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The GPUs now being integrated into processors effortlessly decode media and can increasingly run 3D games - albeit at limited settings. In fact, they've improved so much that they're threatening the low end of the discrete card market.
The APU Question
To get a current-generation AMD integrated GPU, you'll need a Llano processor. The A8-3870K is the dearest at $150, and contains a top-end Radeon HD 6550D. Its overage of 33fps in our 1600 x 900 Medium quality Crysis test is around twice as fast as the Radeon HD 6450 and GeForce GT 520 discrete cards.
You don't have to buy the best Llano processor to beat those discrete cards, though. The next step down is the Radeon HD 6530D, which is found in four processors, starting with the S80 A6-3500. It averaged 27fps in the Medium quality Crysis test, and 29fps in the Medium quality DiRT 3 test. The HD 6410D has half as many stream processors, but hit 52fps in our Low quality Crysis test - 11fps faster than either discrete card.
You don't have to buy the best Llano processor to beat those discrete cards, though. The next step down is the Radeon HD 6530D, which is found in four processors, starting with the S80 A6-3500. It averaged 27fps in the Medium quality Crysis test, and 29fps in the Medium quality DiRT 3 test. The HD 6410D has half as many stream processors, but hit 52fps in our Low quality Crysis test - 11fps faster than either discrete card.
Intel Inside
Intel's HD Graphics 2000 and 3000 chips are integrated into second generation Core i3, i5 and i7 CPUs, while the HD Graphics 4000 is found in the new third generation Ivy Bridge CPUs. None of these are as good for gaming as AMD's APUs: The 3000 and 4000 deliver playable low to medium detail frame-rates though, which was once unheard of with Intel graphics.
The latter is your best choice. Its average of 50fps in our 1366 x 768 Low quality Crysis test is 11fps ahead of the discrete Radeon HD 6450. That's some way behind the slowest of AMD's integrated chips however.
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What to Buy ?
Whether integrated graphics make sense depends on your situation. The prices we've mentioned are for the CPU/GPU combo, so they're not comparable to the price of a graphics card. If you already have a CPU, for example, you may not want to replace it just to get a better GPU for media tasks, in which case a $45 Radeon HD 6450 card makes more sense.
If you're buying o new CPU or building a new PC, however, it's worth knowing that the graphics core inside it is at least as good as cards costing around $50. Of course, if you want proper gaming then opt for a card, but if you need a GPU for media there's little point wasting money. Even Intel's integrated graphics cores ore now good enough.
If you're buying o new CPU or building a new PC, however, it's worth knowing that the graphics core inside it is at least as good as cards costing around $50. Of course, if you want proper gaming then opt for a card, but if you need a GPU for media there's little point wasting money. Even Intel's integrated graphics cores ore now good enough.
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