Do I have 2 GPUs or something?

[Awdax]

Alright, so MegaScience is an unhelpful cigarette.

That aside...I was looking at GPU-Z - which measure's your GPU's temperature - and I noticed something.



In the drop-down box there are two GPU options listed. My AMD HD Radeon 6850 and Intel HD Graphics. Now I know Intel doesn't make graphics cards, but maybe this is an integrated card in the Intel i5 Quad-Core I have?

Then when I get my system information from Steam, I get this:



It states I only have one GPU, and the Intel HD Graphics is my driver. I kind of doubt this since I updated my GPU's drivers straight from AMD's site. So why would the GPU's driver be from Intel?

So any idea what's going on? Which is it? Just a driver or a second GPU? I'm hoping someone could explain this to me.

[Ad Bot]

[Deoxys And One Noob]

It seems like Intel might have provided a bonus with your core, and the computer package includes a Radeon graphics card.

It looks like the Radeon may have something to do with DirectX

[Headcrab Zombie]

Your motherboard has onboard video, but you also installed a dedicated video card

[DaSord213]

The intel is most likely the gpu built into your motherboard.

[Mr.jacksaunt]

Yes it's a motherboard graphics chip.

[Awdax]

Well I built this desktop with all the parts I needed.

Here is the motherboard:
ASRock Z75 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

And here is something from the details which might explain the Intel HD Graphics:

Supports Intel HD Graphics with Built-in Visuals

So what effects does having a built in graphics chip have?

[DaSord213]

Well I built this desktop with all the parts I needed.

Here is the motherboard:
ASRock Z75 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

And here is something from the details which might explain the Intel HD Graphics:
So what effects does having a built in graphics chip have?

Jack stuff. Integrated gpus are garbage. Very rarely will you be able to play any modern game with an integrated gpu on settings higher than low.

[Mr.jacksaunt]

Welp apparently MegaScience has a steam chat bot.

[Awdax]

Jack stuff. Integrated gpus are garbage. Very rarely will you be able to play any modern game with an integrated gpu on settings higher than low.

You're acting like that's the only GPU I have. I mentioned I have an AMD Radeon HD 6850.

One of the reasons I am wondering this is because games like L4D2 that detect your system's hardware disable certain things - like the dynamic shadows that flashlights give off. On some maps it's enabled, others it's disabled. I'm thinking the game might be detecting the Intel HD Graphics and turns it off. The game also suggests me playing on low settings, when I can run it on max settings perfectly fine.

Is there a way to only use my HD Radeon 6850? I don't want games using the Intel HD Graphics and limiting the settings on me.

[SpreadsPlague]

The only correct answer is that your CPU has integrated graphics. Disregard everyone else. The dedicated GPU you bought is better. Don't bother using the integrated graphics.

All programs will automatically use your 6850.

[Headcrab Zombie]

So what effects does having a built in graphics chip have?

Considering you're not using it, I think it just uses additional power. I think you're supposed to disable it in the BIOS so it doesn't, and so games don't detect it.

[Awdax]

The only correct answer is that your CPU has integrated graphics. Disregard everyone else. The dedicated GPU you bought is better. Don't bother using the integrated graphics.

All programs will automatically use your 6850.

Here is my CPU:
Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz (3.2GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52310

I noticed this:

Intel HD Graphics 2000

Are you sure programs won't use the Intel HD Graphics?

Considering you're not using it, I think it just uses additional power. I think you're supposed to disable it in the BIOS so it doesn't, and so games don't detect it.

I'd like to hear what SpreadsPlague says about this.

[steve5451]

Disable it through device manager or through the bios.

[SpreadsPlague]

Your i5 CPU has integrated graphics. My i7 has them too. If you have a dedicated card (you do), don't worry about the Intel graphics at all. Programs should default to using your dedicated card.

If it seems like you're having trouble, listen to a few of the other people here and try disabling the integrated graphics altogether.

[Awdax]

Would you recommend disabling it since I have no use for it due to having an actual graphics card?