Please Explain Intel HD Graphics To Me

[DivineBloodline]

I don't understand Intel HD Graphics, I know that it is your CPU and that it isn't a card or anything...

However I am confused about a few things. Here is my computer here - "XPS 12, With 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4500U processor (4M Cache, up to 3.0 GHz), 4GB of RAM, 256 GB SDD, and a Intel HD 4400 "Video Card"" Link if you want to see: http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-12-9q33/pd?oc=dncwi3004s&model_id=xps-12-9q33

Now here is my friends computer - "Asus Transformer, With 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-4200U processor (3M Cache, up to 2.60GHz), 4GB of RAM, 128 GB SSD,, and a Intel HD 5000 "Video Card"" Link if you want to see: http://www.abt.com/product/76274/ASUS-T300LADH51T.html?utm_source=scfroogle&utm_medium=sc&utm_campaign=T300LADH51T&adtype=pla

Here is my real question, if my CPU is better then why is his "Graphics Card" better?

Also since Intel HD Graphics in integrated does that mean it is upgrade able via drivers,or something like that?

Lastly does anyone know if my CPU is upgradable?

Now I am thinking that you just get what you get, as far as your integrated graphics go. Nothing you can do to update or upgrade. Just thought I would ask and make sure. I put this in CPUs because that is what Intel HD Graphics really are, but maybe I should have put it in Graphics instead, anyways thanks for the help if you did.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

The HD Graphics is a part of the chip. Some dies have an extra pile of stuff that makes it HD5xxx rather than 4xxx. i5 vs i7 is just clocks, and has little bearing on the GPU.

However, there's some false marketing going on. The i5-4200U only has HD4400.

Both will be soldered down.

 

[Delroy Monjo]

=1937&cmp[]=1947]http://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=1937&cmp[]=1947
They're actually the same graphics in both CPU's, the i7 just turbos a bit faster and has more cache.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7047/the-haswell-ultrabook-review-core-i74500u-tested/4

 

[lunyone]

Integrated GPU (iGPU) is built onto the same silicone as the CPU (means it's included with the CPU). With that in mind, the Intel HD 4400 is a lesser iGPU than the Intel HD 5000 iGPU.

Here is Anand's review of 4000 to 5000 series iGPU's

Generally speaking, is that the better the iGPU is, the better the gaming is going to be (basically).

It will all come down to what kind of solution works best for you. I personally would stick with a laptop, but these options that you selected are hybrid tablet/laptop options, so it's up to you on what you want/need.

Intel i7 4500u specs. It has the 4400 iGPU, so be informed when buying that CPU.

 

[Supernova1138]

You have different CPU models, and according to Intel's website, the 4200u should also have an HD 4400 IGP, so maybe the specs on that store page for the second PC is a misprint. There are Intel IGPs in the HD 5200 series, which are branded as Iris Pro, but they tend to only be available on certain mobile i7 chips right now.

You can download driver updates for your integrated graphics, though it likely won't improve gaming performance much, Intel's driver team doesn't really focus on that aspect too much. You're probably okay with your existing drivers unless you are running into a problem with your graphics.

You probably don't have many upgrade options from what you have. You have an ultrabook, which is extremely thin, and doesn't allow for much airflow, that's why it uses an ultra low voltage CPU, to help keep temperatures down. You already have one of the best ultra low voltage CPUs that Intel offers, there might be a slightly better i7 out there, but it wouldn't offer much of a performance boost. It would also won't be easy to dismantle your ultrabook to install a new CPU, making it probably not worth the trouble to do a CPU upgrade for a tiny performance boost.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Those ULV chips are BGA, so can't be replaced even if you get it open.