Intel HD 3000 vs GT 520m

[ljlijash]

Guys, Help me out in deciding to choose a laptop with the following config:

1. Core i3 2310M, 3GB DDR3, 640 GB HDD, GT 520M 1 GB, 15.6" @ Rs 37990

2. Core i5 2410M, 3GB DDR3, 640 GB HDD, Intel HD 3000, 15.6" @ Rs 35990

Both lenovo. Guys I am confused as it whether to opt for a lesser procy + GPU combo or Better proccy + inbuilt graphics combo.

Which do you think is better in graphics amongst the two ???

 

[bart1975]

The 520m is definitely better.

 

[Soccerman06]

What is your objective for the computer?

 

[Zap]

Hello ljlijash, and welcome to AnandTech Forums.

The 520M is a bit better in gaming.

Notebookcheck says

As an entry level card, the GT 520M has to compete against the Intel HD Graphics 3000 in the current Sandy Bridge processors. In our tests, the card was only slightly faster, but the better driver support did make a difference. However, demanding games like Battlefield Bad Company 2 may not be playable fluently. Other modern games only run in low details, and therefore gamers wont be pleased with the performance.

(I bolded)

Anandtech doesn't have any direct comparison, but there are some hints. From AnandTech's Sandy Bridge article shows that the Intel HD 3000 puts the Radeon 5450 to rest in pretty much everything. Then, look at AnandTech's Radeon 5450 article to see that the GeForce 9500 GT beats the 5450 nicely all around. Just at a quick glance, looks as if the 9500 GT beats the 5450 more soundly than the HD 3000 beats the 5450.

Why I point this out is because the 9500 GT has 48 CUDA cores, just like the 520M. Not sure if they are directly comparable these days because it seems as if newer cores aren't quite as powerful as older cores for both AMD and Nvidia, but still this is evidence that the 520M is slightly better than the HD 3000.

Of more concern is that neither are suitable for any hardcore gamer.

 

[biostud]

I would choose the i5 because of 2.3GHz/2.9Ghz turbo vs. i3 2.1Ghz/non turbo, since neither are really well suited for gaming.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Hello ljlijash, and welcome to AnandTech Forums.

The 520M is a bit better in gaming.

Notebookcheck says

In their 3DMark05 and Vantage tests, the 520M is 15-20% faster on average, which matches their slightly better claim.

 

[notty22]

Those are both sandy bridge cpu's I believe, they were both released q1 2011. I would go with the cheaper one, which gets you the faster cpu with turbo boost.
Unless your going to be using Linux, which I think is another area where Nvidia drivers have all sorts of advantages.
In everyday usage, even the 'slower' of those 2 cpu's would feel very fast in Windows, mult-tasking. If transcoding or using cpu intensive graphic work, I imagine the faster cpu could be about 20% faster, with its higher turbo clock speeds.
Tough decision.
Using just the on die gpu, makes the laptop have less complexity. One less thing that needs cooling and can possibly fail.

 

[nenforcer]

The Core i3 with the GT 520M should support nVidia Optimus technology which should allow you to switch between the discrete GPU as well as the built in Intel HD 3000 or is it possibly 2000 on that model?

It really depends on what you plan to use the laptop for. If you want to play any games at all you probably want the discrete GT 520M but that one only comes with the dual core Core i3.

The Core i5 quad core is probably better for long term usage / resell value a few years down the line.

 

[ljlijash]

Well, guys , my usage is pretty much personal ... Just some HD movies and am not a hardcore gamer although I do want to play COD, NFS and FIFA...

The i5 is cheaper in this case - costs Rs 35,000 while the i3 + GT 520 costs Rs 37,000. There is a i5 + GT520 also but thats above my budget and costs Rs 42,000.

And BTW, the inbuilt graphics for the i3 is 3000 and not 2000...

Both the laptops are lenovo ones. Whats everyones take on lenovo laptops ?

 

[WMD]

Go for the one with gt520m its an ok mobile gaming chip. Better than a 9600m gt. The cpu in both will not be the bottleneck in daily use or gaming.

 

[Zap]

The Core i3 with the GT 520M should support nVidia Optimus technology which should allow you to switch between the discrete GPU as well as the built in Intel HD 3000 or is it possibly 2000 on that model?

All mobile Sandy Bridge have HD 3000. HD 2000 is only on desktop chips.

 

[StrangerGuy]

If I wanted a mobile GPU I would at least get a 96 SP NV or 400 SP AMD GPU.

