Can I Do This -Discrete & Integrated Graphics?

[Abz Hussain]

I have the following:
Onboard Intel HD graphics on my gigabyte Z77X-UP7. Sandy Bridge i7 2700k CPU
&
AMD Radeon HD7950.

I want to achieve the following scenario:
To use the low power graphics of the onboard Intel HD graphics to power my 1440p monitor to do my 'everyday' stuff - browsing, email and the like. I would have to use the Displayport output as that is the only one of the onboard ports that can achieve 1440p (2560x1600 max).
&
I want to use the HD7950 to power my 1080p HD TV for gaming (got the gaming bug again) and use the cards performance for maxing out settings as far as I can and have 60fps. I don't really want the card powering the monitor for everyday tasks.

Is it just a matter of connecting the relevant cables to the relevant ports on each display or is there more to it? Would I have to tinker with the settings in the software in both Catalyst Centre and the Intel Display settings?
Thanks

 

[z10m]

It will work but I'm not sure whether your AMD gpu will draw any less power when not in use compared to running only desktop.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Plug both monitors into the discrete GPU. There is no reason to do it any other way.

 

[Abz Hussain]

It will work but I'm not sure whether your AMD gpu will draw any less power when not in use compared to running only desktop.

Yeh that's what someone told me but I thought I'd ask here just to be sure.

Plug both monitors into the discrete GPU. There is no reason to do it any other way.

That's what I will do, thanks.

 

[pandem0nium]

Id try the onboard. Zerocore should kick in, lowering your power consumption.

Onboard tends to get disabled when a discrete gpu is present in the bios. If so, you'll need to go in and enable it.

 

[Sasahara]

Zerocore will work if you output on the HD7950 when doing low power tasks, you don't need to use onboard. If anything that will just increase power usage by a tiny amount.

Of course if power consumption was a major concern you'd be better off buying a Nvidia 10 series GPU, but the power saving isn't likely to pay for the card.

 

[Abz Hussain]

Zerocore will work if you output on the HD7950 when doing low power tasks, you don't need to use onboard. If anything that will just increase power usage by a tiny amount.

Of course if power consumption was a major concern you'd be better off buying a Nvidia 10 series GPU, but the power saving isn't likely to pay for the card.

Whats Zerocore?
Power consumption is not a major concern, just trying to 'conserve' where I can but its not a big deal.
New card is a possibility, however I did say in a previous monitor thread I didn't plan to upgrade because I wasn't a big gamer. I play only racing games so Project Cars and F1 and similar. Are these games GPU or CPU bound? If they are GPU bound then I may look into a new mid range Nvidia card.

 

[Abz Hussain]

Don't worry, I found out what Zerocore is.
I think I will stick with the HD7950 for now, 1080p shouldn't tax the CPU and GPU too much. I can always overclock the GPU for extra gains should I need it.

 

[Orcvader]

I remember there was something called Lucid Virtu or something like that (which was avaliable for my Z68 board), and one of the features was exactly what you was asking for, where low powered stuff would use the IGP, and high demanding things like games would use the GPU.

GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards are enabled with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization technology which allows users to dynamically switch between their built-in graphics and their high-end, 3D discrete graphics cards. This is ideal for gamers who require high-resolution gaming and still want to enjoy the built-in media features of 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors. In so doing, switchable graphics helps to dramatically reduce PC graphics power consumption.

But it was a mess, when it did work it worked nice, but there was some hiccups and sometimes if I updated either the Intel IGP or AMD GPU, I would get a BSOD which Windows would not recognise either GPUs any more. Stuck with my discrete GPU and had a more stable experience. And AMD GPUs these days hardly use that much power on basic desktop stuff.

Actually, looking at your board, it supports it as well, and it's the version that allows both GPUs to work together: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z77X-UP7-rev-10#ov

GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards support Lucid Virtu GPU virtualization technologies - optimized virtualization software that improves your PC's visuals, with faster response times, improved video processing and smoother media playback, all within a low power environment.
Lucid Universal MVP also features Hyperformance, which eliminates redundant rendering tasks and predicts potential synchronization issues in the graphics delivery pipeline, producing faster frame rates, sharper visuals and reduced tearing.

 

[Abz Hussain]

YEs you are correct about Virtu, however back in the day I could never get it to work so im not even going there lol.

 

[Danny75]

Another vote to stay away from Virtu, despite it claiming to do what you wanted. Gave my system BSODs. Nice idea but poor implementation, and for minimal gains/power-saving.