Graphics Options for the Budget-minded

Introduction

It's hard to talk about custom computers without bringing up
one of the most important parts, the video card. Video cards are necessary, not
only to be able to get display, but also to render the complicated images on
your screen, whether its applications or games.

However, not everyone needs high end gaming card or
workstation level, professional CAD cards. What if you're just a simple user,
looking for a budget setup and you want decent graphical performance, without
breaking the bank?

Now is the time to introduce on-board graphics. On-board
graphics, like their name implies, are on the motherboard of your computer. In
other words, video-out ports exist on the back of the panel, typically VGA, DVI
and HDMI ports can be found on most boards today. In the past, they have been
handled by dedicated chips for graphics, but today they're usually handled by
the processors, such as the Intel's HD Graphics series, or the AMDs APU
processors.

In the past, the onboard chips were really weak, and other
than basic display and browsing features, one couldn't do a whole lot with
those units. Things have changed significantly for onboard graphics in the
recent years.

Performance

Let's look at Battlefield 4 for example, one of the latest
high-end first person shooters to hit the market. Let's also look at the Intel
HD graphics 4000, bundled with the 4^th generation of Intel CPUs.
This is the type of game you would only imagine playing on at least an entry
level gaming card, such as nVidia GTX 750 or higher. Yet, HD graphics has no
problem running this game, albeit on medium settings, and still get about 40fps
while doing so.

This is something that was completely unheard of few years
ago (although BF4 wasn't available at the time, similar performance titles were
simply not playable on on-board graphics).

Cost

Since the graphics is integrated on the CPU, you don't have
to pay for it separately. You simply pay the price of the CPU, and the graphics
are already included. The only other thing to watch out for is the motherboard
you choose to pair the CPU with has video ports. No video ports means no
display via CPU, even though the CPU may be capable of graphics processing.

Also, because you have a display adapter (CPU) you don't
need to buy a video card at all. Sure, you may have not been in the market for
a $200 gaming video card, but now you don't even have to buy a cheap $70 video
card just to run your display! The CPU handles everything, and it does so
admirably well.

Now, don't confuse on-board graphics of today for actual
gaming cards. We are not yet there, the CPU graphics aren't powerful enough to
compete with those. Also, if you're a gamer, then you should be looking at
gamer cards anyway and not bother with onboard graphics. These processor are
specifically aimed at people who want basic graphics performance that has been
raised to a surprising new level, at the same time keeping the overall costs
down since users do not have to purchase video cards separately.

These units are great for people who do simple work, such as
occasional Photoshop or other 2d and 3d programs, and require a bit more
performance than the average on-board GPU of the past. At just half the price,
you get both great CPU and GPU performance.

Mobility

This technology was also passed down onto notebooks, so the
mobile CPU's also come with video cards that can handle graphics tasks without
requiring of the additional notebooks.

Intel Iris is the technology intel uses in their cpus, and
you can find out more about there here:

Intel® Irisâ„¢ graphics, together with the 4th
generation Intel® Core™ processor, delivers amazing and vibrant multimedia
experiences. Get immersed in high-speed, stunning, 3-D gaming. Do advanced
photo and video editing quickly and easily. Sit back and enjoy the best in
movies with gorgeous HD and brilliant 4K Ultra HD display.



Intel Iris graphics is Intel's newest and most powerful graphics product, built
right in to the processors. With double the performance of the previous
generation of Intel® graphics (see
performance data below), Intel Iris graphics lets you enjoy heightened
immersive experiences when playing games optimized specifically for Intel Iris
graphics.¹ From the newly released GRID 2 to the world renowned
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, Intel Iris graphics provides you with an
immersive gaming experience with faster 3-D rendering, more complex shading,
and fluid character motion.

Likewise, AMD APU has similar features:

It's an HD
world out there, and AMD wouldn't offer you anything less than superior,
uncompromising graphics performance that enables you to see it all in ultimate
high definition. Through powerful features like AMD Radeonâ„¢ Dual Graphics
Technology¹ (available on AMD
A8 and AMD A10 series APUs), AMD APUs offer extreme levels of image quality and
resolution that immerse you in your digital/game life like nothing else.

With powerful AMD Radeon graphics and elite, quad-core
technology, AMD APUs offer an intensely real, immersive visual experience. AMD
Dual Graphics1 technology helps to inject an extra level of realism into your
image quality, while AMD Eyefinity technology6 allows you to extend it all
across multiple screens and put yourself, literally, in the middle of the game.
And, you can have it all - from the most demanding games like BioShock Infinite
to simple Android apps - your way, on-the-go.