HD Graphics 520 vs Quadro K3100M

Place in the ranking	593	864
Place by popularity	not in top-100	42
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.25	no data
Power efficiency	5.36	9.86
Architecture	Kepler (2012−2018)	Generation 9.0 (2015−2016)
GPU code name	GK104	Skylake GT2
Market segment	Mobile workstation	Laptop
Release date	23 July 2013 (11 years ago)	1 September 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,999	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	768	192
Core clock speed	706 MHz	300 MHz
Boost clock speed	no data	900 MHz
Number of transistors	3,540 million	189 million
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	14 nm+
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	15 Watt
Texture fill rate	45.18	21.60
Floating-point processing power	1.084 TFLOPS	0.3456 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	3
TMUs	64	24

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	large	no data
Interface	MXM-B (3.0)	Ring Bus

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR5	DDR3L/LPDDR3/DDR4
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	32 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	System Shared
Memory clock speed	800 MHz	System Shared
Memory bandwidth	102.4 GB/s	no data
Shared memory	-	+

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	No outputs	Portable Device Dependent
Display Port	1.2	no data

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

Optimus	+	-
3D Vision Pro	+	no data
Mosaic	+	no data
nView Display Management	+	no data
Optimus	+	no data
Quick Sync	no data	+

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	5.1	6.4
OpenGL	4.5	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	3.0
Vulkan	+	+
CUDA	+	-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

K3100M 5.87
+172%

HD Graphics 520 2.16

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

K3100M 2263
+172%

HD Graphics 520 831

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

K3100M 3581
+177%

HD Graphics 520 1294

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

K3100M 15120
+164%

HD Graphics 520 5722

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

K3100M 2797
+248%

HD Graphics 520 804

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

K3100M 18389
+174%

HD Graphics 520 6701

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p	50−55 +150%	20 −150%
Full HD	34 +240%	10 −240%
4K	15 +200%	5−6 −200%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	58.79	no data
4K	133.27	no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

10−11
+100%

5−6

−100%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14−16 +114%	7−8 −114%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	7−8 +250%	2−3 −250%
Battlefield 5	16−18 +700%	2−3 −700%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	12−14 +100%	6−7 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	10−11 +100%	5−6 −100%
Far Cry 5	12−14 +160%	5 −160%
Far Cry New Dawn	16−18 +167%	6−7 −167%
Forza Horizon 4	35−40 +322%	9−10 −322%
Hitman 3	12−14 +71.4%	7−8 −71.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	35−40 +100%	18−20 −100%
Metro Exodus	14−16	0−1
Red Dead Redemption 2	16−18 +220%	5−6 −220%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	20−22 +100%	10−11 −100%
Watch Dogs: Legion	45−50 +36.1%	35−40 −36.1%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14−16 +114%	7−8 −114%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	7−8 +250%	2−3 −250%
Battlefield 5	16−18 +700%	2−3 −700%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	12−14 +100%	6−7 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	10−11 +100%	5−6 −100%
Far Cry 5	12−14 +225%	4−5 −225%
Far Cry New Dawn	16−18 +167%	6−7 −167%
Forza Horizon 4	35−40 +322%	9−10 −322%
Hitman 3	12−14 +71.4%	7−8 −71.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	35−40 +100%	18−20 −100%
Metro Exodus	14−16	0−1
Red Dead Redemption 2	16−18 +220%	5−6 −220%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	20−22 +100%	10−11 −100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	46 +254%	13 −254%
Watch Dogs: Legion	45−50 +36.1%	35−40 −36.1%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14−16 +114%	7−8 −114%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	7−8 +250%	2−3 −250%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	12−14 +100%	6−7 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	10−11 +100%	5−6 −100%
Far Cry 5	12−14 +225%	4−5 −225%
Forza Horizon 4	35−40 +322%	9−10 −322%
Hitman 3	12−14 +71.4%	7−8 −71.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	35−40 +100%	18−20 −100%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	20−22 +100%	10−11 −100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	7 −85.7%	12−14 +85.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	45−50 +36.1%	35−40 −36.1%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

16−18
+220%

5−6

−220%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	10−12 +267%	3−4 −267%
Far Cry New Dawn	9−10 +200%	3−4 −200%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	5−6 +150%	2−3 −150%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	1−2	0−1
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	5−6 +400%	1−2 −400%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 +200%	1−2 −200%
Far Cry 5	7−8 +250%	2−3 −250%
Forza Horizon 4	16−18 +183%	6−7 −183%
Hitman 3	10−11 +42.9%	7−8 −42.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn	12−14 +117%	6−7 −117%
Metro Exodus	4−5 +300%	1−2 −300%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	1−2	0−1
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	5−6 +400%	1−2 −400%
Watch Dogs: Legion	35−40 +208%	12−14 −208%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

10−11
+100%

5−6

−100%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	5−6	0−1
Far Cry New Dawn	4−5 +300%	1−2 −300%
Hitman 3	2−3	0−1
Horizon Zero Dawn	12−14 +225%	4−5 −225%
Metro Exodus	3−4 +200%	1−2 −200%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	5 +400%	1−2 −400%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	4−5 +100%	2−3 −100%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	2−3 +100%	1−2 −100%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	2−3 +100%	1−2 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	0−1	0−1
Far Cry 5	3−4 +200%	1−2 −200%
Forza Horizon 4	6−7 +200%	2−3 −200%
Watch Dogs: Legion	2−3	0−1

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

6−7
+100%

3−4

−100%

This is how K3100M and HD Graphics 520 compete in popular games:

K3100M is 150% faster in 900p
K3100M is 240% faster in 1080p
K3100M is 200% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Battlefield 5, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the K3100M is 700% faster.
in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD Graphics 520 is 86% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

K3100M is ahead in 53 tests (98%)
HD Graphics 520 is ahead in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	5.87	2.16
Recency	23 July 2013	1 September 2015
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	32 GB
Chip lithography	28 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	15 Watt

K3100M has a 171.8% higher aggregate performance score.

HD Graphics 520, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 years, a 700% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 400% lower power consumption.

The Quadro K3100M is our recommended choice as it beats the HD Graphics 520 in performance tests.

Be aware that Quadro K3100M is a mobile workstation card while HD Graphics 520 is a mobile workstation one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.