HD Graphics 520 vs Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual

HD Graphics 520

2015Core: 300 MHzBoost: 900 MHz
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VS
AMD

Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual

2013Core: 720 / 775 MHz
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HD Graphics 520 vs Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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.

HD Graphics 520 vs Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

HD Graphics 520

2015

Why buy it

  • Costs $50 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • Delivers 55.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 8.6 vs 5.5 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • Draws 15W instead of 50W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2015 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual

2013

Why buy it

  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs Unknown).
  • HD Graphics 520 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • 2013 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 50% HIGHER MSRP
    $150 MSRPvs$100 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.5 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 233.3% higher power demand at 50W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
HD Graphics 520 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 3.5% in PassMark G3D (861 vs 832), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
HD Graphics 520 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $50 cheaper on MSRP at $100 vs $150, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 55.2% (8.6 vs 5.5), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, HD Graphics 520 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual has the stronger long-term case.

HD Graphics 520 vs Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

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.

AMD

Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual

The Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 1 2013. The core clock speed is 720 / 775 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 832 points.

Graphics Performance

The HD Graphics 520 scores 861 and the Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual reaches 832 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. Shader units: 192 (HD Graphics 520) vs 768 (Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual).

FeatureHD Graphics 520Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual
G3D Mark Score
861+3%
832
Process Node
14 nm+
28 nm
Shading Units
192
768+300%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureHD Graphics 520Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
Standard
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The HD Graphics 520 has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual carries 512 MB. Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the HD Graphics 520 and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual.

FeatureHD Graphics 520Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual
VRAM Capacity
Shared System RAM
0.5 GB
Memory Type
Shared
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
System
Unknown
Bus Width
System
128-bit
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The HD Graphics 520 draws 15W versus the Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual's 50W — a 107.7% difference. The HD Graphics 520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (HD Graphics 520) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual). Power connectors: Integrated vs 1x 6-pin.

FeatureHD Graphics 520Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual
TDP
15W-70%
50W
Recommended PSU
1W-100%
350W
Power Connector
Integrated
1x 6-pin
Slots
0
Perf/Watt
57.4+246%
16.6
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the HD Graphics 520 came in at $100, while the Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual launched at $150. On MSRP, HD Graphics 520 was 33.3% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 8.6 (HD Graphics 520) vs 5.5 (Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual) — the HD Graphics 520 offers 56.4% better value. The newer card here is HD Graphics 520 (2015 vs 2013).

FeatureHD Graphics 520Radeon HD 8650G + 8600/8700M Dual
MSRP
$100-33%
$150
Performance per Dollar
8.6+56%
5.5
Codename
Skylake GT2
Release
September 1 2015
August 1 2013
Ranking
#929
#881

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