Graphics cards are an essential component of modern computers. They are responsible for rendering images, videos, and animations on the screen. However, not all computers come with a dedicated graphics card. Some have integrated graphics, which are built into the CPU. Integrated graphics are less powerful than dedicated graphics cards, but they are sufficient for basic tasks such as web browsing and office work. In this article, we will discuss how to switch between graphics card and integrated graphics.
What is a Graphics Card?
A graphics card, also known as a video card or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), is a hardware component that is responsible for rendering images, videos, and animations on the screen. It has its own processor, memory, and cooling system. Graphics cards are essential for gaming, video editing, and other graphics-intensive tasks. They are also used for cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence.
What is Integrated Graphics?
Integrated graphics, also known as onboard graphics or iGPU (Integrated Graphics Processing Unit), are built into the CPU (Central Processing Unit). They share the system memory with the CPU and do not have their own memory or cooling system. Integrated graphics are less powerful than dedicated graphics cards, but they are sufficient for basic tasks such as web browsing and office work.
How to Switch Between Graphics Card and Integrated Graphics?
There are several ways to switch between graphics card and integrated graphics, depending on your computer’s hardware and software configuration. Here are some methods:
Method 1: BIOS/UEFI Settings
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a firmware that is responsible for initializing the hardware components of the computer. It also provides a user interface for configuring the hardware settings. To switch between graphics card and integrated graphics using the BIOS/UEFI settings, follow these steps:
1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the key specified on the screen (usually F2, F10, or Delete).
2. Navigate to the “Advanced” or “Integrated Peripherals” section.
3. Look for an option called “Primary Graphics Adapter” or “Initiate Graphic Adapter” and select it.
4. Choose “PCIe” or “PCI Express” to use the dedicated graphics card, or “Integrated” or “Onboard” to use the integrated graphics.
5. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.
Method 2: Graphics Control Panel
Most graphics cards come with a control panel software that allows you to configure the graphics settings. To switch between graphics card and integrated graphics using the graphics control panel, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Graphics Properties” or “NVIDIA Control Panel” or “AMD Radeon Settings” (depending on your graphics card).
2. Navigate to the “3D Settings” or “Display” section.
3. Look for an option called “Preferred Graphics Processor” or “Graphics Card” and select it.
4. Choose “High-performance NVIDIA processor” or “High-performance AMD processor” to use the dedicated graphics card, or “Integrated Graphics” to use the integrated graphics.
5. Save the changes and exit the graphics control panel.
Method 3: Windows Settings
Windows 10 has a built-in feature called “Graphics Settings” that allows you to choose which graphics card to use for specific apps. To switch between graphics card and integrated graphics using the Windows Settings, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and select “Settings”.
2. Navigate to the “System” section.
3. Click on “Display” and scroll down to the bottom.
4. Click on “Graphics Settings”.
5. Click on “Browse” and select the app that you want to configure.
6. Click on “Options” and select “High performance” to use the dedicated graphics card, or “Power saving” to use the integrated graphics.
7. Save the changes and exit the Windows Settings.
Conclusion
Switching between graphics card and integrated graphics can improve the performance of your computer and save power. However, it requires some knowledge of the hardware and software configuration. In this article, we discussed three methods to switch between graphics card and integrated graphics: BIOS/UEFI settings, graphics control panel, and Windows settings. We hope that this article has been helpful to you.
