Intel i5 Graphics Processing

Yes I do know that the new gen Intel products are out but I'm still curious as most 13' notebooks are still being produced with 1st gen i processors.

My question is there a performance increase in the graphics side of the chip compared to say Intel Core 2 Duo. Currently my situation is I'd like to buy a small notebook the trouble is I already have an out dated nVidia Graphics GPU that runs most of the current games at a satisfactory standard.

So I don't know if I will be missing that boost in performance from my GPU or I should stick it out at let my hopefully future processor do the work.

Just to remind everyone this is mobile processor for notebooks.

Just for those that are curious I'm only running games like Minecraft and Maplestory.

 

1) What is the nVidia GPU that you have now?

2) The Intel integrated graphics on the Sandy Bridge CPU's are an improvement form previous generations of Intel GPU's, but that isn't saying much. Sandy Bridge graphics are about as powerful as an nVidia GeForce 8400, give or take a bit.

3) If you actually care about things that will require graphical power (e.g. gaming), then you will need a laptop with a discrete GPU. Sandy Bridge will not do the trick. Sandy Bridge graphics are only really good enough for non-gaming graphics demands, like 1080p video acceleration.

 

Do note that Core 2 Duos have no graphics side of the chip; any integrated graphics in a C2D machine is a graphics chip on the motherboard, not as part of the CPU. The integrated GPU on the first generation Arrandale core-i processors is a bit better than the integrated Intel graphics that would go with the C2Ds. I think the Arrandale integrated GPU would be fine for Maplestory, but I don't know about Minecraft. How it would compare to your nVidia graphics would depend on which nVidia graphics you have.

 

As stated above, IGP will handle flash games, and not the most recent game titles but anything within like 2-3 years on low resolution, but don't expect serious gaming, the most recent basic discrete GPU will outperform IGP on gaming.

 

Well yeah this is more for my girlfriend. Games that don't need or use that many resources really. It's more just an insurence.

 

SOOOOOOOO.....It was an ATI RADEON HD 3470! whoops....

What do you think does the Sandy Bridge IGP out perform it ? Give me the numbers

 

From notebookcheck.net's Mobile Graphics Card benchmark list the new Sandy Bridge IGP ranks #148, while the ATI Radeon HD 3470 ranks #200. Applicable benchmarks can also be found on that site.

 

Wow that site is amazing and a great help. thank you

 

I think only the newest sandy bridge (ie HD 3000) integrated GPUs are going to give you graphics on par with what nvidia and AMD has to offer....at least in the integrated market.

Josh

 

Even though the intel hd 3000 is faster than the slower intel hd2000, I would not rely on it to replace a discrete gpu.

If ypur girlfriend will just be using her laptop to watch videos like 1080p video, bluray, or using flash on the web, then it will be fine. If she will be doing any kind of gaming more advanced than WoW, I would say you need a more powerful gpu.

The messed up part is that the faster Intel hd 3000 is only found on the fastest unlocked intel sandy bridge cpus. And anyone with a fast multiplier unlocked intel gpu will be using discrete graphics anyway, and not using integrated.

 

Notebookcheck ranking is mostly garbage though, I wouldn't quote it rank for rank, it is okay as an indicator.