Z68 - using IGP with discrete?

[PoisonJam]

I have a passive HD 4670 (silencing enthusiast) and I'm upgrading to i5 from my lowly e4300. The only game I play is StarCraft 2 but I have dual 1600x1200 screens so my current system struggles a bit.

With me having 2 screens it appeals that I might be able to run the second screen on the IGP, leaving the HD4670 to focus on SC2. Does it work like this? I've read conflicting things.

I see the Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3 is much cheaper than other Z68 boards (circa £80) but I think I need the Express chipset? Is it worth the £30 extra for me?

 

[Orcvader]

Assuming you have nothing running on the second monitor while playing SC2 then it shouldn't be affecting the gameplay. I have SC2 myself, and I find it's more CPU bound, so seeing as you're upgrading from the E4300 to an i5 (I'm assuming the 2500K?) then you will be seeing a significant performance jump. Although, running the second monitor on the IGP could help, but can't say for sure.

As for the GA-Z68A-D3, it won't be able to use the IGP as it does not have any display outputs. If you don't need SDD caching or using the IGP then I would just go for a cheaper P67 board, but if you need the Z68 features then how about this board?: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-052-AK&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

 

[PoisonJam]

Thanks Orcvader! Yep, 2500K.

Nothing running while gaming, though occasionally Winamp if I have background music playing.

Didn't even notice the lack of video output! Didn't look at pics of the board at all really. Oops! I read you can switch between IGP and discrete to lower power consumption/heat, which is important to me for running fanless, but the HD 4670 consumes so little when idle/in Windows anyway.

I have all apps inc. SC2 installed on my SSD so don't need that feature either. Think I'll just get a cheap P67 or that cheap Z68, then