GeForce GTX 1650 vs HD Graphics 520

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 1650

2019

Why buy it

✅+813.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 513.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 52.8 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($149 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than HD Graphics 520: it remains the more sensible modern option while HD Graphics 520 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Trade-offs

❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌400% higher power demand at 75W vs 15W.

HD Graphics 520

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 75W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (861 vs 7,869).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 52.8 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1650

2019

HD Graphics 520

2015

Why buy it

✅+813.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 513.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 52.8 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($149 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than HD Graphics 520: it remains the more sensible modern option while HD Graphics 520 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 75W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌400% higher power demand at 75W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (861 vs 7,869).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 52.8 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1650 better than HD Graphics 520?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1650 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 7,869 vs 861 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1650 is a 2019 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while HD Graphics 520 is a 2015 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 1650 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2019 generation instead of 2015, 813.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 4 GB instead of Unknown, and a 12nm process instead of 14nm. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 1650 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1650 is about 49.0% more expensive on MSRP at $149 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and you are getting 813.9% higher G3D Mark. HD Graphics 520 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is HD Graphics 520 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. HD Graphics 520 is 2015 hardware with Unknown of VRAM, 861 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1650 Benchmark Check

HD Graphics 520 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
1080p
low	94 FPS	15 FPS
medium	83 FPS	11 FPS
high	70 FPS	6 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	3 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	10 FPS
medium	74 FPS	6 FPS
high	60 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	1 FPS
4K
low	41 FPS	4 FPS
medium	39 FPS	2 FPS
high	27 FPS	1 FPS
ultra	24 FPS	1 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open HD Graphics 520

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
1080p
low	136 FPS	39 FPS
medium	113 FPS	31 FPS
high	94 FPS	26 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	19 FPS
1440p
low	79 FPS	29 FPS
medium	62 FPS	23 FPS
high	44 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	14 FPS
4K
low	36 FPS	19 FPS
medium	27 FPS	14 FPS
high	21 FPS	11 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	8 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open HD Graphics 520

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
1080p
low	323 FPS	39 FPS
medium	283 FPS	31 FPS
high	205 FPS	26 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	19 FPS
1440p
low	225 FPS	29 FPS
medium	202 FPS	23 FPS
high	151 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	130 FPS	19 FPS
medium	117 FPS	15 FPS
high	79 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	10 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open HD Graphics 520

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
1080p
low	261 FPS	39 FPS
medium	211 FPS	31 FPS
high	191 FPS	26 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	19 FPS
1440p
low	201 FPS	9 FPS
medium	158 FPS	7 FPS
high	135 FPS	5 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	4 FPS
4K
low	99 FPS	6 FPS
medium	74 FPS	4 FPS
high	65 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	2 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open HD Graphics 520

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1650 and HD Graphics 520

GeForce GTX 1650

The GeForce GTX 1650 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 23 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1485 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,869 points. Launch price was $149.

HD Graphics 520

The HD Graphics 520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in September 1 2015. It features the Generation 9.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 861 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1650 scores 7,869 versus the HD Graphics 520's 861 — the GeForce GTX 1650 leads by 813.9%. The GeForce GTX 1650 is built on Turing while the HD Graphics 520 uses Generation 9.0, both on 12 nm vs 14 nm+. Shader units: 896 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 192 (HD Graphics 520). Raw compute: 2.984 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 0.3456 TFLOPS (HD Graphics 520). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 900 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
G3D Mark Score	7,869+814%	861
Architecture	Turing	Generation 9.0
Process Node	12 nm	14 nm+
Shading Units	896+367%	192
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.984 TFLOPS+763%	0.3456 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1665 MHz+85%	900 MHz
ROPs	32+967%	3
TMUs	56+133%	24

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1650 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The HD Graphics 520 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1650 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the HD Graphics 520 has 0 MB. The GeForce GTX 1650 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs System.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	128 GB/s	System
Bus Width	128-bit	System

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1650 draws 75W versus the HD Graphics 520's 15W — a 133.3% difference. The HD Graphics 520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 1W (HD Graphics 520). Power connectors: None vs Integrated.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	HD Graphics 520
TDP	75W	15W-80%
Recommended PSU	300W	1W-100%
Power Connector	None	Integrated
Length	229mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	70°C	—
Perf/Watt	104.9+83%	57.4

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Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1650 launched at $149 MSRP, while the HD Graphics 520 launched at $100. The HD Graphics 520 costs 32.9% less ($49 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 52.8 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 8.6 (HD Graphics 520) — the GeForce GTX 1650 offers 514% better value. The GeForce GTX 1650 is the newer GPU (2019 vs 2015).