- An Asus executive was asked if integrated graphics on laptops represented the future of PC gaming
- He replied that “we’re definitely getting into that area where it’s going to be a possibility” and that “it’s just a matter of time”
- The director acknowledged that it is a difficult problem, however, with a lot of nuances and other factors to consider
As integrated graphics take further leaps forward in performance – the latest being Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs – the question is once again when discrete GPUs may become truly irrelevant.
And according to Asus, in an interview with Tom’s Guide at CES 2026, we’re now entering the realm 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 of course, with a full, separate expansion card to work with, you can get much 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 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 responded, “I would definitely say we’re getting into the area where it’s going to be a possibility. I think it’s something you couldn’t really do in the past, 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’s probably 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 at the end of the day how the market reacts, as well as how end users react to this.”
Analysis: Panther Extreme Halo Effect
It’s a bold statement, as while Krohn says he’s not ‘sure’ we’re at this point, doubt suggests we just might be – or at least getting close. The new integrated graphics on Intel’s Panther Lake chips are impressive, as is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, and indeed AMD’s Strix Halo, the most sophisticated integrated graphics of them all, with astonishing performance (albeit with caveats in terms of higher power consumption and its price).
Krohn points out that Cyberpunk 2077 runs impressively on integrated graphics these days, which is remarkable. But the question of when integrated GPUs can effectively push aside discrete boards is a knotty one, as the Asus executive acknowledges.
Krohn notes that on the subject of integrated graphics: “And I think it depends a lot on who you ask, right? I think there are a lot of people who would say yes, this [integrated GPU performance] is good enough for me, it’s perfectly fine. I don’t need any more. But calling it a dedicated gaming device is a whole different story, right?”
He continues: “I think once you call it a gaming laptop, the expectations are probably higher. Gaming laptops aren’t going away in the near future, not even in the long term. And dedicated GPUs will still be around for many years. How many people will go for dedicated GPUs and how many people will go for integrated GPUs, that’s something that everyone has a different opinion on.”
And that’s the crux of the matter – we’re not talking about the death of the discrete GPU here, because that’s far, far away. If that ever happens, as enthusiasts will always want better, faster GPUs to make 4K games run fluidly, at native resolution (without AI tricks), with all the bells and whistles on. Similarly, discrete GPUs will continue to get faster, as well as integrated solutions. Discreet will of course continue to sit at the top of the tree.
So what we’re really talking about is when integrated graphics get good enough that the vast majority of gamers will be happy to use them, and admittedly that point may not be that far in the future. But I think it’s still a long way off, and while integrated graphics will no doubt continue to progress nicely in terms of performance, as mentioned, so will standalone GPUs. While it’s true that in laptops, within the confines of the chassis, ever-higher power consumption can be a problem for discrete GPUs, advances in cooling solutions can help.
It’s a tough call for sure, but I think Asus is moving a bit on the optimistic side of the fence here. Ultimately, one factor that may be key to discrete GPUs is whether there will even be the will to keep developing faster and faster models, because if AI continues to boom, the drive behind GeForce gaming GPUs could falter. It’s not hard to imagine Nvidia throwing its full weight behind AI at the expense of gamers, and people have been theorizing for a while now that Team Green might not continue its GeForce gaming line forever.
The best graphics cards for all budgets
TechRadar will extensively cover this year’s CESand will bring you all the big announcements as they happen. Head over to ours CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we’ve seen.
You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we will do our best to answer it.
And don’t forget it follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!
