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A dedicated graphics card (GPU) is a separate component designed to handle more demanding graphics processing than the built-in (integrated) GPU on most CPUs. If you play modern video games, edit high-resolution videos, use 3D software, or run multiple displays at high resolutions, you’ll need to invest in a dedicated GPU. However, if you only use your computer to browse the web, do office work, and stream movies and TV, an integrated GPU is usually sufficient and more power efficient. So, if your work or hobbies rely on visual performance, grab a dedicated GPU; otherwise, integrated graphics will suffice for basic computing needs. Do you need a dedicated GPU in 2025?

AUGUST

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

DYK?

On average, people spend three and a half hours a day on their phones and check them over 60 times a day. Look out, bosses - 30 of those checks take place at work!

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

XHisense C2 Ultra 4K Trichroma Laser Mini Projector The Hisense C2 Ultra 4K packs serious home cinema power and big screen smarts into a surprisingly portable unit. Despite its "mini" label, it’s big on performance, with 360° rotation, flexible screen sizes up to a whopping 300”, and fast auto picture correction. Streaming is a breeze via the VIDAA OS, with Netflix, Disney+ and more built in, and the triple laser system delivers knockout 4K HDR visuals, even in ambient light, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, IMAX Enhanced, and AI upscaling. Sound quality is big and bold for a projector of this size, thanks to the built-in JBL 2.1 system, including a subwoofer in the base. It’s also designed for mega-screen gaming, with Xbox certification, ultra-low lag and a 240Hz refresh rate. The C2 Ultra is a real beauty that’s versatile and portable enough to suit wherever you need a home cinema to be. Delivering high brightness, stunning 4K HDR images, great sound quality, and super-sized screen flexibility, it comes highly recommended.

1983

What was the hottest tech in…

It was nicknamed the ‘brick’ for a reason. A huge chunk of plastic, battery, and circuit board, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, released in 1983, was the world’s first commercially available handheld mobile phone cum dumbbell. Its arrival to market signified a monumental milestone in telecommunications. Motorola engineer Martin Cooper and his team’s work designing the DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) represented a decade of innovation and a whopping $100 million investment. Cooper’s mobile journey began in 1973 when he made the first public mobile phone call. However, it would take ten years of hard work to put the technology into the hands of consumers. The 8000X was bulky by today’s standards, measuring 25 centimetres tall and weighing nearly a kilo. Still, it was revolutionary for its time. It offered 30 minutes of talk time, eight hours of standby time, and could store up to 30 phone numbers. Retailing for US$3,995 (close to AUD$17,000 today), it was a luxury item used predominantly by executives and early tech adopters.

Despite its hefty price point, Motorola purportedly had a waiting list of several months, and the mobile phone became a cultural icon, famously seen in the hand of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street ; it became associated with wealth and status. The DynaTAC 8000X laid the groundwork for the mobile revolution,

On The Radar

Can we safely say that winter has passed in September? Well, if you don’t live in Tassie or Victoria, then the answer is likely yes. So, customarily, our September tech section is dedicated to the tech you can enjoy getting out and about with. And yes, that means you, too, Tassie and Victoria!

proving that portable, personal communication was possible. It ushered in the era of mobile telephony and positioned Motorola to lead wireless communication for years to come.

Gordon Gekko in Wall Street

AUGUST 2025

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