Some embodiments of a method, processing system and computer system are described for sparse updating of displays. The graphics system includes a processing system, which has a video decoder to operate with a display controller. The video decoder and/or display controller may include logic for shutting down portions of the graphics system and for sending reduced video data to a display. In some embodiments, the graphics system sends signals to shut down portions of the display. In some embodiments, parts of the graphics system, computer system and display are able to shut down when there is not a difference in the video data to be sent to the display. In some embodiments, the amount of video data to be sent to the display is reduced during encoding and/or decoding by only sending the video data which is different. Other embodiments are described.