How to disable a discrete card

[frozentundra123456]

I am currently running a Dell XPS with an i5 2320 and a HD7770. I am considering taking a break from gaming for a while, and wondered how I could switch to just using the igp.

Is there a way to do this in BIOS, or do I have to physically remove the discrete card? If I remove the discrete card, will it automatically boot to use the igp? When I add back the discrete card will it automatically see it again?

I would kind of like to play around with the igp just for the heck of it, but I dont want to risk messing up the configuration, since I would mainly want to use the discrete card, of course.
I am just curious about how the computer would perform in everyday use using the igp vs the discrete card, and maybe try an older game or two like Titan Quest or KOTOR on the igp.

 

[Eureka]

Move the video connector from the GPU to the IGP (use the HDMI/VGA on the motherboard). It'll start running everything off the IGP.

If you really want to disable it, you can go into device managers, find your GPU and disable it in software. It'll still probably use a bit of power trying to read the GPU but it won't utilize it for anything.

 

[KingFatty]

I think it depends on your BIOS. See if you can enter the BIOS configuration during boot-up, and look for options for enabling/disabling the IGP.

For my ASUS motherboard, it defaults to "auto" mode where it will enable the IGP if discrete is not available. But I can configure it to always disable or always enable IGP.

Your Dell might be set to "always on" for the IGP, I could see that would reduce helpdesk calls by avoiding ever disabling it.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I think it depends on your BIOS. See if you can enter the BIOS configuration during boot-up, and look for options for enabling/disabling the IGP.

For my ASUS motherboard, it defaults to "auto" mode where it will enable the IGP if discrete is not available. But I can configure it to always disable or always enable IGP.

Your Dell might be set to "always on" for the IGP, I could see that would reduce helpdesk calls by avoiding ever disabling it.

Thanks to both of you for your knowledgeable replies.

Looks like the igp is disabled, either in bios or because I have a discrete card installed and did not remove it.

The vga port on the mb was capped with a small black cover, and when I connected it to my monitor, I got no signal, even when I set the monitor input to VGA manually with the monitor controls. Maybe the igp was disabled because the computer came with a discrete card?? So if the igp is disabled, does that mean the cpu is using less power than if the igp was turned on? Any idea how much less??

 

[MrK6]

It's tough to tell with OEM's like Dell what their motherboards actually support and don't. It'd be odd if your motherboard had the connectors but didn't actually support running video off the CPU, but stranger things have happened. If there are no options in the BIOS, you might try physically removing the card and see if that helps. Also, I wouldn't recommend running VGA if you can hook up an HDMI or other digital signal.

 

[Eureka]

It's probably just disabled in BIOS. You won't be using any real power by having it enabled unless you're actually plugged into it, so it's fine to just enable it. And if there's a HDMI port (there usually is), use that instead.

 

[frozentundra123456]

It's tough to tell with OEM's like Dell what their motherboards actually support and don't. It'd be odd if your motherboard had the connectors but didn't actually support running video off the CPU, but stranger things have happened. If there are no options in the BIOS, you might try physically removing the card and see if that helps. Also, I wouldn't recommend running VGA if you can hook up an HDMI or other digital signal.

Yea, I dont know. I have a dell at work with a low level discrete card, and the VGA from the motherboard does not work either. Strange part about that is that the cpu is an E8500 which has no igp anyway, right? Maybe the mb has built in video??

Anyway, its not a big deal, or something I would really want to try to change in the BIOS. My XPS does look like it has an HDMI output on the MB as well, but I dont have a cable.

I just was kind of bored with the games I have been playing, and since this is the first cpu I have had with an igp, I just was curious about what it would be like to use the computer without a discrete card.

Edit: I am very happy with the performance with the HD7770. At 1080p, I cant of course max out demanding games, but for the price (I got the card on sale) and low power usage, it is a nice card.

 

[p_monks33]

I wouldn't think that a 7770 would make up much difference in heat/power consumption over a IGP. You might save like 10 bucks a year between the two. Is there a reason you really need the discrete card disabled or are you just tinkering? In the BIOS of most boards you will have the option of primary display device, normally listed in advanced tab. Primary is typically the discrete card, IGP is enabled only if discrete card is removed, or the 6 pin is off of the card. In the end ask yourself if the major drop in performance is worth the small amount of power draw you will have.

 

[Eureka]

I just was kind of bored with the games I have been playing, and since this is the first cpu I have had with an igp, I just was curious about what it would be like to use the computer without a discrete card.

The answer is, it's pretty capable, but there's a huge lag/stuttering issue, which apparently has to do with the overclock on the CPU. Apparently if you can turn off the overclock, you can smooth it out, but I never got that far when I tried it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2289022

 

[frozentundra123456]

I wouldn't think that a 7770 would make up much difference in heat/power consumption over a IGP. You might save like 10 bucks a year between the two. Is there a reason you really need the discrete card disabled or are you just tinkering? In the BIOS of most boards you will have the option of primary display device, normally listed in advanced tab. Primary is typically the discrete card, IGP is enabled only if discrete card is removed, or the 6 pin is off of the card. In the end ask yourself if the major drop in performance is worth the small amount of power draw you will have.

It was just "tinkering" as you say. I know an igp, especially HD 2000 is terrible for gaming, but I just wondered if you could tell any difference in day to day non gaming use using the igp instead of the discrete card. I was not doing it particularly to save power or heat. The comp runs very cool even with the HD7770 running at max in gaming.

 

[p_monks33]

I have been in between cards before, and used the HD3000 and tried gaming, its rough for most stuff, I figure if you play games Pre-2007 you are good to go though. I can play crysis, all settings low at 720p at around 20 FPS on IGP.

 

[ShintaiDK]

If you want to conserve power/noise. Remove the card.

 

[KingFatty]

Agreed - it's a bit of tinkering/hobbyist activity to pull out a card and set it aside, knowing you are going to save power.

Even if you disable the discrete card and leave it in the machine, that will still consume some small bit of power, so removing it will technically put money in your pocket by saving power.

Also, forcing you to rely on the IGP is a good way to get familiar with it, and more importantly, with yourself and what your flexibility is with computing needs.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Even if you disable the discrete card and leave it in the machine, that will still consume some small bit of power, so removing it will technically put money in your pocket by saving power.

Without driver management it might actually consume quite abit.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Without driver management it might actually consume quite abit.

He's not talking about un-installing the driver, but rather, setting it in device manager to "Disabled". Which should put it into its lowest-power state.