Intel GMA
Intel graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
IntelIntel GMA Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The Intel GMA GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
GMA Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GMA's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The GMA by Intel dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
Intel's GMA Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GMA's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
GMA Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the Intel GMA against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
PowerVR SGX545 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel GMA is built on Intel's PowerVR SGX545 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the GMA will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the Intel GMA determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the GMA to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GMA by Intel Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the Intel GMA are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
Intel API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the Intel GMA. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
GMA Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel GMA is manufactured by Intel as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the GMA by Intel represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About Intel GMA
Intel GMA is an end-of-life integrated graphics processor built on Intel's 32 nm Cloverview chip, utilizing the PowerVR SGX545 architecture. It represents the GMA Graphics-T (GMA IGP) generation and holds a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database, though its average benchmark score is 0, indicating it is primarily a legacy solution for basic display output rather than a competitive gaming part. The data positions this as a foundational IGP with extremely limited computational resources, making it suitable only for the most basic of tasks.
Power and Cooling
The Intel GMA is an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor), meaning it does not occupy an expansion slot and instead resides directly on the motherboard or within the chipset. Consequently, the slot width is listed as "IGP," and there are no dedicated power connectors required for this component. Power delivery is handled entirely by the motherboard's existing circuitry, and the processor draws its power from the system's main power supply through the board itself. The data does not specify a TDP (Thermal Design Power) figure for the Intel GMA, nor does it provide a suggested PSU wattage. This absence of a dedicated power specification is typical for integrated graphics of this era, as the power draw is negligible compared to discrete solutions. Because there are no power connectors and no discrete card height or length, the physical installation is non-existent; the GPU is soldered onto the motherboard. For a system builder, this means no extra cabling or power supply headroom is needed for the graphics portion of the build. The lack of a suggested PSU rating implies that any power supply capable of running the host processor and motherboard will sufficiently power the integrated graphics. The memory bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which means performance is tied directly to the speed and configuration of the system RAM, and there is no dedicated VRAM on the chip. This further reduces power complexity, as the GPU relies on the same memory controller as the CPU. The bus interface is PCIe 1.0 x16, but this is likely a logical interface for communication rather than a physical slot requirement, given the IGP designation.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Intel GMA does not support ray tracing, as the data lists no RT cores for this architecture. Similarly, there are no tensor cores present, which means no dedicated AI acceleration hardware is available for tasks like deep learning super sampling or other neural network-based features. The API support is minimal and outdated by modern standards: it supports DirectX 9.0c and OpenGL ES 2.0. This API set indicates that the GPU is designed for legacy applications and embedded or mobile environments rather than contemporary PC gaming. There is no Vulkan support listed, which further limits its compatibility with modern game engines and graphics APIs. The feature set is characterized by a very low pixel rate of 533.0 MPixel/s and a texture rate of 1.066 GTexel/s. These figures reflect the presence of 2 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 1 render output unit (ROP). The pixel rate is a measure of how quickly the GPU can fill the screen with pixels, and 533.0 MPixel/s is extremely low, making high-resolution rendering impractical. The texture rate of 1.066 GTexel/s is similarly constrained, limiting the complexity of textured surfaces that can be processed in real-time. For a builder considering this part, the feature set is essentially limited to 2D desktop composition, basic video playback, and very early 3D titles that can run under DirectX 9.0c. The display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," which suggests that the exact connection types (e.g., VGA, LVDS) are determined by the specific laptop or portable device in which the chip is integrated, rather than being fixed on a discrete card.
Who Should Consider It
Given the benchmark scores, the Intel GMA is not a candidate for any modern gaming workload. The 50th percentile ranking is misleading because the average benchmark score is 0, indicating that no meaningful performance measurements are recorded for this part in the current database. The data suggests that this GPU is only suitable for systems where basic display output is required with no 3D acceleration expectations. Users who should consider this are those maintaining legacy industrial systems, point-of-sale terminals, or very old laptops that are used for word processing or web browsing on static pages. At any resolution, including 720p, the GPU will struggle with anything beyond the simplest of tasks due to the extremely low pixel and texture rates. The DirectX 9.0c support means that games from roughly 2004 or earlier may run at very low settings and resolutions, but even then, the lack of dedicated memory and system-dependent bandwidth will cause significant stuttering. The absence of Vulkan and modern OpenGL support (only ES 2.0) precludes any recent titles. In practical terms, this is not a component one would choose for a new build; it is a part that exists in old hardware that has already been purchased. The data indicates that the production status is "End-of-life," and the release date is May 3, 2010. This makes it a relic of its era, and its only modern use case is as a basic framebuffer for text-based interfaces or as a diagnostic tool. The memory being "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth means that performance will vary wildly based on the host system's RAM speed and whether dual-channel configuration is used, but even the best-case system RAM will not overcome the hard limits of the 2 TMUs and 1 ROP.
