Integrated GPU redundant with discrete card?

[ilikecomputersalot]

Wanted to know if the iGPU in the Core series provide any performance benefit when a discrete graphics card is installed, or if they are just redundant.

[Oshino Shinobu]

Depends what you're doing. It generally is disabled by default, but it can be enabled again and used for running additional monitors. 

 

If you're not running out of ports on your graphics card, I would just leave the iGPU off, it won't really do anything even if it's enabled. 

[Batteries Included]

They are not used because they are complete trash. 

[DrMacintosh]

They become redundant after a dGPU is installed. 

 

They are good to have though incase your dGPU dies so you can still use your system.

[ilikecomputersalot]

So they can be assigned to run a separate monitor?

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, ilikecomputersalot said:

So they can be assigned to run a separate monitor?

yep, but normally just use the extra ports on your dgpu.

[ilikecomputersalot]

also im guessing commnand line, BIOS, terminal, still run from motherboards hdmi if dGPU dies, or if i have Xeon processor

[emosun]

1 minute ago, ilikecomputersalot said:

also im guessing commnand line, BIOS, terminal, still run from motherboards hdmi if dGPU dies,

no , much like most computers from the past 20 years the gpu will output all video signals unless it's removed.

Unless you specifically want to move the hdmi cable back and forth to the integrated gpu then i suppose you could use it for that

[KarathKasun]

If the dGPU dies, you will need to remove it first, then the PC will function as normal with the exception of plugging your monitor into the motherboard.  Games will generally play, but FPS is horrible with any settings above low or resolution above 720p.  Some old games will play well on the iGPU, but anything triple A from the past 3-5 years will  not.

[WereCat]

They are good as a backup or when you run out of display outputs on your dGPU and you still need to plug in some extra monitors.

[Mooshi]

You don't plug your monitor into your motherboard when you have dedicated card, what do you think?

[keskparane]

I use mine because that way my boot screen appears on my primary monitor, and because why not? It lessens the load on the card when it's being maxed out, and as far as I could find out from a few quick searches the igpu doesn't really tax your cpu.  The screens integrate perfectly (ie dragging an image, video, or anything, between them).

 

It would be a different story if you were gaming on both screens or something similar, but I'm not. My secondary is just for additional stuff when my primary is full.

[Guest]

Unless you pair an AMD APU with an AMD Graphics card then it should automaticially switch off.

[KarathKasun]

12 hours ago, keskparane said:

I use mine because that way my boot screen appears on my primary monitor, and because why not? It lessens the load on the card when it's being maxed out, and as far as I could find out from a few quick searches the igpu doesn't really tax your cpu.  The screens integrate perfectly (ie dragging an image, video, or anything, between them).

 

It would be a different story if you were gaming on both screens or something similar, but I'm not. My secondary is just for additional stuff when my primary is full.

Not quite true.  In Windows Vista and later all extra monitors are rendered on the primary GPU and copied to the secondary GPU's to display on their outputs.

 

The only way it works like you say is when using Optimus on a laptop.

[keskparane]

1 hour ago, KarathKasun said:

Not quite true.  In Windows Vista and later all extra monitors are rendered on the primary GPU and copied to the secondary GPU's to display on their outputs.

 

The only way it works like you say is when using Optimus on a laptop.

OMG I had no idea.

 

You lead me to run some basic tests.

• Running valley on the igpu when set as primary monitor didn't draw on the card.
• Playing youtube on the secondary from igpu had 15% usage on the primary card.
• Playing youtube on the secondary from card and only 10% on card.

I am shocked to see the card had to work harder when igpu used.

[Kc7vwc]

On 2/11/2018 at 9:15 PM, ilikecomputersalot said:

Wanted to know if the iGPU in the Core series provide any performance benefit when a discrete graphics card is installed, or if they are just redundant.

Best use for it is emergency backup if your GPU dies.

Aside from that, you can use Quicksync thru the igpu to help render video or as an encoder for streaming to twitch/YT. (I do)

As stated in two posts above me, using the igpu to power a 2nd panel actually increased the total system load.