Updated October 18, 2026: Removed universal BIOS and mining claims and distinguished primary-display selection from disabling the iGPU.
You usually do not need to disable integrated graphics just because you installed a dedicated graphics card. First connect the monitor to the dedicated card and check which GPU your application uses. Change the firmware setting only when you have a specific reason and the motherboard documents the option.
Three settings that are easy to confuse
| Setting or action | What it means |
|---|---|
| Primary display / initial display output | Chooses which graphics device initializes the main display first. |
| iGPU Multi-Monitor | On supported boards, allows integrated and dedicated outputs to work together. It is not a universal master switch for the iGPU. |
| Disable in Device Manager | Disables a Windows device; it is not the same as changing motherboard firmware settings. |
Some processors have no integrated graphics, and some systems do not expose a disable option. The motherboard video sockets only work when the processor and system configuration support them.
Before changing the BIOS
- Record the exact motherboard or complete-PC model and consult its manual.
- Confirm the dedicated card works with the monitor connected to its own output.
- Photograph the current graphics settings and find the documented recovery procedure.
- On a laptop or managed PC, use the manufacturer’s supported graphics-switching controls instead of applying desktop instructions.
Use the model’s documented option
Restart into firmware setup using the key or operating-system method documented for the computer. Look for graphics options under a section such as Advanced, Chipset or System Agent. These names and available choices differ between Intel and AMD platforms and between BIOS versions. ASUS‘s NUC primary-display guidance is one model-specific example, rather than a universal desktop procedure.
If your goal is simply to start from the dedicated GPU, the relevant choice may be PCIe/PEG or a similarly named primary-display option. If you specifically need the iGPU disabled, use an explicit setting described by the manual. Do not treat one manufacturer’s iGPU Multi-Monitor example as instructions for every board. These graphics controls are also separate from Intel CPU C-state settings.
Verify the result and keep a way back
Save only the intended change, restart and test the display outputs and applications you use. If you lose video, follow the manufacturer’s documented reset or recovery process. Do not assume you must buy another GPU before the setting can ever be restored.
Leaving an iGPU enabled may be useful for an additional display, troubleshooting or supported media workloads. If you are assessing an older iGPU, compare the Iris Plus 655 performance limitations before changing settings. Disabling it is not a guaranteed frame-rate improvement, and the amount of memory shown as shared graphics memory does not prove that the same amount is permanently unavailable to Windows.
Images from the original article
These original illustrations are retained for reference. Product examples and software screens may show older versions; use the model-specific instructions above.
