In this instalment of the ‘AMD Radeon Uncovered’ series, we’re taking a deep dive into AMD SmartShift Eco, highlighting what this technology is and how it can help boost your gaming performance.
What is AMD SmartShift Eco?
AMD SmartShift Eco is included on all AMD laptops and intelligently optimises power usage and battery life, allowing you to game, stream, or create for longer on the go.
When unplugged, SmartShift Eco dynamically shifts power between your Ryzen integrated graphics and the discrete Radeon GPU to notably reduce power consumption to extend battery life. When you plug your laptop into the mains, SmartShift Eco will automatically switch back to the discrete GPU to deliver full performance gaming.
Does AMD SmartShift Eco Work with NVIDIA Graphics Cards?
AMD SmartShift Eco can’t be used with an NVIDIA graphics card. This technology has been designed and optimised for the AMD ecosystems, requiring you to have both an AMD CPU and GPU.
What Hardware Do I Need for AMD SmartShift Eco?
To fully utilise AMD SmartShift Eco, you’ll need to ensure your laptop meets a few basic requirements.
| Minimum |
|---|
| AMD Ryzen 5000 Series CPU or above with integrated graphics |
| AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series GPU or above |
Is AMD SmartShift Eco Good for Gaming?
AMD SmartShift Eco has been designed with gamers in mind, with the sole purpose of allowing you to game for longer. With SmartShift Eco, you no longer need to compromise on performance during your morning commute or LAN party. Instead, this technology automatically utilises the CPU’s integrated graphics to facilitate longer battery life.
SmartShift Eco isn’t just for those who game on the go. The technology won’t automatically harness your integrated graphics unless your laptop is unplugged. If you permanently keep your laptop plugged into the mains, it will still utilise your discrete graphics card for AAA gaming experience every time.
What’s more, SmartShift Eco is typically used in conjunction with SmartShift Max. SmartShift Max dynamically distributes power between your processor and graphics cards to handle any heavy-duty workloads and applications. A must-have for high-octane gaming.
Looking to Level Up Your Gaming with AMD SmartShift Eco?
If you’re looking to boost your on-the-go gaming performance for your morning commute with a new laptop, Overclockers UK has got everything you need. You can find a great range of premium gaming laptops that sport AMD hardware to take your gaming to new heights. All of which you can explore with the simple click of a button.
Learn More in AMD Radeon Uncovered
Does Your Laptop Use SmartShift Eco?
Does your laptop utilise SmartShift Eco? How has this feature helped to improve your on-the-go gaming performance? Let us know in the comments below.
- 3 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over four years and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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