3 replies to this topic

[Pariah Devalis]

The new Z68 mobos allow for integrated Sandy Bridge GPU use, as well as unlocked clock speeds. However, in addition, at least with the ASUS variants, the BIOS allows for a couple new modes where you can set a priority on the integrated GPU and your discrete GPU for certain functions.

Assuming you'll be running only a single discrete GPU, would there be any advantage to having the iGPU accessed at all?

I ask, because I've got parts coming in the mail, and when it comes time to mess with the UEFI BIOS options, I'd prefer to have a better idea which direction I'll be going with it. For references sake, I'll be using an i7 2600k CPU and
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131786
with
http://www.newegg.co...ASUS%20550%20ti


Slight cost cutting on the card, and the Mobo had to fit into a mid tower for computer space reasons.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 20 January 2012 - 06:48 AM.

[Catamount]

The Z68 chipset really isn't something that makes a whole lot of sense for gamers, unless it's available cheap.

IIRC, it's basically a P67 with integrated GPU support, and nothing more, and no, there's no reason to use the integrated GPU in a desktop if you has a discrete one.


In a laptop, having a customizable switchable GPU solution would be amazingly handy, but let's face it, you don't really care about TDP that much in a desktop. A dozen or two watts extra when not gaming (sometimes less) just isn't important.

[Vulpesveritas]

Catamount, on 20 January 2012 - 08:51 AM, said:

The Z68 chipset really isn't something that makes a whole lot of sense for gamers, unless it's available cheap.

IIRC, it's basically a P67 with integrated GPU support, and nothing more, and no, there's no reason to use the integrated GPU in a desktop if you has a discrete one.


In a laptop, having a customizable switchable GPU solution would be amazingly handy, but let's face it, you don't really care about TDP that much in a desktop. A dozen or two watts extra when not gaming (sometimes less) just isn't important.

This. Unless you're ocd about saving every bit of money over time or a cooling nut like me, the switchable graphics isn't a big deal. Unless of course you get a Radeon HD 7970, in which case when it's use in switchable graphics it will only be sipping 3 watts sitting there. Then you might consider investing in a z68 motherboard

[Durant Carlyle]

I'm a bit late to the party, but...

The iGPU will out-perform the discrete card only in very limited circumstances -- when you are transcoding video streams. That's it. But if you do that often, especially as a money-maker, the performance difference can be significant.

Otherwise, tune your PC to have the best performance with the discrete card, and avoid using the iGPU at all.