Do Motherboards Have Integrated Graphics?

The answer to this question is that motherboards don’t have integrated graphics. Integrated graphics are found on CPUs and not on motherboards. But why do people ask this question in the first place?

Keep reading because I will talk about the differences between integrated and dedicated graphics, why motherboards don’t have integrated graphics, and why people might think that they do.

Does my mobo has integrated graphics?

No, your motherboard does not have integrated graphics. Integrated graphics are found on CPUs and not on motherboards. Some really old motherboards did have integrated graphics, but nowadays, this is not common.

The Difference between Integrated Graphics and Dedicated Graphics

Integrated graphics are found on CPUs, and dedicated graphics are found on graphics cards. The main difference between these two types of graphics is that integrated graphics are less powerful than dedicated graphics. This doesn’t mean that integrated graphics are bad; it just means that they are not as powerful as dedicated graphics.

Another difference is the price. Dedicated graphics cards are usually more expensive than integrated graphics processors, so if you are on a tight budget, then integrated graphics might be a better option for you.

But if you plan to build your PC for gaming, then you should use a dedicated graphics card. However, integrated graphics will be fine if you are just using your computer for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing.

With that being said, there have been some decent integrated graphics processors in the last few years. In fact, the top AMD CPUs that use the Vega 8 integrated graphics card have better performance than some of the lower-end Nvidia graphics cards.

To prove my point, I have gathered some benchmark scores.

Here is a table with the benchmark scores of some popular integrated graphics processors vs some low-budget dedicated graphics cards.

GPU – iGPU Model	Benchmark Score
Radeon Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE	2,969
GeForce MX350	2,870
Radeon Ryzen 7 5700G	2,837
Radeon Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE	2,693
GeForce GTX 465	2,679
Radeon Ryzen 7 4700GE	2,662
GeForce GTX 850M	2,603
Radeon Ryzen 5 5600G	2,570
GeForce GTX 650 Ti	2,555
GeForce GTX 950A	2,539

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Can I use my motherboard without integrated graphics?

If you take a closer look at your motherboard’s rear I/O panel, you will see that there are some video output ports like DVI, VGA, and HDMI.

In order to use these ports, you need an integrated GPU. If your CPU does not have an integrated graphics card, then these ports will not work.

If you decide to buy a dedicated GPU, it will have its own ports, so the motherboard’s ports will not be used.

So, to sum up, yes, you can use your motherboard without integrated graphics. You will just need to buy a dedicated graphics card, but even with this card, you will not be able to use the motherboard’s ports.

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Why do people think motherboards have integrated graphics?

The reason why some people think motherboards have integrated graphics is that when they read the specs of a motherboard, they reach a section named “Onboard graphics.” This makes them think that the motherboard has its own integrated graphics processor.

However, this is not the case. The “Onboard Graphics” section in a motherboard’s specs refers to the ports that are available on the motherboard. These ports will only work if there is an integrated graphics processor on the motherboard. Without an integrated graphics processor, these ports will not work.

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Which CPUs come with iGPUs?

Not all processors come with an integrated graphics processor. Depending on the brand, there are some ways to know if a particular CPU has an iGPU or not.

AMD Processors with an iGPU

AMD’s processors that come with an integrated graphics processor are called APUs. APU stands for “Accelerated Processing Unit.” Which, in simple terms, means that the APU contains both a CPU and a graphics processor.

Most of AMD’s processors don’t come with an integrated graphics processor, but those that do have the letter “G” or “GE” at the end of the name. For example, both the Ryzen 3 5300G and the Ryzen 7 5700GE have an integrated graphics processor.

Related Article: Does Ryzen Have Integrated Graphics?

Most Powerful AMD APUs

• Ryzen 7 5700G
• Ryzen 7 5700GE
• Ryzen 5 5600G
• Ryzen 5 5600GE
• Ryzen 3 5300G
• Ryzen 3 5300GE
• Ryzen 5 4600G
• Ryzen 7 4700G
• Ryzen 7 Pro 4750G

Intel Processors with an iGPU

Things are completely the opposite when it comes to Intel CPUs. Most Intel processors come with an integrated graphics processor. The only exceptions are the CPUs that do have the letter “F” at the end of the name. For example, the Intel Core i5-8400F does not come with an integrated graphics processor.

In this essence, if you are looking to build a PC for everyday use, you should go for an Intel processor with an integrated graphics processor. This is because Intel has more models that come with an iGPU, so you will have more choices.

Most Powerful Intel Processors with an iGPU

• Intel Core i9 12900K
• Intel Core i7 12700K
• Intel Core i5 12600K
• Intel Core i9 11900K
• Intel Core i7 11700K
• Intel Core i5 11600K

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MotherBoard Integrated Graphics FAQ

Conclusion

I am pretty sure that now you know that motherboards don’t have integrated graphics processors, and you also know which CPUs come with an integrated graphics processor. If you are looking to build a PC for everyday use, you should probably go for an Intel processor with an integrated graphics processor. AMD processors don’t have many models that come with an iGPU, so your choices will be limited.

Thanks for reading!