In laptops, the graphics processor sits on the motherboard under the heatpipes; integrated graphics live inside the CPU package.
Quick Answer And Why It Matters
You came here to find the spot. In most notebooks, the discrete graphics chip sits near the cooling fans, under a shared heatpipe assembly on the main board. Ultrabooks and many thin machines rely on processor graphics inside the CPU package, so there is no separate card to pull. Knowing which layout you have tells you where to look, which screws to remove, and what not to touch.
Where The Laptop Graphics Hardware Sits (Quick Tour)
Open the bottom cover and you will see a set of copper heatpipes and one or two blower fans. Follow the heatpipes. One plate rests on the CPU; the other plate rests on the graphics chip if your model has one. Both plates draw heat into the fins next to the fans. That spot, under the second plate, is the graphics processor on models with a separate chip.
On machines that use only processor graphics, there is just one plate, because the display engine lives on the same silicon as the CPU. The location in that case is “inside the CPU,” not a separate part on the board.
Some gaming and workstation models route the graphics signal through a hardware switch (a MUX). That small controller lives near the GPU path on the board and lets the signal go straight from the graphics chip to the screen for higher frame rates, or pass through the CPU for better battery life.
Integrated Versus Discrete: What Changes Location
Integrated setup: the display engine is part of the CPU. You will not find a second chip labeled GPU. You will not find dedicated video memory packages around it either. Cooling uses one plate over the CPU, with a single set of screws. Intel processor graphics are on-die according to Intel’s architecture brief.
Discrete setup: the graphics processor is a separate BGA chip soldered to the board. You will see a second plate over it, often with memory packages (GDDR) placed around the chip. Cooling uses a longer heatpipe run and a second screw pattern. Many models share a single fan; some use a fan per side.
How To Tell Which Layout Your Laptop Uses
Check the spec sheet in your system settings or vendor page. If it lists only Intel UHD, Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics (no suffix), or Apple silicon, the display engine lives in the CPU package. If it lists NVIDIA GeForce or RTX, AMD Radeon RX, or Intel Arc as an extra line, you have a separate chip.
Peek through the bottom vents with a flashlight. Two plates joined by heatpipes often means a discrete chip. One plate usually means integrated only.
Open the service panel if your model has one. Gaming laptops often provide a large bottom cover secured by Phillips screws. Once off, the copper layout makes it clear where each processor sits.
Step-By-Step: Finding The Graphics Processor Safely
1. Power down, unplug, and hold the power button for ten seconds to discharge.
2. Remove the bottom cover. Keep screws in a small tray; lengths can vary.
3. Disconnect the battery if the connector is accessible. That prevents shorts.
4. Locate the cooling assembly. Track the copper heatpipes to the flat plates.
5. Identify the CPU plate. It usually sits nearer to the memory slots and often carries the bigger screw labels.
6. Find the second plate. If present, that is the graphics chip location. It tends to sit closer to one side vent, with memory packages adjacent under the same plate.
7. Do not lift the plates unless you plan a paste job. Breaking the seal without new paste raises temps.
8. If your model has only the CPU plate, your graphics live in the CPU package. Nothing is missing; that is by design.
9. Refit the cover and reconnect the battery if you disconnected it. Boot and verify all fans spin normally.
What You Can And Cannot Replace
Most modern notebooks solder the graphics chip to the motherboard. That means no slot card to swap. A few older or niche models use a removable MXM module, but that design is rare today. In practice, upgrades come by choosing a higher tier at purchase or by using an external GPU through Thunderbolt on models that support it.
What you can service: dust in the fins, fresh thermal paste, and new thermal pads where the factory used them. That work restores cooling and can reduce throttling. What you cannot treat as a weekend upgrade is the chip itself. Reballing or replacing a BGA package needs pro tools and a steady hand, and success is never guaranteed.
Clues From Service Manuals And Teardowns
Brand service manuals and teardown guides show the layout clearly. Many manuals list different heat sink screw counts for integrated-only versions versus models with a separate chip. Teardown photos also show the two plates and the shared pipe run. When in doubt, look up your exact model and read the cooling section before you open anything. See Dell’s XPS 15 service manual for a real-world example showing heat sink screw patterns for versions with and without a discrete chip.
How Display Routing Affects What You See
On many gaming machines, the screen connects to the CPU by default. A small hardware switch can route frames from the discrete chip directly to the panel when you pick “dGPU only” in the BIOS or a vendor app. That path avoids extra hops and can lift in-game frame rates. Ports on the left or right rear may also be wired to the discrete chip, so an external monitor can bypass the CPU even when the built-in screen does not.
Spotting The GPU Without Opening The Case
Check your device manager or system profiler. Two display adapters listed means you have both engines present: the CPU graphics and a discrete chip. A vendor control panel such as NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software is another tell. Under load, hardware monitors show power draw from both processors when the discrete engine kicks in.
Listen and look. During a game, the side with the second plate gets hotter; that fan ramps sooner. The exhaust on that side feels warmer to the hand. Those small hints can tell you where the chip sits even without tools.
Care Tips While You Are Inside
Use the right screwdriver and avoid prying on the fins. Clean lint with compressed air from the inside out, holding the fan blades still with a toothpick. If you repaste, clean with isopropyl alcohol and apply a pea-size dot per chip. Replace any factory thermal pads with similar thickness. Tighten screws in the order etched on the plate, one turn at a time, so pressure spreads evenly.
Laptop Types And Typical Graphics Placement
The exact spot varies by class:
• Ultrabook and thin-and-light: CPU plate only; graphics live in the CPU package.
• Mid-range 15-inch with entry gaming chips: two plates on one shared pipe; second plate toward the fan side.
• High-power gaming rigs and mobile workstations: two fans, more pipes, larger plate on the graphics chip with memory around it.
• Business machines with optional discrete: two versions of the heat sink; the discrete version adds a plate and a few more screws.
Pros And Cons Of Each Layout
CPU-only graphics reduce weight and power draw. There is less to cool and often more room for a bigger battery. The tradeoff is lower 3D performance.
A separate chip brings higher frame rates, faster encode, and better port wiring, at the cost of heat and complexity. Service is a little more involved, since you must paste two processors and keep two fan paths clear.
Reference Table: Common Layouts And Visual Cues
| Laptop Type | Graphics Placement | Visual Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Thin-And-Light | Inside the CPU package | Single plate under heatpipes |
| Mid-Range 15-Inch | Separate chip on the board | Second plate with shared pipe |
| Gaming/Workstation | Separate chip with nearby VRAM | Two fans, larger second plate |
| Older MXM Models | Removable card on MXM slot | Card outline with edge connector |
When An External GPU Makes Sense
If you need more frame rate on a thin machine, a desktop-class card in an external enclosure can help. It uses Thunderbolt to carry the signal. Desk setups benefit most, since the dock adds ports and power. Travel rigs with a light notebook plus a box at home are common among creators. Just note that bandwidth limits trim performance versus an internal chip.
Simple Troubleshooting If You Cannot See The Chip
If you opened the cover and still cannot tell what is what, do a light test. Shine the light at the plates from an angle. The CPU plate often sits closer to the memory slots. The other plate often sits nearer to video ports and the side vent. Another trick: open the vendor service manual for your exact model and check the heat sink section. The diagram marks the screw order over each processor.
If you are unsure, do not pull the plate. You can still clean the fins and fans, which delivers most of the gains without touching the paste.
Key Takeaways
The graphics engine in a notebook sits either inside the CPU or under a second plate on the main board. Follow the heatpipes and you will find it. Manuals and teardowns confirm the layout, and a quick look at your model’s spec page tells you which setup you own. Confirm before you pick tools.