AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 Comparison

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M represent two very different approaches to mobile graphics, separated by process node, architecture generation, and design philosophy. The data shows a clear overall winner in the P580, but the HD 7730M retains specific strengths that matter in certain workloads. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and practical implications based solely on the provided metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results provide a single direct comparison point: the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this workload, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 scores 9082, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581. That is a decisive 38% advantage for the Intel part. The P580 wins the only head-to-head benchmark recorded, making it the clear victor in compute-oriented tasks that stress OpenCL performance. Its average benchmark score of 7170 further reinforces this, placing it in the 39th percentile of all GPUs.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M, by contrast, has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its single recorded Geekbench OpenCL score of 6581 puts it in the 38th percentile of all GPUs, marginally below the P580’s 39th percentile. However, the HD 7730M’s strengths lie elsewhere. It has a dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory pool with a 128-bit bus and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the P580 relies on system-shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." In scenarios where dedicated VRAM is critical—such as texture-heavy workloads or games with high memory pressure—the HD 7730M’s fixed memory allocation can be more predictable. Additionally, the HD 7730M has 16 ROPs compared to the P580’s 9, giving it a higher pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s versus 9.000 GPixel/s. This suggests the AMD part could win in fill-rate-limited scenarios, even though the overall compute score favors Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 uses the Skylake GT4e chip, based on Generation 9.0 architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm+ process. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip, based on GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 28 nm process. This process advantage gives Intel a significant transistor density edge, though the fact pack does not list transistor counts for the P580. The HD 7730M has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, yielding a density of 12.2M / mm².

Clock speeds differ substantially. The Intel P580 runs at a base of 350 MHz with a boost of 1000 MHz, while the AMD HD 7730M runs at a base of 575 MHz with a boost of 675 MHz. The Intel part’s higher boost clock contributes to its superior compute throughput, but the AMD part’s higher base clock means it starts from a stronger position before boosting.

Shader configuration also diverges sharply. The P580 has 576 shading units, 72 TMUs, and 9 ROPs. The HD 7730M has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The P580’s higher TMU count (72 vs 32) drives its texture rate to 72.00 GTexel/s, more than triple the HD 7730M’s 21.60 GTexel/s. Conversely, the HD 7730M’s higher ROP count gives it the pixel rate advantage noted earlier.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The Intel P580 uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM, making its bandwidth "System Dependent." The AMD HD 7730M has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s. This dedicated memory is a structural advantage for the AMD part in scenarios where system memory bandwidth is constrained.

API support shows the Intel part is more modern. The P580 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The HD 7730M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The newer Vulkan version on Intel could enable better performance in modern Vulkan titles, though the fact pack does not provide specific Vulkan benchmark scores.

Power and interface also differ. The P580 is an IGP with a 15 W TDP and a Ring Bus interface, while the HD 7730M is a discrete mobile GPU with a 25 W TDP and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The P580’s lower TDP makes it more suitable for thin-and-light designs, while the HD 7730M’s discrete nature allows for dedicated memory but at higher power cost.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is the superior GPU for compute-intensive workloads. Its 38% lead in Geekbench OpenCL over the HD 7730M is substantial, and its average benchmark score of 7170 is 589 points higher than the HD 7730M’s 6581. The P580 also holds a 39th percentile rank versus the HD 7730M’s 38th, confirming a slight overall standing advantage. For users running OpenCL-accelerated applications—such as video encoding, image processing, or scientific compute—the P580 is the clear choice.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M is not without merit. Its dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth and higher pixel rate (10.80 GPixel/s) make it a better fit for scenarios where memory latency or fill rate is the bottleneck. The 16 ROPs versus 9 also suggest stronger performance in certain rasterization tasks. However, the fact pack shows no benchmark where the HD 7730M wins, so these advantages remain theoretical rather than measured.

The decision comes down to workload. If the primary use is compute-heavy tasks that leverage OpenCL, the P580 wins decisively. If the primary use involves memory-bound or fill-rate-bound tasks, the HD 7730M’s dedicated memory and higher pixel rate may offer advantages, but buyers should note the lack of benchmark evidence for this. The P580’s lower 15 W TDP also makes it more power-efficient, which is critical in mobile designs. The HD 7730M’s 25 W TDP is higher, but it is still a modest figure for a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 scores 9082, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581. The P580 is ahead by 38%.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon HD 7730M have any advantages over the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580?

A: Yes, the HD 7730M has dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the P580’s system-shared memory. It also has more ROPs (16 vs 9) and a higher pixel rate (10.80 GPixel/s vs 9.000 GPixel/s).

Q: Which GPU has a higher texture fill rate?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 has a texture rate of 72.00 GTexel/s, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M has a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s. The P580 is more than three times faster in this metric.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two GPUs?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 has a TDP of 15 W, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W. The P580 is more power-efficient.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of Vulkan?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 supports Vulkan 1.3, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M supports Vulkan 1.2.170. The P580 has the newer API version.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in terms of memory capacity?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 uses system-shared memory, so its memory size is system dependent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, where the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 scores 9082 against the AMD Radeon HD 7730M’s 6581. This yields a delta of 38% in favor of Intel. This is a significant margin, indicating that the P580’s higher shader count (576 vs 512), higher boost clock (1000 MHz vs 675 MHz), and more modern architecture translate directly into compute performance.

The P580’s advantage extends beyond the raw score. Its average benchmark score of 7170 is 589 points higher than the HD 7730M’s 6581. The P580 also sits at the 39th percentile of all GPUs, compared to the HD 7730M’s 38th. While both are in the lower-middle range of GPU performance, the P580 is consistently ahead.

The HD 7730M’s nearest rivals provide context for its performance. It sits within 1.4% of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M (6493) and 1% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513). The P580’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7157) and the AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile (7203), with deltas of 0.2% and -0.5%, respectively. This places the P580 in a higher performance tier than the HD 7730M, despite both being near the 38th-39th percentile.

In terms of pixel rate, the HD 7730M’s 10.80 GPixel/s exceeds the P580’s 9.000 GPixel/s. This is a narrow win for AMD, but the P580’s texture rate of 72.00 GTexel/s dwarfs the HD 7730M’s 21.60 GTexel/s. The P580’s FP32 compute of 1,152.0 GFLOPS is also substantially higher than the HD 7730M’s 691.2 GFLOPS. These numbers collectively explain the P580’s dominant OpenCL score, while the HD 7730M’s pixel rate advantage suggests it may handle certain rasterization tasks more efficiently.

The memory comparison is stark. The HD 7730M’s dedicated 28.80 GB/s bandwidth is fixed, while the P580’s is "System Dependent." In a system with fast dual-channel memory, the P580 could exceed that bandwidth, but it is not guaranteed. The HD 7730M’s 128-bit bus and 2 GB capacity provide a stable foundation for legacy games and applications that expect dedicated VRAM. The P580’s system-shared approach is more flexible but less predictable.

Given that the P580 wins the only benchmark, leads in compute metrics, and has a higher average score, it is the stronger overall GPU. The HD 7730M’s dedicated memory and pixel rate are its only measured advantages, and they do not translate into a benchmark win. For users prioritizing OpenCL performance, the P580 is the definitive choice.