The graphic card debate is not a DC versus Marvel kind of war. It is a Superman versus Batman battle. Would you rather have superpowers, or rely on external factors like wealth and equipment.

In this article, we will break down these two types of graphics cards. We will also find out the best one for you.

Dedicated Graphics Card

A dedicated Graphics Card is a piece of hardware used to improve the graphical performance of your computer. 

They are also known as Video or discrete cards. 

The dedicated graphics card has its CPU. The hardware is designed separately from the computer CPU. 

Dedicated Graphics also have their RAM. Your computer’s RAM is not used when the graphics card is in use. 

The RAM, also referred to as VRAM (Video RAM), processes images, videos, and graphics. 

Since the Graphic card does all the heavy work, the CPU’s workload is reduced. 

Dedicated Graphics cards produce a lot of heat when in use. Thus, they come with their cooling fan. 

Integrated Graphics Card

You can tell from the word Integrated that this graphic card is built on the same chip as the computer’s CPU. 

Therefore, the CPU and the Graphic card use the same processor. 

Apart from that, the memory is also shared. Whenever you see the word shared graphics, the allocated graphics are used to process images. The rest of the memory is available for other computing tasks. 

Say your laptop has a total of 16GB of RAM and the shared RAM is 4GB. 

Whenever the Integrated Graphics card is in use, your computer can only use the remaining 12GB for the other tasks. 

Integrated vs Dedicated graphics card. Which one wins the Graphic card battle? 

Processor power. 

The Integrated Graphics card has both the CPU and GPU on the same chip. It means that one of them will be limited, especially when both are working simultaneously. 

The dedicated graphics card has its power, memory, and GPU. The graphics-related task is performed by it. Therefore, the CPU can efficiently perform other tasks. 

Upgradability

Since Integrated Graphics Cards are embedded on the same chip as the processor, it is difficult to upgrade them. 

On the other hand, upgrading the dedicated graphics card is as easy as removing it and replacing it with the new one. Note that this is an expensive move. 

Things to consider when choosing your Graphics Card

Pricing 

Dedicated graphics are more expensive than Integrated Graphics cards. The former has its PCB as opposed to the latter that shares its circuitry with the processor.

Apart from that, dedicated graphics cards have their memory whereas Integrated ones share the memory with the CPU.

Dedicated graphics are paired with high-performing CPUs for them to perform well. High-performance CPUs are expensive.

Integrated graphics cards are relatively cheaper. They share resources with your computer’s CPU.

Battery Life

Integrated graphics cards are power efficient. They are sufficient for your basic computing tasks like browsing, music, movies, and light gaming. 

Integrated graphics cards produce less heat and do not draw a lot of power from your battery. Your battery will last longer.

On the other hand, we cannot say the same for dedicated graphics cards. These graphics cards have their memory, processor, cooling, and power management. They use more power and quickly drain your laptop.

Additionally, they produce a lot of heat that needs a cooling system. Therefore, more energy is used in running either the internal or external cooling fan. 

The same is true for those with desktop computers. More electricity is used for those using desktop computers with dedicated graphics cards.

Task 

The kind of task you intend to run on your personal computer will determine which graphics card you should settle for.

You should go for the dedicated graphics option if you intend to play 3D games with the highest resolution or frames per second. Heavy graphics-related tasks like watching 4K movies and video editing will require one too.

A dedicated graphics card will allow you to run multiple monitoring systems and enjoy the best experience visually. 

An integrated graphics card is sufficient for a user doing basic computing tasks. 

Browsing the internet, watching videos, word processing, and non-demanding games can work well with integrated graphics cards.

Dedicated or Integrated graphics card

Dedicated graphics cards are clear in this race. 

Integrated graphics cards are not even close. Superman wins this one. 

Sorry, Batman fans.

However, the points outlined in this article will help you choose suitable graphic cards according to your budget and task. There is no need to break the bank to get dedicated graphics if you will be using your computer to send emails.

You can check other articles on our website to get a better understanding of how graphics cards work.