Many people who do not play games on laptops believe that there is no need for a graphics card for their workloads. It might be true depending on what you are using the laptop for.
Do laptop graphics cards matter if you do not play games? Yes, you may not need a GPU to take care of your workloads. But it is partly true. Typically, every laptop you buy comes equipped with a GPU. It is called an integrated chip on the CPU. At its core, a GPU sends images to the display.
However, some tasks demand more performance. This is where an integrated GPU fails to deliver. A discrete GPU or a dedicated graphics card is what you need to handle heavy tasks.
So, do you need a discrete graphics card on a laptop?
Well, you have to understand certain aspects of a GPU to make the tough decision easy. This post will answer whether you need a graphics card even if you do not play games.
Understanding Integrated Vs. Dedicated Graphics Card
You will find two types of laptop graphics cards: integrated and dedicated. The integrated graphics card consists of both the CPU and GPU in one place. The integrated graphics will be made either by Intel or AMD depending on the CPU that the laptop has.
The best part of an integrated GPU is the low cost. Hence, the laptop will be less expensive. Because integrated graphics share resources, they will never give you the performance of a discrete graphics card.
Dedicated graphics for laptops come from NVIDIA and AMD. You must have heard the words GeForce or Radeon. These are the names of dedicated graphics cards. These types of graphic cards stay separate from the CPU. Also, they do not share resources like RAM.
They have dedicated memory called Video RAM or VRAM. Because the GPU does not have to borrow resources from the CPU, it delivers amazing graphics performance. Discrete laptop graphics cards come with a cooling mechanism as well. As such, they do not depend on the laptop fans.
These days, integrated laptop graphics cards give consistent performance. Even for light gaming, integrated GPUs can perform well in low resolutions.
Still, you have to decide whether you need a graphics card if you are not playing games. It will depend on the workload that you want to do on the laptop. That way, you will know if integrated graphics are enough for your needs.
Tasks that integrated laptop graphics cards can handle with ease
Integrated graphics can handle the most common computing tasks easily. Also, it can perform well when you use office software or heavy browsing. Modern-day integrated GPUs or iGPUs can work conveniently.
Therefore, you do not have to buy laptops with graphics cards if you use normal applications. When it comes to playing video content efficiently, the integrated GPUs do a good job. Integrated laptop graphics cards that have been around since 2017 can even play a 4K video smoothly.
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| Photo courtesy – Intel
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If you are a digital creator and have high-definition video content to stream, the integrated laptop graphics cards can do the job well. Integrated graphics can take care of minimal photo editing, high-definition video content consumption, and basic computing.
But if your laptop has a discrete graphics card, it will accelerate your workload. For example, live streaming will be smooth if you have a laptop with discrete graphics card. Some of the integrated GPUs that you find around include –
- Intel UHD Graphics – It is a common integrated laptop graphics card that you will find in many laptops. They deliver decent performance and are suitable for non-gaming people.
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics – It is an iGPU from Intel, faster than its previous versions. They are good at handling video editing and gaming that does not require a powerful GPU.
- AMD Radeon Vega Graphics – This integrated graphics card from AMD works similarly to that of Intel UHD graphics.
Are you looking for a graphic designing laptop but do not know where to get started? Check out our post on graphic design laptop buying guide.
When do you need a dedicated graphics card on a laptop?
Technically, for a robust video editing situation, a dedicated graphics card is beneficial. It helps accelerate the editing timeline. A discrete graphics card will accelerate video encoding and rendering faster compared to an iGPU.
VFX, animation, and 3D modeling require a powerful GPU. It is best for working with applications such as SolidWorks, Cinema 4D, Adobe Premier, Blender, etc. Even modern integrated laptop graphics cards are not equipped for professional workloads. Discrete GPUs provide impressive results in less time.
Integrated GPUs can handle casual photo editing tasks. However, they fail to perform when working on projects that involve intense photo editing, illustration, or graphic design. Hence, working on complex projects on software such as Adobe CC, Lightroom, or Photoshop CS requires a dedicated GPU.
