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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.

Gen. 9 Series

Iris Pro Graphics P580 compare 72 @ 0.35 - 1.1 GHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Iris Pro Graphics 580 compare 72 @ 0.35 - 1.05 GHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Iris Graphics 550 compare 48 @ 0.3 - 1.1 GHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Iris Graphics 540 48 @ 0.3 - 1.05 GHzeDRAM + 64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 530 compare 24 @ 0.35 - 1.15 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 520 compare 24 @ 0.3 - 1.05 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 515 compare 24 @ 0.3 - 1 GHz64/128 Bit
UHD Graphics 610 compare 12 @ 0.3 - 0.95 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 610 compare 12 @ 0.3 - 0.95 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 510 compare 12 @ 0.3 - 0.95 GHz64/128 Bit
UHD Graphics 605 compare 18 @ 0.3 - 0.75 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 505 compare 18 @ 0.3 - 0.75 GHz64/128 Bit
UHD Graphics 600 compare 12 @ 0.3 - 0.7 GHz64/128 Bit
HD Graphics 500 compare 12 @ 0.3 - 0.7 GHz64/128 Bit
CodenameSkylake GT3e
ArchitectureGen. 9 Skylake
Pipelines48 - unified
Core Speed300 - 1050 (Boost) MHz
Memory Bus WidtheDRAM + 64/128 Bit
Memory TypeeDRAM
Max. Amount of Memory64 MB
Shared Memoryyes
APIDirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.4
technology14 nm
FeaturesQuickSync
Date of Announcement01.09.2015
CPU in Iris Graphics 540GPU 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 MHz950 - 1050 MHz

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy
0.7 pt (2%)
3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06
min: 13403     avg: 13569     median: 13568.5 (19%)     max: 13734 Points
SPECviewperf 12
specvp12 sw-03 +
specvp12 snx-02 +
specvp12 showcase-01 +
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01
min: 8.2     avg: 8.5     median: 8.5 (2%)     max: 8.8 fps
specvp12 mediacal-01 +
specvp12 maya-04 +
specvp12 energy-01 +
specvp12 creo-01 +
specvp12 catia-04 +
specvp12 3dsmax-05 +
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit +
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 +
- 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 detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

low 1280x720
114  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
94  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
74  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
71  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
World of Tanks enCore

World of Tanks enCore

2018
low 1366x768
174  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
24.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
9.5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
low 1280x720
23.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
16.9  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
13.6  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
low 1280x720
17.3  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
low 1280x720
30  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
27.3  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
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..
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..
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..
low 1280x720
16.7 20.5 ~ 19 fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
low 1280x720
35  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
20.5  fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Overwatch

Overwatch

2016
low 1280x720
58.2 68 ~ 63 fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
40 47.6 ~ 44 fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
18.9 21.3 ~ 20 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Doom

Doom

2016
low 1280x720
31.5  fps    + Compare