Do I need a dedicated GPU for a dedicated streaming PC
If you’re looking to create a dedicated streaming PC, you don’t need a dedicated Graphics card. You only really need an onboard GPU.
But, before I dive headlong into a more detailed explanation, let me answer the 3 questions that I know you want answered:
- What’s a dedicated GPU?
- What’s an onboard GPU?
- What’s the difference between them?
Dedicated GPUs tend to use a lot power, produce a lot of noise, and get hot.
However, their graphic pushing power is unrivaled compared to onboard or integrated GPUs.
Which brings me neatly onto the next question: What is an onboard GPU?
Well, an onboard GPU does not have a dedicated PCB or power supply. Nore does it come with a dedicated pool of RAM.
Instead, an onboard GPU is built into the CPU die. Or in other words, the CPU and the GPU are found in the same place.
The GPU also uses the same RAM the CPU uses.
A good example of a CPU with an onboard graphics card is the AMD Ryzen 3200G.
And now I’ll move on to the last question: What’s the difference between the two?
The difference between the two comes down to couple of key things:
- The dedicated GPUs draws 8-10 times the power from your power unite.
- Dedicated GPUs usually have a larger dedicated RAM pool
- Dedicated GPUs can make use of much faster RAM.
- Dedicated GPUs have custom cooling solutions and get much hotter.
- Dedicated GPUs tend to be far more powerful than onboard GPUs
