Integrated graphics
Also known as: integrated GPU, iGPU, onboard graphics, built-in graphics
Integrated graphics are a graphics processor built into the same chip as the CPU, sharing the system's memory, instead of being a separate graphics card.
They handle displays, video playback, video calls, and light gaming efficiently and cheaply, which is why most laptops rely on them. While integrated graphics used to be very weak, modern versions in chips from Apple, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm can handle many games and creative tasks well.
Integrated graphics, explained at three levels
At home
Integrated graphics are like a studio apartment where the kitchen shares the living room. Everything fits in one space, so it's cheaper to run and easy to heat, but you can't host a huge dinner party. In a computer, the part that draws images on your screen lives inside the main processor chip and shares its memory and cooling, instead of sitting on a separate card with its own.
At work
Integrated graphics are a graphics processor built into the same chip as the CPU, drawing everything staff see on screen and decoding video for calls and presentations. Because they share the computer's main memory and power, there's no separate card to buy, power, or maintain. Businesses care because integrated graphics keep laptops cheaper, lighter, and longer on battery, and they are more than enough for office work and multiple monitors.
At home
Every screen image has to be calculated by a graphics processor, or GPU. Integrated graphics put that GPU on the same chip as the CPU, so they share the computer's main memory and cooling instead of having their own. That makes the laptop cheaper, cooler and longer-lasting on battery. The trade-off is that graphics and the processor compete for the same memory bandwidth and heat budget, which limits how demanding a game they can handle.
At work
Because integrated GPUs borrow system RAM, faster memory and dual-channel configurations noticeably improve graphics performance. Modern integrated GPUs, such as Intel's Arc graphics, AMD's Radeon graphics and Apple's M-series GPUs, include hardware video encoders and decoders that handle streaming and video calls efficiently. They also determine how many external monitors a laptop can drive and at what resolution, which varies by model and is worth checking before standardizing on one.
At home
Some laptops have both integrated graphics and a separate graphics card. The system uses the integrated GPU for everyday work to save battery, then hands demanding apps, such as games, to the stronger card. Windows lets you choose which GPU each app uses in the graphics settings. In my view, that combination is the best of both for students who game, because they get long battery life in class and real performance at home.
At work
Integrated graphics suit most general staff: lower cost, power and heat, fewer drivers to manage and fewer failure points. Dedicated GPUs remain necessary for CAD, 3D modelling, video production and local AI work, where dedicated memory and far higher compute matter. Apple's unified memory blurs the line by letting the GPU address large amounts of RAM, which helps some AI workloads. For virtual desktops, check whether the hypervisor supports GPU passthrough or partitioning.
Real-world examples
At home
Lena wanted a light laptop for school and occasional games. One with strong integrated graphics ran her favourite games at medium settings and lasted all day on battery.
At work
Thomas equips a Quebec City marketing team. He gave designers laptops with separate graphics cards, but chose integrated graphics for everyone else.
How it compares
| feature | Integrated graphics | Graphics Card (GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Inside the CPU chip | Separate card or chip |
| Memory | Shares system RAM | Own dedicated memory |
| Power use | Low | High |
| Performance | Good for most tasks | Much higher for games and 3D |
Integrated graphics are efficient. Dedicated cards are powerful.
For analysts
I'd only list a dedicated graphics card as a requirement when a named application needs one. Otherwise integrated graphics save money, battery, and support effort.
History & origin
In the 1990s, graphics usually came from separate cards. Intel built graphics into motherboard chipsets with the i810 in 1999. Graphics moved onto the processor package itself with Intel's Clarkdale chips in 2010 and Sandy Bridge in 2011, while AMD launched its combined 'APU' chips in 2011 after buying graphics maker ATI in 2006. Game consoles such as the PlayStation 4 in 2013 used powerful combined chips. Apple's M1 in 2020 showed how capable integrated graphics could be, and handheld gaming PCs such as Valve's Steam Deck in 2022 relied on them entirely. In my view, integrated graphics are good enough for most people, which is why separate graphics cards have become a specialist purchase.