Making the right choice isn’t always simple. In contrast, a traditional CPU relies on a separate graphics card to handle graphics processing.

This allows for better performance and more efficient use of power as the GPU can handle tasks related to graphics and video processing, freeing up the CPU to handle other tasks. If you want to know more about how CPUs work, check out our “ What is a CPU” article.ĪPUs are different from CPUs in that APUs integrate both the CPU and GPU onto a single chip.

The amount of VRAM can be set or can be dynamically allocated based on the current needs of the iGPU. This means that there’s no room for any VRAM, so the iGPU shares memory resources with the CPU and uses standard system memory as VRAM. It can also be used as a secondary GPU when paired with a dedicated one, to offload some of the workloads and enhance the overall performance. It is not as powerful as a dedicated GPU, but it is sufficient for most everyday tasks such as web browsing, video playback, and basic gaming. The iGPU is used to handle tasks such as displaying graphics on a monitor, video playback, and gaming. This allows for more efficient use of space and power, as well as better communication between the CPU and GPU. The iGPU inside a desktop CPU is a graphics processing unit that is built into the same die as the CPU.

Intel onboard graphics