Intel HD Graphics 3000

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 1100-1300MHz)
  • 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. The EUs can be accessed using DirectX 10.1,  OpenGL 3.0 and DirectCompute 4.1. OpenCL is not supported (the media SDK only uses the CPU).

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 older entry level generations from NVIDIA (e.g. GeForce 310M) and AMD (HD 5450). In comparison with AMD's APU models, the HD 3000 can only compete against the C-and E-series, but not the faster Llano and Trinity models. The quality of the Intel drivers has been improved over the years, so most games are flawlessly playable (if the minimum requirements are fullfilled).

We could measure smooth frame rates in games like Dead Space 3, World of Tanks, Fifa 13, Torchlight 2, Counter-Strike: GO reach, Diablo 3, and many older games, though usually only in minimal detail settings. For accurate performance analysis and gaming benchmarks, read our article "Intel HD Graphics 3000" or scroll down in this article.

Altought 2x Antialiasing (AA) is supported, the chip is as fast as when rendering 4x AA. In the Unigine Valley benchmark a i7-2637M for example reached the same score with 2x AA and 4x AA.

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.

ManufacturerIntel
HD Graphics Series

HD Graphics 5000

40 cores? Bit

HD Graphics 4600

20 cores @ 400 - 1350 MHz? Bit

HD Graphics 4400

20 cores? Bit

HD Graphics 4200

20 cores? Bit

HD Graphics 4000

16 cores @ 350 - 1350 MHz? Bit
HD Graphics 3000 12 cores @ 350-1350 MHz? Bit

HD Graphics (Haswell)

? Bit

HD Graphics 2500

6 cores @ 650 - 1350 MHz? Bit

HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)

6 cores @ 350 - 1000 MHz? Bit

HD Graphics 2000

6 cores @ 850 / 1100-1350 MHz? Bit

HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)

6 cores @ 350 - 1100 MHz? Bit
CodenameSandy Bridge
ArchitectureSandy Bridge
Pipelines12 - unified
Core Speed *350-1350 MHz
Shader Speed *350-1350 MHz
Shared Memoryyes
DirectXDirectX 10.1, Shader 4.1
technology32 nm
Date of Announcement01.02.2011
* The specified clock rates are only guidelines for the manufacturer and can be altered by them.

Benchmarks

3DMark (2013) - Ice Storm Standard Graphics 1280x720
0% 100%
min: 25494     avg: 29036.3 (10%)     max: 36403 Points
3DMark (2013) - Cloud Gate Standard Graphics 1280x720
0% 100%
min: 2356     avg: 2593 (6%)     max: 3011 Points
3DMark Vantage - P Result no PhysX 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 1135     avg: 1560.3 (4%)     max: 2164 Points
3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 927     avg: 1331.1 (3%)     max: 8858 Points
3DMark 06
0% 100%
min: 1392     avg: 3452.1 (12%)     max: 5853 Points
3DMark 05 - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 3498     avg: 6355 (17%)     max: 9344 Points
3DMark 03 - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 5162     avg: 8576.5 (6%)     max: 12358 Points
3DMark 2001SE - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 7796     avg: 12751.9 (21%)     max: 19742 Points
Unigine Heaven 2.1 - high, Tesselation (normal), DirectX11 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 4     avg: 7.7 (5%)     max: 9.3 fps
PCMark Vantage - Gaming Score 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 2669     avg: 4718.3 (18%)     max: 8952 Points
SPECviewperf 11 - Ensight 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 0.1     avg: 0.4 (1%)     max: 1.29 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - Lightwave 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 3.63     avg: 5.5 (7%)     max: 7.35 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - Maya 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 1.07     avg: 4.6 (4%)     max: 7.63 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - Pro/ENGINEER 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 0.26     avg: 0.5 (3%)     max: 0.65 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - SolidWorks 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 2.55     avg: 3.6 (6%)     max: 4.61 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - Tcvis 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 0.12     avg: 0.3 (0%)     max: 0.86 fps
SPECviewperf 11 - Siemens NX 1920x1080
0% 100%
min: 0.18     avg: 0.3 (1%)     max: 0.75 fps
Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit
0% 100%
min: 4.75     avg: 8.7 (10%)     max: 13.02 Points
Cinebench R10 - Shading 32Bit
0% 100%
min: 1712     avg: 4286.7 (40%)     max: 7038 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Graphics
0% 100%
min: 4.1     avg: 5.1 (64%)     max: 6.4 points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Gaming graphics
0% 100%
min: 5.5     avg: 6.1 (78%)     max: 6.4 points
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailled information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

GRID 2
GRID 2 (2013)
low:
39.9  fps      Compare
med.:
24.4  fps      Compare
high:
14.9  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Metro: Last Light
low:
10.6 (!) 11.2 ~ 11 fps      Compare
med.:
7.4  fps      Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
BioShock Infinite
low:
22.8 23.3 ~ 23 fps      Compare
med.:
10.6 10.7 ~ 11 fps      Compare
high:
9.2 9.3 ~ 9 fps      Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
low:
71 107 138 ~ 105 fps      Compare
med.:
19.4 20 27 ~ 22 fps      Compare
high:
10 12.4 ~ 11 fps      Compare
ultra:
4.2  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
SimCity
SimCity (2013)
low:
15.8  fps      Compare
med.:
8.4  fps      Compare
high:
6.4  fps      Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider (2013)
low:
26  fps      Compare
med.:
13.7  fps      Compare
high:
9.9  fps      Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Crysis 3 (2013): Not playable with a weaker graphics card. - more...
Dead Space 3
Dead Space 3 (2013)
low:
48 54.3 ~ 51 fps      Compare
med.:
21 22.7 ~ 22 fps      Compare
high:
16.7  fps      Compare
ultra:
9.1  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 (2012)
low:
20.4  fps      Compare