BTW SB i3 chips are terrible compared to the i5 due to low clocks and lack of turbo. Well, at least for now.

 

[ljlijash]

If I wanted a mobile GPU I would at least get a 96 SP NV or 400 SP AMD GPU.

BTW SB i3 chips are terrible compared to the i5 due to low clocks and lack of turbo. Well, at least for now.

Thats when you compare it right ? As a stand alone proccy - how would you rate it ? Will it be enough for me needs- HD movies and lil bit of gaming...

 

[betasub]

Will it be enough for me needs- HD movies and lil bit of gaming

Yes.

 

[WMD]

Thats when you compare it right ? As a stand alone proccy - how would you rate it ? Will it be enough for me needs- HD movies and lil bit of gaming...

It will be more than enough for hd videos and gaming. Sandy bridge dual cores with hyper threading are much faster than previous generation clarkdale chips. The limitation is still the graphics chip. Infact you will need a gpu many times more powerful before you see any benefits of going with an i5.

 

[ljlijash]

The limitation is still the graphics chip. Infact you will need a gpu many times more powerful before you see any benefits of going with an i5.

Good point. But if i do go with the core i5 without the GPU - will i still be able to play my fav games (FIFA, NFS, COD) and watch HD movies ?

 

[tcsenter]

Good point. But if i do go with the core i5 without the GPU - will i still be able to play my fav games (FIFA, NFS, COD) and watch HD movies ?

The GT 520M is probably not as much of an improvement over the HD 3000 as the i5 is over i3. Tough choice, as what the 520M giveth, the slower CPU may taketh away.

 

[gramboh]

I was going to make a comment about battery life, but as long as you can use Optimus it shouldn't matter (note that Optimus can be finicky from what I've read, not auto-detecting properly and requiring reboots sometimes). If you want to do any gaming at all probably a good idea to get the 520.

 

[ljlijash]

Still doesnt answer my doubt though - But if i do go with the core i5 without the GPU - will i still be able to play my fav games (FIFA, NFS, COD) and watch HD movies ?

 

[dma0991]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-520M.43104.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html

You can check for yourself the performance between the GT 520M vs HD3000. The GT 520M is much better if you're interested in gaming.

I would say go with Option 1 as the Core i3 2310M comes with the Intel HD3000 as well. So you are actually getting both HD3000 + GT 520M with Option 1. Having an IGP from AMD or Nvidia in a notebook will extend its usability longer than relying on Intel's IGP alone.

 

[WMD]

Still doesnt answer my doubt though - But if i do go with the core i5 without the GPU - will i still be able to play my fav games (FIFA, NFS, COD) and watch HD movies ?

As I said before go with the one with gt520m. Although Intel 3000 is only about 20% down in benchmark, in actual games the performance is inconsistent and driver support is bad often resulting in rendering errors. The i3 cpu is slower than i5 but being the latest sandybridge architecture, its still far far ahead than most mobile gpus in gaming. There's no way it will bottleneck the gpu and for daily and hd videos it is more than adequate.

 

[Kr@n]

Also, don't forget that Sandy Bridge's QuickSync is probably as good as the 520m for video processing (if not better, if you take power consumption into account).

I don't remember if the latest Optimus iteration is able to use QuickSync or if it's constrained to the discrete GPU for video processing ...

 

[mrityunjay]

Facing the same dilemma. U surely must have made the purchase by now.
Quoting from http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html : The Intel HD Graphics 3000 (or Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD 3000, GMA HD 3000, Intel HD Graphics 200) is an integrated graphics card in the Sandy Bridge codenamed processors. The HD Graphics 3000 has no dedicated memory but shares the Level 3 / LLC Cache with the CPU cores and also part of the main memory. Due to TurboBoost, the GPU can be overclocked depending on the current CPU load and power consumption. The base speed and the turbo boost speed of the HD Graphics 3000 depend on the processor..
Now, I have to make a choice between (i3+Nvidia GeForce GT 520M) and (2nd gen i5 with hd3000); both with 4 Gb RAMs. I want future safety and will try my hands at games when free. Which to choose?

 

[bryanW1995]

Personally, I'd go with the i5 unless it will be a primarily gaming rig. The difference btwn 2.1 and 2.9 on your cpu will certainly be noticeable in anything that you do other than gaming. Having said that, if you plan to game a lot then the intel 3000 series graphics absolutely sucks. It might only look like it's 20% slower than the 520m, but in reality, as mentioned, it has much lower image quality. It took ATI years to finally catch up to nvidia in IQ, and intel is currently going through those same growing pains.