Is Intel HD Graphics 2500 Good For Gaming?

I currently have my eyes set on the Intel I3-3220 CPU and it has Intel HD Graphics 2500. I have also been looking at this GPU to go with it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500276. It is a very affordable and low-end GPU but I would like good gaming performance. The question is, is this GPU better than the Intel HD Graphics 2500 or am I just wasting $30?

intel i3 graphics gpu cpu hd 2500

asked Nov 27 '12 at 21:18

rocketnater
21●37●56●60

4 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

Just face it, the only games that you'll be playing with those graphics are Minesweeper...

So, I want to help you through this. I see you're looking for CPUs. Does that mean that you're interested in building a computer, or are you interested in buying from an OEM? If you're interested in building a computer, I'd like to help walk you through the process. If you're looking at buying from an OEM, than you're clearly not intending to do anything more resource intensive than Minesweeper...

Short and sweet questions:
Do you want to build a computer?
What would your budget be?
What do you plan on using the computer for?
If you plan on gaming, which games?
Do you mind using AMD products, or would you like to stick with Intel/Nvidia? (Intel is more expensive)

Feel free to contact me at catchatyou at gmail.com if you want answers faster, but I'll try and check back on here for a response if you prefer talking this way.

answered Nov 27 '12 at 22:09

catchatyou
20.7k●89●166●383

What I want to do is build a new desktop. I went on Newegg and chose all the parts according to my preference and budget. This is what I chose:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146069

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128540

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775

GPU: Listed above.

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045 Is 450Watts enough power?

Media Player and HDD: Irrelevant.

I will also get a Windows 8 CD.

(Nov 28 '12 at 15:33) rocketnater

I forgot to mention, the Motherboard also includes 2x4GB RAM.

(Nov 28 '12 at 15:34) rocketnater

First off, I know that this must have been a hard decision to decide what parts that you wanted. I don't want to undermine the effort that you must have put in to make sure that everything works together nicely. With that said, I would like to make a suggestion. If you choose AMD, you'll get a little more bang for your buck.

As far as parts go, your case will work fine.

Here's where I suggest to change things up. AMD has a processor called an APU. It combines a CPU and a GPU (like the Intel processor with Intel's HD graphics). However, AMD's 5800K APU is much faster as far as graphics are concerned. You should easily see game performance 5X that of the Intel HD 2500 graphics. With this APU, I was able to find a combo deal with a motherboard that would give you $20 in savings. Another benefit with the motherboard that I suggest is that you get four memory slots and every SATA connector is SATA III (which is the newest SATA currently).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1127994

Unfortunately, this motherboard doesn't come with free 8 GB of RAM like the one that you selected does, so you'll have to buy some like these G.SKILL Ripjaws. You want to make sure that you have memory that is 1600 MHz or 1866 MHz, because with the graphics on the APU, it relies on system memory, and the faster that you can get it, the faster your games will run.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

As far as power supplies go, the Antec that you suggested looks like it will work well for what you need (either configuration). You don't really need more than 400 watts for either of these systems if you don't plan on mega expansions in the future. You should easily have enough headroom for a graphics card with a 6-pin power connector on it. To tell you the truth, 450 watts is the maximum rated speed, not the speed that you will consistently get, so I suggest getting this Corsair 430 watt PSU. It has two 12 volt rails, so it will deliver much more reliable and consistent power. Also, it's 80+ Bronze certified, so you could save a few dollars in power savings.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

The only concern that I have with this setup is your case. Your case might be too big to neatly route the cables from the power supply. Lower wattage PSUs generally have shorter cables, because they aren't meant to power these huge systems, so the manufacturers put in shorter cables assuming that you aren't going to be using a large ATX case when you really only need a MicroATX case.

(Nov 29 '12 at 19:45) catchatyou

So an APU is just a CPU with integrated graphics? Or is it a CPU with "better" integrated graphics compared to others? I wanted to go with Intel because they are a little bit more premium.

Also, do all cases come with fans? (For the case, not CPU)

(Nov 29 '12 at 20:33) rocketnater

I'm sorry if I confused you. An APU is what AMD calls their CPUs with integrated graphics. The reason that they name it that, is because it sounds better. Personally, I think that it represents it a whole lot better, because integrated graphics from Intel are currently horrible.

I understand why you wanted to go to Intel because they are "more premium", but honestly, that CPU isn't too great, and for $130, I would rather spend my money on a chip that has much better graphics, and a little bit better processing power.

Not all cases come with fans, so you will need to either make sure that the case you buy comes with at least one fan, or that you buy a fan from Newegg.

(Nov 29 '12 at 20:40) catchatyou

Oh okay. I understand now. Regardless, it does not matter if the integrated graphics are good or bad because, going back to the original question, I was going to buy a GPU.

I'm going to restate my original question to make it more straight forward: Which is faster, Intel HD Graphics 2500 or that $30 GPU that I chose?

(Nov 29 '12 at 20:45) rocketnater

I would have to say that the GT 610 would be faster, not because of the GPU, but because of the gigabyte of dedicated video memory.

(Nov 29 '12 at 20:49) catchatyou

Okay. Thanks for all the help!

(Nov 29 '12 at 20:52) rocketnater

It still wouldn't be very fast though

(Nov 30 '12 at 01:44) Tim Fontana

The Nvidia GT 610 would be about half of the performance of the AMD 5800K, and not too much faster than the Intel HD 2500 graphics.

(Nov 30 '12 at 07:07) catchatyou

One last thing. Once I finish buildng the desktop, what happens when I press the power button on the case the very first time? What will come up on the screen? Will it ask me to insert windows CD and install?

(Nov 30 '12 at 14:42) rocketnater

showing 5 of 11 show all

You could play older games and maybe a couple of the newer ones with a gig or two of ram allocated. You would be much better off with discrete graphics. Some games won't even work with integrated graphics. You can use an AMD card on an Intel board.

answered Nov 27 '12 at 22:56

ClosetFuturist
1.7k●6●14●27

0	For gaming you will want a dedicated graphics card, for the best performance. But most computers ship with either HD graphics 3000 or 4000. So, I couldn't recommend that for gaming. answered Nov 28 '12 at 11:00 Curtis Coburn 651●41●50●59

0	Yea it is best to buy a separate card. I use a HD 6870 with a biostar g41d3c and it runs everything i have thrown at it. answered Mar 14 at 18:57 DDC 16●2

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Asked: Nov 27 '12 at 21:18

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Last updated: Mar 14 at 18:57

Is Intel HD Graphics 2500 Good For Gaming?

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