you play more demanding games.
Dedicated cards are much more powerful, efficient, and durable than integrated graphics cards, allowing you to run much more demanding software. Furthermore, dedicated cards are also much more cost-effective, lasting much longer than integrated graphics cards and costing less than a high-end dedicated card.
So, if you want to enjoy games written for the desktop operating system like Windows and macOS, then a dedicated graphics card is essential.
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