Notebookcheck

Intel Iris Graphics 540

Intel Iris Graphics 540

The Intel Iris Graphics 540 (GT3e) is an integrated graphics unit of the Skylake generation. As successors of the HD Graphics 6000 (Broadwell), the Iris Graphics 540 can be found in CPUs of 15-watt series and offers 64 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory. Furthermore, the so-called GT3e-version features 48 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at up to 1050 MHz (depending on the CPU model). Besides the eDRAM cache, the Iris 540 is able to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Compared to the Iris Graphics 550 of the 28-watt series, the Iris Graphics 540 differs only by its slightly lower maximum clock and a nearly halved TDP, which limits the utilization of the Turbo Boost in certain situations.

Performance

The exact performance of the Iris Graphics 540 depends on various factors like memory configuration (DDR3/DDR4) and maximum clock rate of the specific model. The fastest versions (Core i7-6650U) should be slightly ahead of a dedicated GeForce 920M and will handle modern games (as of 2015) in low or medium settings.

Features

The revised video engine now decodes H.265/HEVC completely in hardware and thereby much more efficiently than before. Displays can be connected via DP 1.2 / eDP 1.3 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz), whereas HDMI is limited to the older version 1.4a (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz). However, HDMI 2.0 can be added using a DisplayPort converter. Up to three displays can be controlled simultaneously.

Power Consumption

The Iris Graphics 540 can be found in mobile processors specified at 15 W TDP and is therefore suited for compact laptops and ultrabooks.

ManufacturerIntel
Gen. 9 Series
Iris Pro Graphics P580 (compare) 72 @ 350 - 1100 (Boost) MHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Iris Pro Graphics 580 (compare) 72 @ 350 - 1050 (Boost) MHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Iris Graphics 550 (compare) 48 @ 300 - 1100 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
Iris Graphics 540 48 @ 300 - 1050 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 530 (compare) 24 @ 350 - 1150 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 520 (compare) 24 @ 300 - 1050 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 515 (compare) 24 @ 300 - 1000 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 510 (compare) 12 @ 300 - 950 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 505 (compare) 18 @ 300 - 750 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 500 (compare) 12 @ 300 - 700 (Boost) MHz64/128 Bit
CodenameSkylake GT3e
ArchitectureIntel Gen. 9 (Skylake)
Pipelines48 - unified
Core Speed300 - 1050 (Boost) MHz
Memory Bus Width64/128 Bit
Memory TypeDDR3/DDR4
Max. Amount of Memory64 MB
Shared Memoryyes
DirectXDirectX 12 (FL 12_1)
technology14 nm
FeaturesQuickSync
Date of Announcement01.09.2015
CPUGPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Intel Core i7-6650U2 x 2200 MHz, 15 W300 MHz1050 MHz
Intel Core i7-6560U2 x 2200 MHz, 15 W300 MHz1050 MHz
Intel Core i5-6360U2 x 2000 MHz, 15 W300 MHz1000 MHz
Intel Core i5-6260U2 x 1800 MHz, 15 W300 MHz950 MHz
min. - max.300 - 300 MHz950 - 1050 MHz

Benchmarks

3DMark - Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score 1280x720 offscreen
min: 116490     avg: 126223     median: 126078 (28%)     max: 136248 Points
+ 4 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Ice Storm Extreme Graphics 1920x1080
min: 45185     avg: 56791.5     median: 56791.5 (8%)     max: 68398 Points
+ 2 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Score 1280x720
min: 6730     avg: 7254.5     median: 7235 (15%)     max: 7822 Points
+ 6 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Graphics 1280x720
min: 9392     avg: 10896.2     median: 11327 (7%)     max: 11893 Points
+ 6 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Fire Strike Score 1920x1080
min: 1106     avg: 1268     median: 1354 (6%)     max: 1395 Points
+ 5 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Fire Strike Graphics 1920x1080
min: 1193     avg: 1358.2     median: 1448 (4%)     max: 1479 Points
+ 5 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Ice Storm Standard Graphics 1280x720
min: 67714     avg: 81160     median: 82680.5 (11%)     max: 91565 Points
+ 4 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance 1280x720
min: 2039     avg: 2339.8     median: 2364 (8%)     max: 2624 points
+ 6 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance GPU 1280x720
min: 1898     avg: 2186.5     median: 2211.5 (4%)     max: 2450 points
+ 6 benchmarks and specifications   - Hide comparison chart
3DMark Vantage
P Result 1280x1024 +
P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06 Standard 1280x1024 +
Unigine Valley 1.0 - Extreme HD DirectX 1920x1080
6.5 fps (5%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12
Solidworks (sw-03) 1900x1060 +
Siemens NX (snx-02) 1900x1060 +
Showcase (showcase-01) 1900x1060 +
Medical (medical-01) 1900x1060 +
Maya (maya-04) 1900x1060 +
Energy (energy-01) 1900x1060 +
Creo (creo-01) 1900x1060 +
Catia (catia-04) 1900x1060 +
3ds Max (3dsmax-05) 1900x1060 +
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit +
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit +
Cinebench R15
OpenGL 64Bit +
Ref. Match 64Bit +
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 1920x1080 +
T-Rex HD Onscreen C24Z16 +
GFXBench 3.0 - Manhattan Offscreen OGL off screen
86 fps (16%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
GFXBench 3.0 - Manhattan Onscreen OGL on screen
58.7 fps (16%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Room GPUs-only
min: 258     avg: 291.8     median: 301.5 (6%)     max: 306 Samples/s
+ 4 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Sala GPUs-only
min: 614     avg: 700.3     median: 712.5 (7%)     max: 762 Samples/s
+ 4 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
ComputeMark v2.1 - Normal, Score 1024x600
min: 1257     avg: 1483.3     median: 1525.5 (7%)     max: 1625 Points
+ 4 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailled information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Dishonored 2
low 1280x720
17.3  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare
low 1280x720
30  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
27.3  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Titanfall 2
low 1280x720
55.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
38.6  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
14.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Farming Simulator 17
low 1280x720
112  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
76  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
30.6  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
19.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Battlefield 1
low 1280x720
43.4  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
25.3  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
12.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Mafia 3

Mafia 3

2016
low 1280x720
11.3  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
FIFA 17

FIFA 17

2016
low 1280x720
61 (!)  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
72 (!)  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
0 (!)  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Deus Ex Mankind Divided
low 1280x720
16.7 20.5 ~ 19 fps    + Compare