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Intel strikes back: Core i7-1065G7 with Iris Plus Graphics G7 on par with AMD Radeon RX Vega 10

Teaser
Intel's new Ice Lake processors promise significant performance improvements for the integrated GPU. The version of the Core i7-1065G7 with 64 shader units is particularly interesting and is supposed to close the gap to AMD or even beat the Vega GPUs. We have the first benchmarks of the GPU inside the new Lenovo Yoga C940.
GPU-Z Iris Plus Graphics G7
GPU-Z Iris Plus Graphics G7

The long wait is over, we have received one of the first retail notebooks with Intel's brand-new Ice Lake CPU, the Lenovo Yoga C940. Intel's iGPU was pretty much identical the last couple of years, so we are obviously eager to check the performance of the new Iris Plus Graphics with 64 shader units. The processor of the Lenovo Yoga C940 is the new Core i7-1065G7. Thanks to the dual-channel memory setup (16 GB LPDDR4X-3733 onboard), the device should be able to utilize the full performance potential of the iGPU. The maximum Turbo Boost of the Iris Plus Graphics is specified at 1100 MHz; more technical details are available here.

Synthetic Benchmarks – Iris Plus Graphics beats AMD

We start with the graphics performance in the synthetic benchmarks. We obviously want to see how much faster the new chip is compared to the familiar UHD Graphics, which is also used by the new Comet Lake CPUs. The next question is whether Intel can close the gap or even beat AMD's Vega iGPUs and how the new Iris Plus Graphics compares with Nvidia's entry-level dGPUs (MX150, MX250), which are available in many compact laptops.

We use the following comparison devices with different graphics adapters: Dell XPS 13 7390 with the small Ice Lake GPU (32 EUs), the two Lenovo IdeaPads S540 14 (with the GeForce MX250 25W and the RX Vega 10), Schenker Slim 15 (Comet Lake UHD Graphics 620), Asus VivoBook 14 X403F with the Whiskey Lake UHD Graphics 620 as well as the HP Envy 13 with the slower 10W version of the GeForce MX250. All laptops with iGPUs are equipped with dual-channel memory, so the results are comparable.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
4942 Points
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
4613 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
3968 Points
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
3622 Points
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
3164 Points
Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 Core i3
Intel UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU)
2133 Points
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
1845 Points
3DMark
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
899 Points
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
835 Points
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
556 Points
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
404 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
3720 Points
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
3156 Points
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
2988 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
2568 Points
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
1940 Points
Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 Core i3
Intel UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU)
1521 Points
SCHENKER Slim 15 Comet Lake U
Intel UHD Graphics 620
1394 Points
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
1281 Points
1280x720 Sky Diver Graphics
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
11712 Points
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
9265 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
8512 Points
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
6467 Points

The results in the two 3DMark 11 and 3DMark benchmarks are very good and the new Iris Plus Graphics G7 (64 EUs) is only beaten by the faster 25W version of the GeForce MX250. All other GPUs, however, are slower. AMD's fastest iGPU, the RX Vega 10, is about 15-20% slower, while the old UHD Graphics 620 is almost 50-60% slower.

Gaming Benchmarks – Intel and AMD on par, but beaten by Nvidia

Synthetic benchmarks are one thing, but dedicated graphics adapters usually have an advantage in real-world gaming tests thanks to their dedicated video memory. This is also the case here, and both GeForce MX250 versions are clearly faster and therefore the better choice for gaming in compact devices. However, the two integrated GPUs from AMD and Intel, which are pretty much on par in the gaming tests, are still a decent choice for occasional gamers. The advantage compared to the old UHD Graphics, however, drops to 50-60%.

BioShock Infinite
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
37.6 fps
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
32.9 fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
21.7 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
21.3 fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
15.3 fps
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
13.9 fps
Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 Core i3
Intel UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU)
11.7 fps
1366x768 High Preset
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
96.9 fps
HP Envy 13-aq0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
86.6 fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
61.2 fps
HP ProBook 445 G6
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
42.8 fps
Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 Core i3
Intel UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU)
34.8 fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
32.1 fps
Dota 2 Reborn
1920x1080 high (2/3)
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
67.3 (57.7min) fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
67 (57.7min) fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
36.2 (33.2min) fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
34.2 (26.8min) fps
SCHENKER Slim 15 Comet Lake U
Intel UHD Graphics 620
22.8 (21.1min) fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
21.5 (19.9min) fps
1920x1080 ultra (3/3) best looking
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
60.3 (50.8min) fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
60 (50.8min) fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
33.4 (31min) fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
29.3 (23.8min) fps
SCHENKER Slim 15 Comet Lake U
Intel UHD Graphics 620
20.2 (19.1min) fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
19.2 (17.8min) fps
X-Plane 11.11
1920x1080 med (fps_test=2)
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
42.9 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
42.9 fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
20.7 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
19.4 fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
18.5 fps
SCHENKER Slim 15 Comet Lake U
Intel UHD Graphics 620
16.9 fps
1920x1080 high (fps_test=3)
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
40 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14IWL
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
40 fps
Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
19.4 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad S540-14API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
17.9 fps
Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620
16.7 fps
SCHENKER Slim 15 Comet Lake U
Intel UHD Graphics 620
15.1 fps

Initial Verdict

It looks like Intel's new Iris Plus Graphics G7 can close the gap to AMD and it is even faster in the synthetic benchmarks. The slower 10W version of the GeForce MX250 is beaten as well.

However, the situation changes in real-world gaming tests, where Nvidia's GPUs still have the edge thanks to the dedicated video memory. AMD and Intel on the other hand perform on a very similar level.

We will run additional benchmarks over the next couple of days and release the results in our full review of the Lenovo Yoga C940, which will probably be released by the end of the week.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2019 09 > Intel strikes back: Core i7-1065G7 with Iris Plus Graphics G7 on par with AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
Andreas Osthoff, 2019-09-30 (Update: 2019-09-30)