Compare discrete and integrated video card — what is the difference and what is better

Every computer needs a video card. Without it, he simply will not be able to convert a digital signal to analog or calculate graphics. And its main task is simply to ensure the operation of the connected monitor.

The video card itself can be discrete or integrated. And these are two fundamentally different design options. Let’s figure out how they differ and which is better — a discrete or integrated video card.

Key features of video cards in general

The principle of operation of video cards (they can also be called graphics accelerators, GPUs or graphics cards) is quite simple:

1. First, a command is sent from the computer’s central processor to display the image on the screen;

2. Information about what to display is sent to the video memory. For example, in games, 3D models are stored there;

3. The video processor (GPU), selecting data from the video memory, calculates the location of each pixel on the screen;

4. The signal is sent through the cable to the screen.

It is clear that the key components of a graphics accelerator are the video processor and video memory. The first calculates the location of pixels, the second stores data about objects. And, in fact, the GPU is a miniature computer, with its own processor and memory.

However, all this is arranged a little non-standard. A video processor, for example, can have several thousand weak cores, and video memory can be polled ten times faster than operational memory.

Why arrange it like that? Yes, to provide realistic graphics in games! To calculate the location of every object on the screen, every ray of light, every glare, every leaf and every passing bullet, the GPU has to work very fast. And resource-intensive calculations are easier to give 40$ small cores than one large one.

What is an integrated graphics card?

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of GPUs — integrated and discrete. And we will deal with the first one now.

The integrated (embedded) «vidyushka» is built directly into the processor. It does not have any separate chip on the motherboard, it does not have its own memory, and the computing unit is represented by a small, low-performance coprocessor. But it consumes a minimum of energy and is inexpensive.

Since the built-in video memory does not have video memory, it stores all the data necessary for calculations in the operational one. That is why it is not suitable for games. The amount of allocated RAM is clearly not enough to record the entire scene, only a few objects from it.

The computing unit of the built-in graphics accelerator is also very weak. Therefore scenes cannot be rendered quickly. At best, there is a «slide show», at worst — one picture freezes for several minutes.

If the built-in «video» is so weak, why is it needed at all? Well, she has a few virtues.:

1. Not all people buy a computer for games. And it makes no sense to overpay for a «discrete» if you do not plan to use it;

2. It heats up minimally during operation. Enough of the cooling that is connected to the processor;

3. It consumes a minimum of energy. In general, laptops with a built-in video camera can work on battery power for 6-10 hours, and with a discrete one — 3-4 hours.

In addition, modern integrated video cameras are quite productive. Take, for example, Intel UHD Graphics 640. It is comparable in speed to NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030! That is, even games will pull — not all, but some of the not very old ones.

What is a discrete graphics card?

If the integrated GPU is installed directly into the processor, then the discrete one is purchased and installed separately on the motherboard. It has its own video memory, its own computing unit, and all this can be very powerful. All so-called gaming graphics cards are discrete.

A large amount of high-speed video memory is necessary for the «vidyushka» to store a lot of data. Top models can have up to 12-16 GB of video memory operating at up to 16 GHz — which is 3-4 times faster than DDR4 for «RAM».

A powerful computing unit, which in some models can have 4-60$ cores, allows you to process multiple threads simultaneously and render the most dynamic scenes.

Nevertheless, discrete GPUs are spared not only from the shortcomings of integrated ones, but also from the advantages. The «discrete» has the following disadvantages:

1. Price. Just put up with the fact that you won’t find a gaming video camera cheaper than $500, and you will have to pay about 2,500 units of US currency for the top model;

2. Energy consumption. A high-performance video camera will need a powerful power supply. And if it is installed in a laptop, it will be discharged faster than we would like;

3. Heat. For top-end graphics accelerators, they often even install an additional cooling system — they get so hot.

However, if you plan to play on a computer or laptop, you cannot do without a discrete video card. Similarly, you will need it to connect multiple monitors or an FHD or UHD monitor.

Which is better — an integrated video card or a discrete one?

It would seem that discrete is better in everything. But let’s define the areas of use.

1. 
   If you do not plan to play on a computer, if you have a limited budget, if you choose a laptop with maximum battery life, you do not need a discrete video card.

2. In all other cases, it is necessary. Games, AutoCAD, Blender, Maya, and other 3D-oriented software all require a powerful graphics accelerator.