Do I need a dedicated GPU?

[wings7999]

I'm researching new desktops and maybe the hardest component is the GPU.

I've read articles suggesting just about every desktop user would benefit from a graphics upgrade. Other people have told me a dedicated graphics card would be a waste of money since I don't play PC games.

I do occasional photo/video editing (GIMP, Power Director) but nothing all that advanced.

I have three options with the desktops I'm looking at:

1. Intel UHD 630 graphics (cheapest)
2. GT 1030 2 GB ($100 more than UHD 630)
3. GTX 1050TI 4 GB ($150 more than UHD 630)

What would you go with?

For what it's worth, whatever I do, I'm looking for the desktop to last 5 years.

 

[DidelisDiskas]

Why not just buy the barebone igpu version and add a gpu if/when such a need arises. Maybe by that time you will have better options for more powerful and cheap gpu's.

 

[Tweak155]

Based on your description, I would stick with onboard video.

 

[Cuular]

Both of the applications you list support GPU hardware acceleration, so getting a decent discrete graphics card will help speed up that work.

How fast of one you need requires a little more research into what aspects the GPUs accelerate, and if you use those parts of the applications.

 

[whm1974]

Why not just buy the barebone igpu version and add a gpu if/when such a need arises. Maybe by that time you will have better options for more powerful and cheap gpu's.

This sounds like the best course of action.

 

[LTC8K6]

I agree with using the HD630 for now. It supports all kinds of standards.
You will want fast ram in dual channel mode for best perfromance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_HD,_UHD_and_Iris_Graphics#Capabilities

You can always drop a dedicated GPU in later.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

No games? No dedicated GPU. You'll be fine.

 

[2is]

I've found iGPUs from Ivy Bridge forward are almost always good enough on their own for non-gaming builds. I also use Power Director on my main machine and while it does have options to leverage GPU acceleration, it also comes with a reduction of quality so I don't use it even though I could. Even still, you can use it with the iGPU since it has support for Intel QSV

 

[cfenton]

Unless you're making money from your photo and video work I wouldn't bother with a GPU. My experience with Photoshop and Lightroom is that the difference is minimal. The most obvious thing, to me, is that panning around in a zoomed-in image is smoother.