Integrated graphics (iGPU)
A GPU built into the same silicon as the CPU, sharing system memory instead of using dedicated VRAM. Sufficient for productivity, light gaming, and video; not for AAA gaming at high settings.
Integrated graphics share the CPU's package, power budget, and memory bus. They eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in thin laptops, mini PCs, and budget desktops.
What modern iGPUs can do
- AMD Radeon 890M (Strix Point), Intel Arc 140V (Lunar Lake), Apple M-series GPU. All handle 1080p esports at 60+ FPS, light AAA gaming at low settings, and 4K video editing in proxies.
- NPU acceleration is often paired alongside, taking on AI inference the iGPU would otherwise handle.
Memory bandwidth is the limit
iGPUs are usually starved by DDR5/LPDDR5X bandwidth (around 100–135 GB/s). A discrete GPU with 500+ GB/s of GDDR6X bandwidth is in a different league for shader-heavy workloads.
In comparisons
For a productivity-focused laptop, a strong iGPU eliminates the need for a discrete GPU SKU — saving cost, weight, and battery. For gaming above 1080p medium, a discrete GPU remains essential.
How to use Integrated graphics (iGPU) in a real comparison
A GPU built into the same silicon as the CPU, sharing system memory instead of using dedicated VRAM. Sufficient for productivity, light gaming, and video; not for AAA gaming at high settings. In practice, this is most useful as one part of a decision rather than a standalone quality badge. Compare it alongside the workload, room, ecosystem, budget, and ownership constraints that apply to you; the strongest published figure is not automatically the best outcome for every buyer.
What to check next
On vsMars, read together so the value has product-specific context. It is especially relevant in .
Avoid the one-number trap
Manufacturers can describe the same capability under different conditions. Compare like-for-like variants, check the unit and test condition where available, and use a head-to-head page to see whether a measurable difference is material for your own use.
vsMars presents structured catalog values to make trade-offs legible. The linked product and spec pages are the right place to inspect the underlying values before buying.