Rudimentary gaming
Gaming is evaluated at 1,024x768 at the titles' low-quality settings. Please ignore the green-coloured bars until the final graph - they represent the Core i5 750's numbers with a discrete card, because the chip cannot be run with integrated graphics. We take a look at GeForce GT 220 performance in the final graph.| CPU test - CoH - IGP DX9 - 1,024 0xAA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 750 | AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE | AMD Phenom II X4 905e | Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 | Intel Core i5 661 | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 |
| 0.1 | 39.26 | 39.29 | 26.64 | 41.61 | 26.26 |
| CPU test - CoH - IGP DX10 - 1,024 0xAA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 750 | AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE | AMD Phenom II X4 905e | Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 | Intel Core i5 661 | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 |
| 0.1 | 16.26 | 15.46 | 17.25 | 20.32 | 15.9 |
Interestingly, the Intel HD Graphics is fastest in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts, in both DX9 and DX10 modes. The game is playable via the DX9 codepath - where it's 56 per cent faster than previous-generation X4500 HD - but stutters somewhat with DX10.
| CPU test - CoD 4 - 1,024x768 - IGP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 750 | AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE | AMD Phenom II X4 905e | Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 | Intel Core i5 661 | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 |
| 0.1 | 34.5 | 33.65 | 27.65 | 39.75 | 26.8 |
It also leads the way in low-resolution Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, where it's 44 per cent faster than X4500 HD and around 15 per cent quicker than Radeon HD 4200. Bear in mind that we're looking at the budget AMD 785G chipset and not the 790GX that has a faster IGP. The reason for doing so lies with the cost of the chipset.
| CPU test - ET:QW - 1,024x768 - IGP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 750 | AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE | AMD Phenom II X4 905e | Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 | Intel Core i5 661 | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 |
| 187.07 | 39.3 | 39.3 | 28 | 38.53 | 24.3 |
Here we have the BFG GeForce GT 220 numbers thrown in. The IGPs all produce reasonable frame-rates - above 30fps for three of them - but are wholly overshadowed by a £45 discrete graphics card.
IGP performance summary
The 3D IGP performance of Core i5 661 is better than average when compared to other IGP-equipped boards', leading to benchmarks that are 50 per cent higher than the fastest that Intel has offered before and at least matching AMD's 785G chipset.
Intel's claims for the HD Graphics being reasonable for casual gaming seem to hold true, but if you really, really want to play games at fluid frame-rates and with greater image quality, then the only way to go is for a discrete graphics card.
