What Is Intel HD Graphics??????

Intel HD Graphics 3000

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:

ULV processors Core ix-2xx7 (base 350MHz, Turbo 900-1000MHz)

• LV processors Core ix-2xx5 (base 500MHz, Turbo 1000MHz)
• Mainstream and high-end Dual und Quad-Core Core ix-2xx0 (base 650MHz, Turbo 1100-1200MHz)
• Desktop K processors (base 850, Turbo 1100-1350MHz)

The HD 3000 offers 12 Execution Units (EUs) like the old Intel GMA HD but due to architectural changes each EU is now faster. The slower HD Graphics 2000 uses only 6 Execution Units.

Our performance tests with the high clocked mainstream version of the HD Graphics 3000 in quad-core processors showed a performance level on par with the current entry level generations from NVIDIA (e.g. GeForce 310M) and AMD (HD 5450). Some games even ran faster but still there are some driver glitches (like too dark scenes in Left 4 Dead 1&2 and Supreme Commander or not starting games like Mafia 2). See our extensive gaming review of the Intel HD Graphics 3000 for more details or at the end of this page for gaming benchmark scores.

First performance tests by Andandtech (with a desktop pre-sample without TurboBoost) indicate agaming performance on a level with the desktop ATI Radeon HD 5450 (comparable to the Mobility Radeon HD 5450). In low detail settings and 1024x768 the HD Graphics 200 was faster than the 5450 in Batham, Dragon Origins, Call of Duty MW2, and Bioshock 2. In Dawn of War 2 and Hawx the Intel Graphics stayed a bit behind. The framerates were always high enough to be playable. Intel also conducted some tests on the IDF 2010 and showed a playable Starcraft 2 at medium detail settings. That means that the GMA HD 200 should be able to render current games fluently in low-medium detail settings (see 5450 page for a list of playable games).

An extensive gaming review of the HD Graphics 3000 in a Core i7-2600K desktop cpu was published at inpai.com.cn. The GPU was clocked at 850 - 1350 MHz (Turbo boost) and was able share 8MB level 3 cache. In their benchmarks, the Intel GPU was on a level with a desktop HD 5450 in Left 4 Dead 2, Civilization 5, and Star Craft 2. Far Cray 2, Mass Effect 2, Dirt 2, CoD Black Ops and Bad Company 2 even ran faster on the HD3000. Hawx2 and NBA 2K11 ran slower and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 did not run. The framerates promised that the games should be playable in low settings. However, online battles e.g. in Battlefield should stutter.

In addition to the GPU, the chip also houses some dedicated units for decoding and encoding HD videos. On the IDF Intel demonstrated the encoding of a 3 minute long 1080p video to an iPhone compatible format in 640x360 in only 14s. Another novelty of the Sandy Bridge GPU is the embedded DisplayPort eDP to connect internal Displays.

Due to the integration in the 32nm built CPU, the power consumption of the GPU should be quite low.

Manufacturer	Intel
HD Graphics Series	HD Graphics 4000 16@350 - 1350MHz HD Graphics 3000 12@350-1350MHz HD Graphics 2500 6@650 - 1350MHz HD Graphics 2000 6@850 / 1100-1350MHz HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) 6@350 - 1100MHz
Codename	Sandy Bridge
Pipelines	12 - unified
Core Speed *	350-1350 MHz
Shader Speed *	350-1350 MHz
Shared Memory	yes
DirectX	DirectX 10.1, Shader 4.1
technology	32 nm
Date of Announcement	01.02.2011