GPU

Integrated or Dedicated?

In the world of computing, there have always been questions on whether a built-in graphics card is sufficient enough for completing tasks or should a user spend a little bit more for a standalone (dedicated) graphics card. In this blog entry, we weigh these two options and determine what suits your need the most.

The Weigh-in

Most budget-friendly CPUs come with integrated graphics card as this costs significantly less than a dedicated one. (Source: PC Authority)

An integrated GPU will service you fine if it's utilized for low power running on normal programs like a laptop, but one major downside of having them is that they have no internal memory and they take a chunk out of your RAM. For example, if you allocate 128MB of space to the video, the same amount is robbed from the system memory which is not good if you work with programs that require a decent RAM in order to function well.

Another disadvantage of using a graphics card built alongside a motherboard is that separation of the two is impossible. If ever the need comes that more power or faster processing is required, consumers might opt to replace the entire motherboard. And replacing the motherboard isn't as easy as it sounds since there are a number of factors that should first be considered when replacing parts like compatibility and availability.

To add to the list, it is also possible that users may go through a chain upgrade without even planning it. A chain upgrade is when you replace one component that requires another upgrade, if incompatibility issues arise. Therefore resulting to a different upgrade, and so on.

Gamers are the ones reaping most of the benefits of having a dedicated GPU since it can render high-quality graphics with more sharpness and vividness. (Source: bit-tech.net)

A standalone GPU, on the other hand, uses its own processor and memory. Basically, it gives the CPU a break from all the graphics work and does them instead, resulting to a more efficient workflow for the CPU. It's like a mini-processor that specifically works in rendering all the visuals of the system. Yes, it takes up more space and consumes a bit more power than usual, but the graphics card no longer needs to take part of resources from the entire system.

Another plus for having an architect GPU is that you may easily replace the motherboard separately as long as it's compatible with the card. Incorporating a dedicated graphics card also entitles the user to a more flexible choice of selecting different models with a faster GPU, larger memory, dual video output, and more.

They also offer automatic updates that are ready for download anytime which gives you a peace of mind that what you have onboard is a system that's always updated. Also, separate GPUs have more cores compared to its counterparts that makes processing media applications more efficient.

These are just some of the basic differences between a built-in and a dedicated GPU. The former is more affordable and is capable of rendering basic graphics. You can also play games with it, but should set the resolutions on the lower end of the spectrum. The latter, in contrast, is a bit more heavy on the budget but is a good investment. It doesn't only deliver life-like graphics while playing games, but also speeds up other related tasks that produces a more efficient workstation for you.