How It Compares
The nearestRivals data is empty, which means the database has no comparable GPU entries with recorded scores and deltaPct values for this Intel GMA. This absence of rival data is itself informative; it suggests that the Intel GMA is so far removed from the performance envelope of other tracked GPUs that no direct comparisons can be made on a benchmark basis. In the absence of rival scores, the comparison must be made against the absolute baseline of the database itself. The 50th percentile ranking places it in the median position, but this is a statistical artifact of the zero benchmark score, not an indication of real-world performance parity with other median GPUs. Without rival data, one cannot state a percentage difference or a specific lead or deficit against any named competitor. The only factual comparison available is against the theoretical maximum of the database, which the GMA does not approach. A builder looking at this part should understand that its position in the database is as a placeholder for legacy hardware, and any attempt to compare it to modern integrated graphics would be meaningless due to the lack of recorded scores. The PCIe 1.0 x16 interface is an additional limitation, as this is an older bus standard that offers significantly lower bandwidth than PCIe 3.0 or 4.0, further hampering any data transfer to the system memory. The absence of a successor in the data also leaves a gap, but the "End-of-life" status confirms that Intel has moved on to entirely different architectures.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark performance of the Intel GMA is defined by a single data point: an average benchmark score of 0. This score, combined with the 50th percentile ranking, indicates that the GPU has not been subjected to any successful benchmark run in the database that produced a positive result. The pixel rate of 533.0 MPixel/s and texture rate of 1.066 GTexel/s are the only quantitative performance indicators available. To put these numbers in perspective, a modern GPU will process multiple gigapixels per second, whereas this part processes just over half a gigapixel per second. The texture rate of 1.066 GTexel/s means the GPU can theoretically fill just over one billion texels per second, but this is constrained by the single ROP and the system shared memory. The data shows no FP32 or FP16 floating-point performance figures, which means the compute capabilities are either unmeasured or considered negligible. The benchmark score of 0 effectively means that no workload was able to complete a meaningful frame rate or score within the database's testing parameters. This is consistent with a GPU that only supports DirectX 9.0c and OpenGL ES 2.0, as these APIs are not used in modern benchmark suites. The clock speeds are not listed for the GPU core, but the memory clock is "System Shared," which means the GPU operates at the speed of the system RAM. The lack of a boost or game clock suggests that the GPU runs at a fixed, low frequency. The effective bandwidth is "System Dependent," so in a system with slow DDR2 memory, the bandwidth will be a fraction of what even a low-end discrete card from 2010 would offer. There are no percentage deltas to report against rivals because the nearestRivals array is empty. The only conclusion from the benchmark data is that the Intel GMA is not a viable platform for any 3D application, and its performance is effectively zero for modern workloads.
FAQ
Q: Does the Intel GMA support DirectX 11 or higher?
A: No. The data specifies support for DirectX 9.0c only, which is a legacy API from the early 2000s and does not support modern rendering features.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this GPU?
A: The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," meaning it is not fixed and relies entirely on the host system's RAM speed and configuration. There is no dedicated memory on the chip.
Q: Can this GPU handle 1080p video playback?
A: The data does not provide specific video playback scores. However, with a pixel rate of 533.0 MPixel/s and only 1 ROP, the GPU is likely to struggle with high-resolution video decoding, though the exact performance is not quantified in the fact pack.
Q: Is the Intel GMA a discrete graphics card?
A: No. The slot width is listed as "IGP," meaning it is an Integrated Graphics Processor that is built into the motherboard or chipset, not a separate card that fits into a PCIe slot.
Q: What is the release date of this product?
A: The release date is May 3, 2010, and it is currently marked as "End-of-life" in the production status.
Q: Does this GPU have ray tracing cores?
A: No. The fact pack lists no RT cores and no tensor cores, indicating that ray tracing and AI acceleration hardware are not present on this chip.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the Intel GMA are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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