Performance Conclusion
Now that we have compared each graphics solution in five games, let’s wrap this all up in a neat package with another graph. The goal of this graph is to illustrate how each graphics solution performs compared to a baseline.
I’ve decided to use the Core i7-3720QM’s version of Intel HD 4000 as that baseline. Millions upon millions of laptops will be sold to consumers with a similar HD 4000 IGP inside. By using it as the baseline we can see just how much additional performance you receive if you go for an affordable alternative.
The results here are surprisingly linear. Each step up or down results in a performance difference of about 30%, give or take a few. The only exception is the NVIDIA GT 640M discrete GPU, which is quite a bit quicker than the GT 630M and over twice as fast as the Core i7-QM/HD 4000 combo.
When viewed this way it becomes apparent that inexpensive mobile graphics, much like inexpensive desktop video cards, aren’t great when viewed from a value perspective. Laptops that offer a discrete GPU as an option usually price that option at $100 or $150. Even if the laptop is only $600, that’s a price increase of 15-20%. You receive more for your money if you buy the GT 630M (or similar discrete solution). The GT 640M is an even better value and is worth the upgrade (relative to Intel HD 4000) even though you’ll likely have to pay $150 to $250 extra for it.
Nice work, I was glad to see
Nice work, I was glad to see you go with higher LODs than we’ve been seeing in reviews. I hope this is something that you’ll update with more games and chips (like lesser Trinity models) when timeavailability permits.
how much slower is a sb
how much slower is a sb hd3000 compared to ib hd4000?
Well, I didn’t do testing
Well, I didn’t do testing that would provide a truly accurate figure, but I’d say 30 to 50% slower depending on the game. That’s compared to the Intel HD 4000 in the Core i7-3720QM, not the ultrabook version.
not that much.
I have a core
not that much.
I have a core i5 laptop with HD3000 and it plays Diablo 3 at 24+fps at low settings and resolution at 1200×720. Makes it very playable.
Have yet to try BF3 and Skyrim as I have those but they should perform similar (but slightly less) to the HD4000.
Interesting article. I’m in
Interesting article. I’m in the market for a new laptop and want it to be able to handle SC2 reasonably well, but still lean to the thin and portable side, though not necessarily an ultrabook. Glad to hear that Optimus is doing well and seamless as I hadn’t really stayed on top of it. Will any laptop that has an ivy/sandybridge CPU and a nvidia gpu have optimus or only if it specifically indicates so? That is, are there other components that need to be in place that might not be in place if not indicated?
I believe all of the
I believe all of the 600-series GPUs and most of the 500-series GPUs have Optimus. You should still check the laptop description to be sure, as it will almost always be listed as a feature.
3D Vision enabled laptops are the exception (there is apparently a difficulty with offering 3D Vision and Optimus together) but you’re probably not looking for that anyway.
Why test these budget
Why test these budget oriented notebooks on high/medium settings? They should’ve been tested on Low settings, so that we’d at least know if they can handle the games.
As it is, all I learned is that HD4000 can’t handle medium, ever.
I don’t find it interesting
I don’t find it interesting to discover if a laptop can run a game at settings that make the game look like ass.
I am not unsympathetic if you disagree. After all, money is not unlimited and maybe you want to know if a laptop can just barely play that game you have your eye on.
But that’s not the perspective I decided on for this article.
I applaud your decision to
I applaud your decision to try gaming at higher settings. For benchmarks at the lowest settings, try every other review on the web.
Now seeing the ASUS ultrabook
Now seeing the ASUS ultrabook with the GT 620M in it, I wished this also had that chip in it’s comparison – as I’m wondering if it is worth getting the model that has it. Oh well.
We have not reviewed a GT
We have not reviewed a GT 620M equipped laptop but we did review the Dell XPS 15z, which had the similar GT 525M. It could play a lot of games at 1366×768 and low/medium settings but that’s the limit for new titles. For example, it achieved about 25 FPS in BF3 at 1366×768, but went down to an unplayable 15 FPS at 1080p.
Thanks Matt.
Thanks Matt.
I was looking at getting an
I was looking at getting an Acer laptop with a 630m. Can anyone confirm if it can play Diablo 3 on Infero with at least LOW settings no lag?
I have a default Acer Aspire
I have a default Acer Aspire x3990 with windows 7, people sau that the Intel® HD Graphics wont run Dawn of War 2 even on low, other say I can. Do you believe it will run even if it has the lowest quality settings.