The Intel HD 520 graphics card is integrated on the same substrate with the microprocessor computing cores. The specifications of this graphic solution, its main parameters, positioning and tuning algorithm will be considered in the future.
Graphics Accelerator Positioning
The Intel HD Graphics 520 is an entry-level solution. Such positioning is indicated by test results. In the 3DMark11 package, this accelerator scores 1299 points and beats its predecessor in the face of the HD5500 accelerator, which scored 1265. But at the same time, it is significantly inferior to the completely outdated graphic solutions HD 8550M from AMD and GT640M from NVidia.
In gaming applications, the results of this adapter are also very low. In the 2014 2014 racing simulator F1 2014, this accelerator gives fps such results in HD - quality in conjunction with the i7-6600U model CPU:
- Ultra-high quality pictures - 12.5.
- High - 16.
- Average - 31.
- Low - 48.
That is, an acceptable level of playability will only be with medium or even low picture parameters. Even worse are the tests in Anno 2205. In this case, the game will go in low (8fps) or medium (5fps) quality. But in the ultra-high and high mode, it does not start at all. But, anyway, the number of frames is insufficient.
The result is that such an accelerator can solve the most simple tasks. These are office applications, these are browsers, this is the reproduction of entertainment content, these are the simplest games. But for something more, more efficient accelerators are needed.
The main parameters of the accelerator
24 GPUs are part of the Intel HD 520. The characteristics of the latter indicate that their frequency can vary from 300 to 1050 MHz. The code name for this accelerator is GT2 Gen 9. The thermal package of microprocessors, which it is part of, does not exceed 35 watts. The last value indicates an excellent level of energy efficiency of this graphic subsystem.
Memory subsystem
The Intel HD 520 graphics card is not equipped with a separate video buffer. It uses part of the system RAM to store the processed information. The amount of the latter, which is reserved for the needs of a graphic accelerator, is indicated in the BIOS of the personal computer system board.
A common RAM controller is used by both the CPU and the graphics accelerator. And all of them together are on the same common substrate. The RAM controller itself is dual-channel. It can work with both DDR3 / LPDDR3 and DDR4 / LPDDR4. In the first case, the frequency is 1600 MHz, and the second - 2133 MHz.
Also, this accelerator is equipped with fast cache memory. It is common for a video card and for a processor device. Its volume depends on the specific processor model and can vary from 3 MB to 6 MB.
Processor models
The following microprocessor devices include Intel HD 520:
- I3 chip family. CPU models 6006U and 6010U.
- Models of i5 microprocessors with indices 6200U and 6300U.
- Chips of the i7 line marked 6500U and 6600U.
All of them belong to the Skylake architecture (6th generation) and are manufactured using 14nm technology. It should also be noted that the presence of the āUā index at the end of their marking indicates that they should be used only in mobile computer systems.
Order of setting. Reviews
Actually, from one important stage, the configuration of the graphics accelerator under consideration consists in installing the correct and current version of the drivers. Of course, there is such software on the CD that comes with the system board. But the manufacturer of this graphic solution in the person of Intel strongly recommends constantly updating it. Therefore, it is most correct to download this software from its official website and install.
A low level of performance is the main disadvantage of the Intel HD 520. Owner reviews indicate that it is impossible to use it as a full-fledged gaming solution.
The pluses include energy efficiency, increased autonomy and the ability to solve most of the urgent tasks.
Conclusion
The main scope of use of the Intel HD 520 is in notebooks of the initial and mid-price range. But it must be borne in mind that in gaming applications the capabilities of the described accelerator are not enough. But this solution does not pretend to be a premium segment of the mobile systems market. For this niche, those laptops that include productive graphics cards are suitable.