High GPU performance is a requirement when dealing with post-production, motion design, and compositing. People who develop games or apps may need a powerful GPU to meet their demands. For example, Unity3D or Unreal are popular packages that perform well with dedicated laptop graphics cards.
A multi-monitor setup requires the power of a dedicated GPU. You might not be interested in playing games. But consider buying a gaming laptop to complete your non-gaming tasks conveniently. Feeling confused about where to get started? Our post on the gaming laptop buying guide will help you narrow down your choice.
Following are some dedicated GPUs that you find around.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 – It is a low-range GPU that can handle many games in low settings. Besides, you can do light editing as well.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – It is a mid-range GPU suitable for video editing and game development.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 – It is a high-end GPU that gives you the freedom to take care of graphics-intensive workloads efficiently.
- AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT – It is a mid-range graphics card from AMD that functions similarly to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650.
- AMD Radeon RX 6600M – This is a high-end GPU from AMD that gives a similar performance to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060.
What happens if you do not use a dedicated GPU?
Whenever you buy a laptop, it will have an integrated graphics card. After all, it processes the images on the display. Also, they are capable of running small tasks that do not require much GPU utilization. These days, almost every laptop you buy comes equipped with an on-board graphics card.
As said earlier, the difference in performance between an integrated and discrete GPU will depend on how you use it. So, for normal use, an iGPU will give you the best experience. But when you need video editing, rendering, or even developing apps or games, the power of an inbuilt GPU is not sufficient.
Chances are that you will experience slowdowns or crashes. The laptop gives you a jerky performance, making you feel irritated. But a dedicated GPU gives the laptop extra power to cope with the demanding needs.
Factors to consider when choosing a laptop with integrated graphics
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a laptop with integrated graphics:
- For daily activities such as checking emails, browsing the internet, or using light software, a laptop with integrated graphics is fine. However, video editing, 3D rendering, game development, etc. require a dedicated graphics card to get the best results.
- When opting for a laptop with an integrated graphics card, having a good-performing CPU is important, too. Hence, look for laptops that come with AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 CPUs.
- Not only the CPU but also the laptop should have an adequate amount of memory. While 8GB of RAM makes most tasks easy for you, 16GB improves performance. However, you need a CPU with over 3GHz speed for visible results.
- For media consumption in the best possible way, you need a display that supports high resolution images. Choose a laptop with a 1080p display.
- Regarding the battery life, you do not have to worry much because integrated graphics cards consume less power. You can expect to have a long battery life compared to laptops with discrete graphics cards.
Factors to consider when choosing a laptop with dedicated graphics
Below are some factors to consider when you are planning to buy a laptop with a dedicated graphics card.
- When you think beyond normal usage, a laptop with a dedicated graphics card is your best bet. A dedicated GPU helps you undertake complex tasks with ease. Whether it is encoding, animation, VFX, game development, etc. a discrete GPU makes these tasks convenient for you.
- A laptop with a dedicated graphics card needs a powerful CPU to achieve amazing performance. An AMD Ryzen 7 or an Intel Core i7 CPU gives you the best results.
- An 8GB RAM may not be enough for extreme workloads. Therefore, buy a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM.
- When you have a dedicated GPU, try to buy a laptop that comes with higher refresh rates. Aim for at least a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Laptops with dedicated graphics cards will be less power-efficient than the iGPUs. Hence, the battery life will be shorter. Still, consider buying a laptop that can run for about 4 to 5 hours on a single charge.
Wrapping Up
So, do graphics cards on laptops matter if you do not play games?
In most situations, yes. But it depends on the workloads you want to run on your laptop. For internet browsing, playing media files, or other light-productive things, an integrated GPU will be perfect.
But if your laptop helps you earn money, investing in a laptop with a dedicated graphics card is worthwhile. You may choose a laptop that comes with a mid-range GPU. That way, you can perform editing, rendering, 3D modeling, post-production, etc. easily without crashes or slowdown.
We hope this post helped you understand the importance of having either an integrated or dedicated graphics card. Especially, if you want a laptop to do activities other than gaming. A discrete graphics card is a great option for non-gaming workloads.
Leave a comment below if you find the post helpful or have queries.