[citation][nom]gm0n3y[/nom]Sounds like this is just moving the IGP onto the CPU. This is kinda shitty since now enthusiasts will have to pay for the graphics on the CPU instead of just buying a MB without an IGP. Even with the ability to run discrete and onboard graphics together, this could dramatically raise temperatures and hinder overclocking.[/citation]
Well, manufacturers are likely to continue to sell CPU's without on-board graphics, just like they do with motherboards. That will cater for the enthusiasts / gamers who don't want it at all.
But later, I think that at least some kind of minimal graphics capabiliity will always be on-die. By then, the manufacturing process will be good enough to render the heat issues minimal, even if you don't configure it to power off if a discreete board is present.
That way, even if your discreete graphics card blows up, you can at least continue working.
You really don't need your GTX 285 to write a document in Word or browse the Internet. Well, even to play old games like unreal and unreal 2 you only need a Geforce 2 MX.
In my opinion this move makes a lot of sense, especially with Intel providing it in the form of larrabee and AMD in the form of Fusion. This could save a lot of energy, because they could aply their Speedstep and Cool N'Quiet to minimze heat and consumption. As of today, discrete graphics cards are only beginning to apply these technologies. Why on earth isn't a GTX 285 or 295 able to shut down part of its ram, part of its streaming processors, and so on, and just keep something the equivalent of a Geforce 6200 active ? This would be fine for most people browsing the net, word processing, and dvd's. Then it could up the power to something like an 8400gs for Blue-ray. Full power would only be available when doing intensive tasks like gaming, video encoding and so on.