- An Asus exec was asked whether integrated graphics on laptops represented the future of PC gaming
- He replied that “we’re definitely getting into the territory where that becomes a possibility” and that “it’s just a matter of time”
- The exec acknowledged it’s a thorny issue, though, with a whole lot of nuances and other factors to take into account
As integrated graphics take further leaps forward in terms of performance – with the latest being Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs – talk has again turned to when discrete GPUs might become effectively irrelevant.
And according to Asus, in an interview with Tom’s Guide at CES 2026, we’re now getting into the territory where it’s possible that integrated graphics could be the future of PC gaming.
For the uninitiated, a discrete GPU, as the name suggests, means a standalone graphics card, as opposed to integrated graphics built into the CPU, and obviously, with a full, separate expansion board to work with, you can get a lot more powerful performance levels.
Dedicated gaming laptops still use discrete GPUs for that reason, but how close are we getting to the point where these standalone boards are going to be effectively sidelined?
Tom’s Guide asked Sascha Krohn, Director of Technical Marketing at Asus, about whether integrated graphics on laptops represented the future of PC gaming.
Krohn replied: “I would say we’re definitely getting into the territory where that becomes a possibility. I think that’s something that, in the past, you couldn’t really do, but I think now we’re getting to the point where, and just the fact that you’re asking the question – you’re not the only one – it shows that if you follow this trend, it is probably going to happen. And it’s just a matter of time.
“Are we there right now? I’m not sure if we’re already there right now. It’s going to be very interesting in the end how the market reacts, like how end users react to this.”
Analysis: Panther Extreme Halo effect
It’s a bold statement, as while Krohn says he isn’t ‘sure’ that we’re at this point, the doubt implies that we might just be – or at least be coming close. The new integrated graphics on Intel’s Panther Lake chips are impressive, and the same is true for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, and indeed AMD’s Strix Halo, the beefiest integrated graphics of them all, featuring jaw-dropping performance (albeit with caveats in terms of higher power consumption and its priciness).
Krohn points to Cyberpunk 2077 running impressively on integrated graphics these days, which is remarkable. But the question of when integrated GPUs might effectively barge aside discrete boards is a knotty one, as the Asus exec acknowledges.
Krohn observes that on the subject of integrated graphics: “And I think it really depends on who you ask, right? I think there’s a lot of people who will say yes, this [integrated GPU performance] is good enough for me, this is totally fine. I don’t need more. But calling that a dedicated gaming device is a whole other story, right?”
He continues: “I think the expectations, once you call it gaming laptop, are probably higher. Gaming laptops are not going to go away anytime soon, even in the long term. And dedicated GPUs are going to still be around for many years. How many people are going to go for dedicated GPUs and how many people are going to go for integrated GPUs, that’s something that everybody has a different take on.”
And that’s the crux of the matter – we aren’t talking about the death of the discrete GPU here, because that’s a long, long way off. If it ever happens, as enthusiasts will always want better, faster GPUs to get 4K gaming running fluidly, at native resolution (with no AI tricks), with all the bells and whistles turned on. Similarly, discrete GPUs will continue to get faster, as well as integrated solutions. Discrete will continue to sit at the top of the tree, naturally.
So, what we’re really talking about is when integrated graphics become good enough so that the vast majority of gamers will be happy using them, and granted, that point may not be so far off into the future. But I do think it’s still a good way off, and while integrated graphics will doubtless continue to progress nicely in terms of performance, as noted, so will standalone GPUs. Although it’s true that, in laptops, within the confines of the chassis, ever-higher power consumption could be a problem for discrete GPUs, advances in cooling solutions may help.
It’s a difficult call, for sure, but I think Asus is veering somewhat onto the optimistic side of the fence here. In the end, one factor that could be key for discrete GPUs is whether there will even be the willingness to keep developing faster and faster models, because if AI continues to boom, the drive behind GeForce gaming GPUs could falter. It’s not difficult to envisage Nvidia throwing all its weight behind AI at the expense of gamers, and folks have been theorizing for a while now that Team Green may not continue its GeForce gaming line forever.
The best graphics cards for all budgets
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