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The Sims 4 on Intel HD 520 & 620
The Sims 4 on Intel HD 520 & 620
The Sims 4 isn’t a gun-blazing battle royale or a hyper-realistic action title, but don’t let the pastel UI and cheerful background music fool you — it’s got a sneaky way of stressing out your system, especially once you’ve loaded in a bunch of expansions and added clutter to your lots.
So what happens when you bring in low-end integrated graphics from a bygone era — Intel HD 520 and 620? Can they still hold their ground in 2025?
Surprisingly… yes. With conditions.
Not Built for Gaming, but Here We Are
The Intel HD 520 and 620 were never intended to power modern games. Released years ago as part of Intel’s push for integrated graphics in everyday laptops, they still pack just enough juice to run games like The Sims 4 at modest settings. Between the two, the HD 620 edges out the 520 by a small margin, offering a roughly 10-15% performance bump in real-world gameplay.
Performance
With everything dialed down and resolution kept in check, both iGPUs are capable of keeping the simulation alive — with the right settings.
720p, Low Settings:
Intel HD 520 delivers around 30 to 40 FPS depending on lot size and sim count.
Intel HD 620 pushes that slightly higher, hovering between 35 to 45 FPS, with fewer dips.
You’ll experience smoother performance in smaller households and indoor areas. Bigger lots, community spaces, or expansion-heavy gameplay will introduce some stutter, especially for the 520. But all in all — it’s playable.
1080p, Low Settings:
Both chips start to struggle here. Expect mid-20s FPS on the HD 520 and maybe high-20s to low-30s on the HD 620. If you’re aiming for comfort, 720p remains the sweet spot.
Recommended Settings for Smooth Gameplay
To keep things light and stable:
Resolution: 1280×720
Sims Detail: Low
Lighting & Shadows: Low
Visual Effects: Low
Reflections: Off
Edge Smoothing: Off
Post-processing: Off
And a golden rule:
💡 Always run your RAM in dual-channel. One RAM stick is a dealbreaker — it can slash your FPS in half on integrated graphics. Pop in a second stick and let your iGPU breathe.
Final Verdict
In 2025, both the Intel HD 520 and 620 can still power The Sims 4, provided you keep your expectations in check. No ultra settings, no gigantic lots with 10 Sims doing chores at once. But for casual builds, small families, and a few hours of zoning out in Simlish — they’re still up to the task.
The HD 620 is clearly the stronger sibling, but neither is completely out of the race. Just don’t expect miracles.