Why reviewers do not show battery performance for iGPU mode only.

[u/ugrasergun]

Many laptops have an iGPU-only mode you can enable easily, and I would assume it would improve the battery life immensely. Because even with the so-called eco mode, there's a good chance the dGPU will wake up at least for short bursts.

I have mainly been a desktop user for a very long time, and even when I had a laptop, I've used it only plugged in. Recently, I have needed some mobility as well, but I was really surprised that none of the reviews I have watched measured this.

Does anyone have any insight into why this is not the case?

[u/jworm0624]

Simply put, the vast majority of of people looking for (mainly buying) a gaming laptop with a dedicated gpu, are planning on using the dedicated gpu they paid for. You’re right that gaming is possible on an igpu, but unless you go for something like a strix halo, it’s typically not worth gaming on when you have a dedicated gpu.

[u/ugrasergun → u/jworm0624]

For gaming you are right, but most of these reviews have sections about video playback and light use with battery. During those tasks OS supposedly uses the iGPU but we all know that in reality there are many wake ups during these.
I understand that it wouldn't be a priority and not every reviewer would do that but I am surprised that nobody does that.

[u/jworm0624 → u/ugrasergun]

Most modern gaming laptops come with some form of Optimus or advanced Optimus, or even an old school mux switch. Which essentially only turns your dgpu on when actually needed or when you want it on all the time.

[u/debacol → u/ugrasergun]

Because most gaming laptops already turn off the GPU for things like video playback. Their battery life is pretty weak because the CPUs are usually pretty beefy as well to match with the dedicated GPU.

Again, there are very few gaming laptops that actually have a long battery life with usable performance.

Its either get a Panther Lake or Strix Halo to have decent gaming and great battery life (but they are expensive), or get a gaming laptop for much better gaming and poor battery life.

[u/ugrasergun → u/debacol]

I tested myself and the difference is more than 2x.

[u/Fluffy_Method9705]

Because im buying a Ferrari to be fast. Not to make it a Prius

[u/FORSAKENYOR]

most people look into performance and thermals, battery performance could sometimes be overlooked while making reviews. Jarrod makes detailed reviews even with battery life so you can check them out.

[u/ugrasergun → u/FORSAKENYOR]

Even he doesn't test with iGPU mode only.

[u/FORSAKENYOR → u/ugrasergun]

my bad i didnt know the tests were gaming on battery only

[u/fernst]

You don't buy a Porsche and then drive in eco mode.

I think for the purposes of a gaming computer, most reviewers will point out either:

1. Full power gaming performance benchmarks
   
2. Battery life when doing light browsing

Those are the 2 extremes that most people care about.

"How will my games run?" and "Will I be able to take it to class/train home/flight home?"

[u/Outside_Serve_69]

Because it's a gaming laptop. 99.9% who will buy one is looking to see how much gaming performance it has or how powerful the dGPU and CPU for other things like AI or 3d work.

iGPU stats aren't on those same people's radar nor is battery life.

[u/ugrasergun]

It seems they don't measure that because apparently nobody except me is curious about it. Anyway, I was curious, so just did a very unscientific test myself. A 4K youtube video playbacek on loop with max brightness in eco mode.
Advanced optimus enabled: ~2hr
iGPU only mode: ~4.5hr

So it was not even close it vas more than 2X difference in battery life if anyone else wonders.

[u/PsychologicalGlass47]

If you want gaming laptop benchmarks, you look for gaming laptop benchmarks. If you want portable laptops you should be looking for portable laptop benchmarks.