How laptops handle with graphic cards

WakaBam46

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Oct 12, 2014
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Like the topic says, I bought an HP 17t laptop with a gt 840m graphic card. I was wondering how current laptops use the graphic cards, since I heard that there smart enough to actually use both the both the integrated and the dedicated graphic cards.

Thanks for the info
 
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I'd doubt the intel GPU would be able to add anything meaningful to a discrete GPU (even if it was possible) - no one puts sucky discrete GPUs in laptops anymore since the intel one (and AMD ones) are so effective. The laptops that use to pack junk discrete GPUs now just rely on integrated graphics as they're fine for all uses except 3D gaming.

The big benefit of using the low consumption intel GPUs to increase battery life though- that's something worth having.

bliq

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Jun 29, 2006
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I think it's on a laptop by laptop basis whether they take advantage of what used to be called Nvidia Optimus. I think a majority of laptops do use GPU switching now since intel pretty much integrates a GPU into almost every mobile chip. The trick is to figure out which apps cause the discrete GPU to fire up.
 

dark_lord69

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Jun 6, 2006
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I have a laptop that uses both.
In my laptop they don't work together for more speed/processing.

Instead the high end graphics get turned off while on battery to conserve battery life.
While plugged in the high end graphics card kicks in and allows me to game.

All of which is changeable in the GPU driver settings.
At any point I can use either one but at no point can I use both at the same time.
 

WakaBam46

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Oct 12, 2014
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Ah, well that kind of sucks about them not taking advantage and using both graphic cards. Thanks for the info though, guess I'm going to have to make some changes in the settings when I get it.
 

bliq

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Jun 29, 2006
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I'd doubt the intel GPU would be able to add anything meaningful to a discrete GPU (even if it was possible) - no one puts sucky discrete GPUs in laptops anymore since the intel one (and AMD ones) are so effective. The laptops that use to pack junk discrete GPUs now just rely on integrated graphics as they're fine for all uses except 3D gaming.

The big benefit of using the low consumption intel GPUs to increase battery life though- that's something worth having.
 
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