Onboard and discrete graphics

[baal80]

I have a rather simple question - is there any point in having onboard Intel HD graphics chip enabled when using a discrete card?

I'm using a Z77 board with 3570k CPU and I'm thinking of disabling it to save some power which I don't need.

 

[Keysplayr]

Have you tried it?

 

[ViRGE]

The power differences are negligible; HD4000 draws very little power at idle. With that said, the only real benefit the iGPU offers is Intel's QuickSync video encoder. If you leave the iGPU on and combine it with Virtu in D-mode, you can maintain access to it. Otherwise no, there's no real benefit to leaving it on.

 

[baal80]

OK thanks for the replies. I don't even have Virtu installed, I've read enough negative opinions about it... And no I haven't tried disabling iGPU yet, will try it now.

 

[ViRGE]

OK thanks for the replies. I don't even have Virtu installed, I've read enough negative opinions about it... And no I haven't tried disabling iGPU yet, will try it now.

FWIW, there's nothing wrong with Virtu as long as you stick to D-mode. All of the grumbling is about I-mode.