IGP

Stands for "Integrated Graphics Processor."

An IGP is a graphics processor built into a computer's CPU or SoC (system-on-a-chip). It performs many of the same tasks as a dedicated video card, such as rendering the user interface, decoding video, and rendering 3D graphics.

Older IGPs were often separate chips installed on the motherboard, but most modern models are part of the computer's main processor. Common IGPs include Intel UHD graphics, AMD Radeon graphics integrated into Ryzen processors, and Qualcomm Adreno graphics in Snapdragon processors.

Most IGPs use the computer's system RAM instead of dedicated video memory, or VRAM. Sharing memory and cooling hardware makes integrated graphics more compact and energy-efficient than a dedicated GPU, which is especially beneficial for laptops and small desktop computers.

Modern integrated graphics processors can support multiple high-resolution displays, hardware video encoding, games, and creative applications. However, a dedicated high-performance video card generally provides faster graphics processing, more memory bandwidth, and better cooling for demanding games and professional workloads.

IGPs and AI

Integrated GPUs are used not only for graphics processing but also for AI. They can accelerate artificial intelligence operations because their many parallel processing cores can perform numerous calculations simultaneously. For example, an IGP may accelerate image generation, speech processing, or a locally hosted SLM.

Many modern SoCs also include a separate NPU (neural processing unit) optimized for sustained, energy-efficient AI processing. Apple silicon pairs its integrated GPU with a Neural Engine, while Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm offer processors that combine a CPU, IGP, and NPU on the same chip.