a discrete motherboard?

Gnome said:
Almost certainly no. That is once again why I don't like the word "discrete".

The CPUs from SandyBridge onward implement most of the video card functionality on the CPU itself (therefore ALL sandybridge CPUs have GPU components on them, regardless if you use it or not). On those CPUs you will not beat power efficiency compared to a discreet GPU (here the word discreet actually makes sense). However if you install a discreet GPU, it could be less efficient. Depends how it is implement. Most motherboards turn off the onboard video circuitry so extra power usage will either not be measurable or very low. When using both onboard and discrete at the same time (yes it is possible) will increase power usage however.

Even older chipsets will probably be more efficient when using onboard video rather than using discreet GPU.

For which CPU are we talking about however?

eg. If you can build me a setup with discreet GPU that will beat a 2100T or 2500T in both CPU and GPU performance at their given power usage (35w and 45w respectively), I will give you a R1000 :p
Click to expand...

I see.. mm.. I guess then it's just better to go for a normal motherboard.. save all the effort.. lol
 
Gnome said:
Yes, currently as it stands onboard VGA isn't standard but both Intel and AMD are from hereon including GPUs on the CPUs.

A few years back discrete could have meant a motherboard didn't have a LAN port or sound card (back in the Pentium/486DX days). The word discrete on a mobo doesn't make sense.

In the next 3 years you will see motherboards without onboard VGA disappear (the current generation is likely the last without integrated video). Just like you cannot buy a motherboard without onboard LAN/Audio these days you won't be able to buy a motherboard without onboard VGA. And at that point a discrete motherboard could possible mean that the motherboard doesn't have an integrated CPU (eg. Atom).
Click to expand...

I see..

Yeah I guess motherboards nowdays will always come with LAN and audio.. It's like a need :)

Thanks anyway
 
Wait..

Was just thinking..

So how do you use both onboard and GPU video at the same time?

(I know it's kind of useles... Wondering who would use that.. ) But just want to ask.. ^ ^
 
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