Sandybridge 2500, 2600 and Onboard graphics

[The Al1en]

Hi, first time poster, so apologies if this has been covered.

I want to run either the i52500 or i72600 with an asus h67pro board.
My question, does using the onboard graphics affect cpu performance? And if so, how?
Will I lose much, if any, processor power by not having a discreet card instead?
How is the ram allocated? I'll have 4gb of ripjaw ram.

I know nothing about using gpu cards, having exclusively used integrated graphics before, so I don't even know how that affects ram, or even if it does.

I'm not into gaming or heavy graphics use, and just want a decent cpu to last me for a couple of years, but I'm a bit clueless, so please, any help will be appreciated.

 

[Seegs108]

Lets put it this way. If you're planning on upgrading to either of those core i choices and aren't going to include a graphics card its almost a waste of your money. The integrates gpu on the cpu itself is more for video decoding and very light gaming. That functionality should only really be used in an HTPC or a smaller low power build PC.

 

[Vette73]

If you want to use the onboard GPU you will not be able to overclock with the 2 current Chipsets. And if I remember correct the onboard GPU uses the L3 cache so it will slightly take away from the cpus.

Also you will lose some of your ram to GPU functions.

Just spend $20-30 dollars on a video card and get a P67 (or wait for the Z68) board.

$30 AR - does not use system ram and does DX11 (intel only does DX10)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131339

 

[M0RPH]

He said he's not doing any gaming, and probably doesn't need to overclock. So why add a discrete graphics card that's just going to suck power needlessly? The integrated graphics is more than adequate for his needs.

 

[Vette73]

He said he's not doing any gaming, and probably doesn't need to overclock. So why add a discrete graphics card that's just going to suck power needlessly? The integrated graphics is more than adequate for his needs.

A 5450 uses less than 20watts. That and the onboard graphics will turn off on a P67 so the power differance will be even less when you take that into account.
He wants to max out the CPU power. Using the SB Graphics will use some of the L3 cache, bandwidth, and take away some system memory.

 

[M0RPH]

He wants to max out the CPU power. Using the SB Graphics will use some of the L3 cache, bandwidth, and take away some system memory.

The difference in CPU performance is likely to be negligible.

 

[mnewsham]

The difference in CPU performance is likely to be negligible.

I agree Just use integrated. If OP wants to get a whole build put together he can also start a thread over in general hardware subforum to get a build that meets his needs and budget.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Hi, first time poster, so apologies if this has been covered.

I want to run either the i52500 or i72600 with an asus h67pro board.
My question, does using the onboard graphics affect cpu performance? And if so, how?
Will I lose much, if any, processor power by not having a discreet card instead?
How is the ram allocated? I'll have 4gb of ripjaw ram.

I know nothing about using gpu cards, having exclusively used integrated graphics before, so I don't even know how that affects ram, or even if it does.

I'm not into gaming or heavy graphics use, and just want a decent cpu to last me for a couple of years, but I'm a bit clueless, so please, any help will be appreciated.

There is a good video here on that very topic Watch it. It pits a low voltage SB 45watt embedded SB against Llano . I will get that topic for you shortly . In the video AMD runs 3 gpu related programs and one cpu related program . The AMD guys fell for it hook line and sinker. So from that video the only choice would be the up and coming LLano . Here is that link http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2146796

 

[M0RPH]

The AMD guys fell for it hook line and sinker.

So what are you saying, that the demo in that video is not legitimate?

 

[Vette73]

There is a good video here on that very topic Watch it. It pits a low voltage SB 45watt embedded SB against Llano . I will get that topic for you shortly . In the video AMD runs 3 gpu related programs and one cpu related program . The AMD guys fell for it hook line and sinker. So from that video the only choice would be the up and coming LLano . Here is that link http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2146796

WTF does that have to do with this topic at all? He never asked about AMD or differance between AMD and intel.

You are one of the worse intel fanyboys I have ever seen. Give it a rest.

 

[Phynaz]

Go for it, the integrated graphics will be fine, you are actually who they are designed for.

 

[The Al1en]

Firstly, thanks for the replies and assistance.

I'm still 50/50 on what I should do.
I know adding a vid card will give me better graphics than the integrated gpu. As I'm not gaming or watching hd movies, just net and music app software, I'm ok with integrated.
What I don't know, is how much memory and cpu cycles will be lost if I don't get a pci-e card.
Benchtest results for the 2600 (for example) give it a huge score, and astronomically so when compared to my current pc, which uses integrated graphics with a measly 512mb of system ram.
I don't really know how it works, but if I dedicate 1/2 a gig of ram for the graphics, on a 64 bit windows 7 install, I'd still have plenty left over, right?
So that leaves the cpu stealing. If cpubenchmarks give the 2600 a score of 8912, using the above ram scenario, what number should I be expecting to see?

I appreciate it may be hypothetical until someone tests it, so again, apologies for that.

 

[IntelUser2000]

The HD Graphics in the Sandy Bridge processors support 5 HD streams accelerated by the GPU.

-The 2600's graphics will allocate up to 1792MB of system memory when required. Unlikely you'll ever need that though. And its dynamic, meaning when its not needed it'll use 32MB or so.
-Using the integrated graphics lower the scores by around 5%

 

[The Al1en]

Thanks for that info.
I think I'll just go native and stick with the chip vid, if that's the case.
Using the benchmarks for guide purposes and rule of thumb, even losing 10% cpu power would still get me well over an 17 975.
That should be plenty enough for my needs.