iGPU or eGPU (details inside!)

[tcsenter]

I'm giving a PC to a family member for X-mas; it has Core i3-4160, 8GB RAM, and will have SSD. The Core i3-4160 has the Intel HD 4400 graphics.

But I also have a Radeon HD 6450 PCI-E card (512MB) here that I'm not using. The Intel HD 4000 series graphics seems to be pretty decent for what it is from the reviews, both in 3D and media/video decoding. They will not be playing anything more than the light 3D casual gaming; BeJeweled 3, Zuma's Revenge, Flash games, and shit like that. Probably more HD video decoding than 3D games.

Historically this would be an easy decision, but the Intel HD 4000 is on par with or even slightly exceeds many entry-level GPUs parts from NVIDIA and AMD now. Recs??

 

[Red Hawk]

The Ivy Bridge processor graphics chip is better than Caicos (the chip in the 6450). Together Intel and AMD pretty much eliminated the need for low-end graphics cards. Does your 6450 have GDD5 memory? If not, then there's no point in giving it toyour family member.

 

[tcsenter]

OK thanks! I suspected it but wasn't sure. BTW after I read your response, I got up from the computer to get coffee and noticed there was a TV advert for Red Hawk Casino at the time. lol

 

[escrow4]

i3 4160 is not IVB, its Haswell, and the lower clocked 4400. Still slaps the 5450 around no problem though. If you want a low end card and its slower than a 750 Ti I wouldn't bother, the iGPU is sufficient.

 

[tcsenter]

i3 4160 is not IVB, its Haswell, and the lower clocked 4400. Still slaps the 5450 around no problem though.

6450 has 160 SP, while 5450 has half as many (80) SP. The few benchmarks I could find showed the HD 6450 w/DDR3 performing 20% ~ 30% better than Intel HD 3000 graphics built into the i5-2500K. So Intel HD 4400 should be very on-par with 6450 in most things.