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    Switchable Graphics vs Integrated Only

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by undoIT, Mar 7, 2010.

  1. undoIT

    undoIT Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know if laptops with switchable graphics cards running in integrated only mode consume the same amount of energy as a laptop that comes with just the integrated graphics card? The reason I'm asking is that I am interested in purchasing a laptop with Nvidia Optimus switchable graphics. However, battery life / power consumption and heat are important to me, so I may be swayed to buy a laptop with integrated only card if the switchable graphics card sucks more power even when not in use.
     
    undoIT, Mar 7, 2010
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  2. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    It should be the same. Laptops that have Hybrid SLI like the one you are looking at are pretty much designed for these situations, where the user will require lots of battery life.

    Even if the dedicated GPU happens to consume a little bit of power while you are using the integrated, it most likely wouldn't be significant enough to have a large impact on battery life.

    What would also matter is whether you are going to buy a notebook with a ULV processor or a standard one. ULV's can save you a lot of battery life.
     
    Amnesiac, Mar 7, 2010
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  3. laserbullet

    laserbullet Notebook Evangelist

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    If you want to force the laptop to use only the integrated GPU you should simply be able to disable the discrete one in device manager.
     
    laserbullet, Mar 7, 2010
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  4. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    Or switch the power profile.
     
    namaiki, Mar 7, 2010
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  5. undoIT

    undoIT Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I'd imagine there is a setting for this in the bios and software. However, I haven't seen any specs that show power consumption for a laptop with switchable graphics vs integrated. It would be really nice if there were no difference when the discrete card is turned off.
     
    undoIT, Mar 7, 2010
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