Intel HD graphics 2500

[jaeiiijae]

I wanted to build a gaming pc for about $550. Felt like I was going the cheap route with everything because I was trying to fit a decent graphics card into a $550 budget. So I decided to buy everything other than a graphics card. I ended up getting an i5-3570 and I'm gonna wait until sometime this spring to get the card. The 3570 comes with Intel 2500 graphics. Are there any games that I'll be able to play until I get a card this spring? Like maybe Starcaft 2 on low?

 

[popatim]

yup.
I played it (SC2) on my old laptop with a GMA x4500HD and the 2500 is light years ahead of that. I also played Wow and other online RPG type games on it so you should be ok on reduced settings, including reduced resolution if needed.

 

[djangoringo]

Go to gog and play some retro games, that intel hd 2500 isn't good even for starcraft 2 : http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph5871/47036.png
It's playable at 720p at low settings, but it's not a good experience.

 

[ingtar33]

not really easy to build a "gaming" pc without a gpu... unless you're looking at a higher end APU. Intel integrated graphics sucks... even the low end apus eat the high end hd4000 alive. hd2500 is not capable of 3d graphics... you can play 2d games on them, but anything more complex then that and it will rapidly become unplayable.

If your budget was a hard 550, you probably would have been better off (and would have had a better gaming experience) going with a cheaper CPU/MB and spending the savings on a real GPU. that type of system would have worked much better.

For example, an AMD FX 6300 + 970 chipset MB + 7870 would have been a nice mid/high level gaming system and you could have managed it for 500-600. (barely)

Granted, later on down the road...


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg) ****
Case: Apex PCV-588 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $587.91****
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-19 22:51 EST-0500)

****until the 22nd newegg is selling this card for $207... or $32 off; which would bring the total build to $555.91

 

[ikes9711]

not really easy to build a "gaming" pc without a gpu... unless you're looking at a higher end APU. Intel integrated graphics sucks... even the low end apus eat the high end hd4000 alive. hd2500 is not capable of 3d graphics... you can play 2d games on them, but anything more complex then that and it will rapidly become unplayable.

If your budget was a hard 550, you probably would have been better off (and would have had a better gaming experience) going with a cheaper CPU/MB and spending the savings on a real GPU. that type of system would have worked much better.

For example, an AMD FX 6300 + 970 chipset MB + 7870 would have been a nice mid/high level gaming system and you could have managed it for 500-600. (barely)

Granted, later on down the road...


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg) ****
Case: Apex PCV-588 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $587.91****
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-19 22:51 EST-0500)

****until the 22nd newegg is selling this card for $207... or $32 off; which would bring the total build to $555.91

You are missing the point he already has a i5 3570 and the rest of the computer, with the exception of a graphics card. He is asking what games he can play with the integrated graphics. Though I would recommend the graphics card you chose.

 

[dudeknows]

I played far cry 3, Borderlands, borderlands2, prototype2, crysis2, metro2033, COD4 and yes atleast 30-35-fps playing those games at low resolution (720) @ settings low/medium

Atleast you can play while waiting for you GPU

 

[ingtar33]

You are missing the point he already has a i5 3570 and the rest of the computer, with the exception of a graphics card. He is asking what games he can play with the integrated graphics. Though I would recommend the graphics card you chose.

I know he already has the CPU. I addressed the OP's question, you can't game a 3d game on HD2500 graphics. I mean an HD 6450 is a better gpu then HD 4000, and i tried (and failed) to game on one in a 3d game. There are 5-7 year old AGP cards (like the HD 3850) which crush a last year model 6450... which coincidentally is better then intel hd4000...

simply put... the OP might be able to game on an old vintage game like civ 2 or 3... or maybe the original SIMS... but he's not going to game even on low settings with a moderately new game on HD 2500.


the rest of my post was mostly for general all purpose info... op said his budget was 550... I was simply posting a build that would be a solid gamer for that budget... to prove it's possible without relying on integrated graphics on either an amd or intel chip.

 

[jaypaladitya]

I have an i5 3570 too, and I'm using the onboard graphics as a stopgap till I get a proper GPU. To tell you the truth, I'm actually surprised, and yes, happy, with the performance. It's not as bad as you think, given you're only using it for a limited period, or you'll get tired of the low settings gameplay. Still, building a gaming computer for 550 big ones is kind of a tall task. If you want proper gaming, on any level, you're gonna have to look a wee bit higher, but it's not necessary. Hope you got what you needed.
UPDATE: I can play MW3, BF2, Just Cause 2, and BIA: HH on low settings with fps of about 20-30 with these specs:
i5 3570
8GB RAM
5800 RPM HDD (1 TB)
ASUS P8-H77
Some 500 watt PSU.
Just thought it might help.

 

[Silver Wolf]

I have a 3470 which uses the same integrated video. It worked well for the older games, but I can tell you a decent video card (not for the high end games) is an AMD R7 250, I picked one up for $60 on eBay including shipping. Also there was a R7 240 for $45ish. So there are good deals - these were both new not used, never opened. I play Mechwarrior Online with my R7 250 2gb Sapphire video card - $60.

 

[Fultzman36]

I have an i3 with the 2500 and can play WoW with no problems. Good settings in the mid 20's fps and fair settings in the mid 40's fps

 

[Silver Wolf]

I was able to get the system in my profile for $500-550 including a R7 250 2gb x16 video card (ddr3 not ddr5), 16gb ddr3 RAM and a i5-3470 cpu. Not sure the cost difference for 35570 and 3470. You can play many intense games with the R7 250.

Most older games should run fine as well as many of the not so intense newer ones.

 

[jaypaladitya]

I'm a lazy guy
I actually bought an EVGA GTX 760 SC w/ ACX cooler a while ago, but forgot to mention it here. I might even go SLI
Thanks though. Love you guys