Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 vs NVIDIA Quadro K3000M vs Intel Iris Graphics 550

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 (GT4e) is an integrated graphics unit of the Skylake generation (top version). As successors of the Iris Graphics 6200 (Broadwell), the Iris 580 can be found in some high-end quad core CPUs and offers 128 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory. Furthermore, the so-called GT4e-version features 72 Execution Units (EUs). Besides the eDRAM cache, the Iris 580 is able to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Compared to the Iris Graphics 550 (28 W GT3e), the Iris Pro Graphics 580 offers more EUs (72 vs. 48) and a larger eDRAM Cache (128 vs. 64 MB).

Performance

The exact performance of the Iris Graphics 580 depends on memory configuration and CPU model (different clock speeds). However, it should be clearly faster than the old Broadwell Iris Pro 6200 and may compete with a dedicated GeForce 945M. Modern games of 2015/2016 should be playable in 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 1.4 (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 580 can be found in some mobile high-end quad core processors (45 W). Therefore, they are most likely not used in thin and light laptops.

NVIDIA Quadro K3000M

The NVIDIA Quadro K3000M is a performance-class, DirectX 11.1-compatible graphics card for mobile workstations. It is a Kepler-based GPU built on the GK104 chip (but using only 576 shader cores) and is manufactured in 28nm at TSMC. The Quadro K3000M is built for the Intel Chief River generation (Ivy Bridge) and is the successor to the Fermi-based Quadro 3000M (Huron River platform).

The Quadro series offers certified drivers that are optimized for stability and performance in professional applications like CAD or DCC. OpenGL performance, for example, should be significantly better than GeForce graphics cards of similar specifications.

Architecture

The Kepler architecture is the successor to the Fermi architecture that first appeared in laptops with the GeForce 400M series. The GK104 Kepler core offers eight shader blocks, called SMX, that are clocked at the same speed as the central core. In the K3000M, 3 blocks are active leading to the 576 CUDA cores. Although more shader cores are available in the Kepler architecture as compared to the Fermi design, the Kepler shaders are still expected to be up to twice as power efficient. However, due to the missing hot clock of the shader domain, two shaders of a Kepler chip provide similar performance to just one shader of a Fermi chip (as the latter is clocked twice as fast). 

PCIe 3.0 is now supported by the mobile Kepler series and an optional Turbo mode can automatically overclock the Nvidia card by a theoretical 15 percent if the laptop cooling system allows it. The implementation of this boost mode is done in the BIOS, but it is ultimately dependent upon the manufacturer of the laptop.

Performance

The performance is slightly above the older Quadro 4000M based on the fermi architecture. Compared to consumer cards, the K3000M performs similar to the GeForce GT 750M. Games of 2013 can be played fluently in medium or high detail and resolution settings.

Features

The improved feature set now includes support for up to 4 active displays. Furthermore, high resolution monitors of up to 3840x2160 pixels can now be connected using DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 1.4a if available. HD-Audio codecs, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, can be transmitted via bitstream mode through the HDMI port. However, as most laptops will feature Optimus, the integrated GPU will likely have direct control over the display ports and may limit the feature set available by the Nvidia Kepler cards.

The 5th generation PureVideo HD video processor (VP5) is also integrated in the GK107 core and offers hardware decoding of HD videos. Common codecs such as MPEG-1/2, MPEG-4 ASP, H.264 and VC1/WMV9 are fully supported up to 4K resolutions while VC1 and MPEG-4 are supported up to 1080p. Two streams can be decoded in parallel for features such as Picture-in-Picture. Another novelty is the inclusion of a dedicated video encoding engine similar to Intel QuickSync that can be accessed by the NVENC API.

The power consumption of the K3000M is rated at 75 Watt (TGP according to Nvidia) and is therefore suited for medium-sized notebooks 17-inches or greater.

Intel Iris Graphics 550

The Intel Iris Graphics 550 (GT3e) is an integrated graphics unit of the Skylake generation. As successors of the Iris Graphics 6100 (Broadwell), the Iris Graphics 550 can be found in CPUs of 28-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 1100 MHz (depending on the CPU model). Besides the eDRAM cache, the Iris 550 is able to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Compared to the Iris Graphics 540 of the 15-watt series, the Iris Graphics 550 differs only by its slightly higher maximum clock and a nearly doubled TDP, which allows a better utilization of the Turbo Boost.

Performance

The exact performance of the Iris Graphics 550 depends on various factors like L3 Cache size, memory (DDR3/DDR4) and maximum clock rate of the specific model. The fastest versions (Core i7-6567U) may compete with a dedicated GeForce 930M 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 550 can be found in mobile processors specified at 28 W TDP and is therefore suited for medium-sized laptops and ultrabooks.