Intel GMA 3600
Intel graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
IntelIntel GMA 3600 Specifications
GMA 3600 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The Intel GMA 3600 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 3600 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GMA 3600'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 3600 by Intel dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
Intel's GMA 3600 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GMA 3600'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 3600 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the Intel GMA 3600 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 3600 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 3600 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Intel's GMA 3600 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the Intel GMA 3600 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 3600 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GMA 3600 by Intel Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the Intel GMA 3600 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 3600. 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 3600 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel GMA 3600 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 3600 by Intel represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GMA 3600 Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About Intel GMA 3600
Launched in late 2008, the Intel GMA 3600 is an end-of-life integrated graphics processor built on a 65 nm process, utilizing the PowerVR SGX545 architecture. With a benchmark score of 0 and a 50th percentile ranking, the data indicates it is positioned as a baseline entry-level IGP, primarily designed for basic display output rather than 3D gaming performance. Its specifications, 32 shading units, 4 TMUs, and a single ROP, confirm its status as a legacy solution with minimal computational throughput.
How It Compares
The Intel GMA 3600 occupies a unique position in the benchmark database, as it has no direct nearest rivals listed in the available data. This absence of comparative benchmarks means that its performance cannot be contextualized against specific competing graphics solutions. The data shows a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, which places it in the middle of the distribution, but this is a statistical artifact given its zero benchmark score. The lack of nearestRivals data suggests that the GMA 3600 exists in a category of its own, primarily defined by its age and integrated nature.
In the absence of direct comparisons, the GMA 3600's specifications tell the story. Its 400.0 MPixel/s pixel rate and 1.600 GTexel/s texture rate are figures that reflect an early-generation integrated solution. The single ROP is a particularly telling limitation, as it constrains fill-rate dependent operations severely. The 25.60 GFLOPS of FP32 compute power further reinforces its position as a processor intended for 2D desktop environments and video playback, not 3D acceleration. Without rival data, the analysis must rely on these absolute figures to establish its standing.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Intel GMA 3600 does not include any ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as indicated by the null values in the fact pack. This is consistent with its 2008 release date, predating the advent of hardware-accelerated ray tracing in consumer graphics by over a decade. The architecture, PowerVR SGX545, provides a limited feature set that is typical of mobile and embedded IGPs from that era.
In terms of API support, the GMA 3600 offers DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0, with no Vulkan support listed. These APIs allow for basic shader model 4.1 functionality, which was contemporary at its release. However, the lack of Vulkan support means that modern titles requiring this API will not run on this hardware. The absence of tensor cores also precludes any AI-accelerated features, such as DLSS or other machine learning-based enhancements. The feature set is thus frozen in a mid-2000s state, suitable only for legacy applications and operating systems.
Memory Subsystem
The GMA 3600 uses system shared memory for all graphics operations, with the size, type, and bus width all marked as "System Shared." This means it has no dedicated VRAM, relying instead on the host system's main memory. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," indicating that performance will vary significantly based on the system's RAM speed and configuration. This is a critical bottleneck, as integrated graphics sharing memory with the CPU can cause contention and reduce overall system performance.
For high-resolution workloads, the system shared memory approach is severely limiting. The lack of a dedicated bus width figure means that memory bandwidth is constrained by the system's memory controller, which in a 2008-era platform would have been DDR2 or early DDR3. The "System Dependent" bandwidth figure underscores that the GMA 3600's performance is not a fixed value but rather a function of the surrounding hardware. Users seeking to run modern high-resolution displays would find this IGP inadequate, as it lacks the dedicated memory bandwidth required for smooth 1080p or higher rendering.
FAQ
Q: What is the production status of the Intel GMA 3600?
A: The GMA 3600 is listed as end-of-life, indicating it is no longer in production.
Q: What is the pixel rate of the GMA 3600?
A: The pixel rate is 400.0 MPixel/s, which is a measure of the number of pixels the GPU can rasterize per second.
Q: Does the GMA 3600 support DirectX 11 or higher?
A: No, the GMA 3600 supports DirectX 10.1, which is the maximum DirectX version listed in the fact pack.
Q: What is the texture rate of the GMA 3600?
A: The texture rate is 1.600 GTexel/s, representing the number of texture map lookups the GPU can perform per second.
Q: How many shading units does the GMA 3600 have?
A: The GMA 3600 has 32 shading units, which are the programmable cores responsible for vertex and pixel processing.
Q: What is the process node for the GMA 3600?
A: The GMA 3600 is manufactured on a 65 nm process, which was a standard node size at its release in 2008.
Benchmark Performance
The GMA 3600 has an average benchmark score of 0, and there are no benchmark entries in the fact pack. This absence of data is itself a finding: it indicates that the GMA 3600 was never subjected to standardized benchmark testing in this database, or that its performance was so low as to be unmeasurable. The 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs is misleading, as it is likely a default value rather than a computed percentile based on actual test results.
Given the lack of benchmark scores, performance analysis must rely on theoretical specifications. The FP32 compute of 25.60 GFLOPS is a raw measure of floating-point throughput, and when compared to modern integrated graphics that routinely exceed 1,000 GFLOPS, the GMA 3600 is orders of magnitude slower. The pixel rate of 400.0 MPixel/s would struggle to maintain 30 frames per second at 720p in most 3D games, even those from its own era. The texture rate of 1.600 GTexel/s similarly caps texture-heavy scenes. There are no deltaPct values to compare against rivals, as the nearestRivals list is empty, leaving the GMA 3600 as an isolated data point in the database.
Who Should Consider It
The GMA 3600 is not suitable for modern gaming at any resolution. At 720p, its 400.0 MPixel/s pixel rate would deliver unplayable frame rates in contemporary titles, and the lack of Vulkan support disqualifies it from many current game engines. For 1080p, the system shared memory bandwidth would become a critical bottleneck, causing stuttering and low frame rates even in e-sports titles. The 32 shading units and single ROP are fundamentally insufficient for the workload demands of modern 3D rendering.
The realistic use cases for the GMA 3600 are limited to basic 2D desktop environments, legacy operating systems, and video playback. Its DirectX 10.1 support allows it to run older games from the mid-2000s, but only at low resolutions and settings. For users with a 2008-era system that needs a display output, the GMA 3600 serves as a functional IGP. However, for any task requiring 3D acceleration beyond the most basic level, the data clearly shows this is not a viable option. The 50th percentile ranking is a statistical outlier given the zero score, and it should not be interpreted as mid-tier performance.
Power and Cooling
The Intel GMA 3600 has a TDP of 13 W, which is exceptionally low by modern standards. This figure indicates that the IGP consumes very little power, making it suitable for thermally constrained environments such as small form factor systems or portable devices. The slot width is listed as "IGP," confirming that it is an integrated graphics processor rather than a discrete card, and it uses the PCI bus interface for connectivity.
No power connectors are listed, and no suggested PSU figure is provided in the fact pack. This is consistent with an IGP, as it draws power from the motherboard's chipset and does not require a dedicated power supply connection. The 13 W TDP is a fraction of what a discrete GPU would demand, meaning that even a modest power supply would be sufficient. Cooling requirements are minimal; the GMA 3600's low TDP means that passive cooling or a basic heatsink is adequate. The display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," indicating that the actual connectors vary by the laptop or device in which it is integrated.
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