The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    What is a UMA?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Maikky, Jun 10, 2013.

  1. Maikky

    Maikky Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yes, I've googled it and I'm still confused .

    Assuming I sort of understand, basically if I have a Ivy-Bridge and the specs for my laptop in the GPU section says "UMA" then I would have a Intel HD 4000 as my GPU corrrect ? I ask this because the Lenovo Y400/Y500 disable iGPU so I would think UMA is something below an Intel HD 4000 .
     
    Maikky, Jun 10, 2013
    #1
  2. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

    Reputations:
    2,365
    Messages:
    9,422
    Likes Received:
    200
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Karamazovmm, Jun 10, 2013
    #2
  3. R3d

    R3d Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,515
    Messages:
    2,382
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    66
    It pretty much means that the iGPU uses system memory instead of having dedicated memory. The Y400/Y500 should have the HD4000, yes.
     
    R3d, Jun 10, 2013
    #3
  4. Sanjiro

    Sanjiro Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    If it says UMA, it means it's using the integrated GPU with shared memory (Ram being used by the system and for the GPU). I've haven't heard of any manufacturer disabling integrated GPUs recently as there are easy ways to switch between the integrated and discrete card depending on if it's on battery or plugged in (as well as custom profiles).

    If the iGPU is disabled, it would only be if there is a discrete card being used, but if there is no other GPU (like when it says UMA), it will use the integrated GPU.
     
    Sanjiro, Jun 10, 2013
    #4
  5. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

    Reputations:
    2,365
    Messages:
    9,422
    Likes Received:
    200
    Trophy Points:
    231
    yeah, there is no relevance, the y400/y500 doesnt have the igpu enabled

    someone made a poop in the specs or whatever the OP read
     
    Karamazovmm, Jun 10, 2013
    #5
  6. Maikky

    Maikky Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I was actually looking at something on Best Buy that said UMA, I just used the Y400/500 as examples .
     
    Maikky, Jun 10, 2013
    #6
  7. Maikky

    Maikky Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Right .

    So just to make sure before I make a purchase if something has UMA as the graphics processor in it's spec and it doesn't state disabled iGPU then an Ivy Bridge should be using Intel 4000 correct ?
     
    Maikky, Jun 10, 2013
    #7
  8. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    That is a safe assumption.
     
    HTWingNut, Jun 10, 2013
    #8