If you’ve ever looked at the best gaming laptop and wondered what a MUX switch is, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s one of the most important components you’ll find on modern machines, and choosing a model without it can leave you scratching your head when the performance levels of your new system fall far short of what you expected.
If you’re not sure what the MUX switch is for and whether you should buy a gaming laptop with one or if you already have one, we’re here to help you better understand this important piece of hardware.
What does the MUX switch do?
A MUX switch or multiplexer is an internal component on the motherboard of some gaming laptops that allows you to disable the CPU’s integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) in favor of a dedicated system graphics processing unit (dGPU). ) More powerful.
Typically, all information displayed on a laptop’s dGPU passes through its iGPU before reaching the onboard display, which helps extend battery life as the system can switch between the two graphics chips as needed. However, this approach has a negative impact on performance and latency.
This is where the MUX switch comes in. When enabled, it changes the physical connection between the laptop display and the dGPU, allowing them to communicate directly with each other without any input from the iGPU. The system can now take full advantage of its graphics capabilities, resulting in higher frame rates in games and an improved experience for many applications.
Battery life is greatly reduced when the MUX switch is on because the dGPU draws more power than the iGPU, but you’ll still want to game from a plug to get the best performance out of your laptop from Game.
Does the MUX switch matter?
While finding a gaming laptop with a MUX switch isn’t as important as finding a laptop with the best specs for your needs, it should still be high on your priority list. There is no point spending more money on a model with the best graphics card on the market if you cannot use the GPU to its full potential.
In fact, some of the more expensive gaming laptops can’t boost frame rates as much as their similarly specced rivals due to the fact that they simply don’t have a MUX switch. According to Asus ROG, this can lead to an average performance difference of 9%, with some games like Rainbow Six: Siege experiencing frame rate increases of up to 30%.
It should also be noted that the MUX switch opens up the possibility of using technologies like Nvidia G-Sync and Nvidia Reflex, which require a direct connection between the GeForce GPU and the display.
If you end up with a laptop without a MUX switch, you can always get around any potential GPU bottlenecks by connecting it to an external gaming monitor. This, of course, assumes that your system’s display inputs are connected directly to a discrete graphics card and not a CPU-integrated solution.
How do I know if my laptop has a MUX switch?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to find out if your laptop has a MUX switch, but it’s best to start with your system’s gaming software because you still need to get familiar with it. It’s impossible to say exactly what to look for, as the switch description will vary by model and manufacturer (if applicable).
A general rule of thumb is to look for any “change graphics” or “GPU mode” options. However, you may also find the MUX switch set to “Hybrid Mode” or “Optimus” (which you’ll want to disable to get the highest level of performance possible).
Depending on your laptop’s graphics card, you can tell if it has an automatic MUX switch based on its support for AMD Smart Access or Nvidia Advanced Optimus graphics technology. This can usually be found by visiting the model’s product page.
Alternatively, if you’re comfortable with your laptop’s BIOS, you can find your laptop’s MUX switch commands there, as is the case with some Alienware and Dell gaming laptops.
Can a MUX switch be installed?
No, you can’t set the MUX switch. Manufacturers have to decide whether or not to include it when designing their gaming laptops, after which they are either left out or soldered to the system motherboard.
There’s no way to simulate it with software, so be careful when buying gaming laptops that don’t explicitly state whether or not they have a MUX switch.
Source : PC Gamesn
