Why do GPU drain battery by just existing?

[7412]

I've always wondered: why is it that, in the same device but with different specs, you lose battery life on the best GPU?

I'm confused because, in my mind of normie who knows nothing about tech, the GPU should turn itself off when the computer is not gaming, video-editing or executing tasks that require its power, no?

Like browsing Chrome or writing stuff in OpenOffice Writer.

 

I'm wrong, obviously. But could you tell me why?

[Jurrunio]

for example?

[Tristerin]

If there is no iGPU, there is only dGPU - and it needs juice to display the 2D desktop, videos etc.  If there is an iGPU you need to enable it, and disable the dGPU.

[Turtle Rig]

5 minutes ago, 7412 said:

I've always wondered: why is it that, in the same device but with different specs, you lose battery life on the best GPU?

I'm confused because, in my mind of normie who knows nothing about tech, the GPU should turn itself off when the computer is not gaming, video-editing or executing tasks that require its power, no?

Like browsing Chrome or writing stuff in OpenOffice Writer.

 

I'm wrong, obviously. But could you tell me why?

You can change power to high performance in nvpanel and what not.

[KarathKasun]

Any component on the board draws current, even when its "off".  Plus, higher end GPUs are generally never turned off because the IGPU does not drive the display due to increased latency.

[Stormseeker9]

17 minutes ago, 7412 said:

I've always wondered: why is it that, in the same device but with different specs, you lose battery life on the best GPU?

I'm confused because, in my mind of normie who knows nothing about tech, the GPU should turn itself off when the computer is not gaming, video-editing or executing tasks that require its power, no?

Like browsing Chrome or writing stuff in OpenOffice Writer.

 

I'm wrong, obviously. But could you tell me why?

Well if you have no iGPU and only a dGPU, it needs to work to display your desktop, your browser etc etc etc.

 

with a iGPU I believe you can set when on battery to use iGPU, but don’t pin me down on that