AMD Radeon HD 8870M vs Intel UHD Graphics 750 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon HD 8870M and Intel UHD Graphics 750 are very different implementations, and the recorded benchmark data splits cleanly in favor of the AMD part. In the only head-to-head test available in the database, Geekbench OpenCL, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M scores 8462 against the Intel UHD Graphics 750's 6743. That is a 25.5% advantage for the AMD part, a decisive margin in raw compute workloads.

The Intel UHD Graphics 750 does have one unique win in the database: it posts a Geekbench Vulkan score of 8138, a test that the AMD part did not run. However, in the shared OpenCL test, Intel trails by more than a quarter. For any application that relies on OpenCL compute, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M is the clear choice. The Intel part's Vulkan result suggests it can be competitive in Vulkan-based workloads, but the data does not include a direct comparison there.

The AMD part also sits higher in overall percentile ranking: 43rd percentile versus 40th for Intel. Its average benchmark score of 8462 is well above Intel's 7441 average. The use-case split is therefore simple: if your workload is OpenCL or any compute task measured by that API, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M wins by a large margin. If you are specifically targeting Vulkan, the Intel part has a recorded score, but the lack of a head-to-head means the AMD part's Vulkan capability is not directly measured in this database.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from completely different design philosophies. The AMD Radeon HD 8870M uses the Venus chip built on GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm TSMC process. It packs 1,500 million transistors into a 123 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.2 million transistors per square millimeter. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 uses the Rocket Lake chip on Generation 12.1 architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm+++ process. Intel does not list transistor count or die size in the database, so those figures cannot be compared.

The AMD part has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The Intel part has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. That is a 2.5x advantage in shader count for AMD, a 2.5x advantage in TMUs, and a 2x advantage in ROPs. Clock speeds differ significantly: AMD runs at 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost, while Intel runs at 300 MHz base and 1300 MHz boost. Intel's boost clock is much higher, but its narrower shader array still yields lower raw throughput.

Pixel rate and texture rate reflect these differences. AMD delivers 12.40 GPixel/s and 31.00 GTexel/s; Intel delivers 10.40 GPixel/s and 20.80 GTexel/s. AMD leads in both, but the gap is smaller in pixel rate. FP32 compute shows a clear AMD advantage: 992.0 GFLOPS versus Intel's 665.6 GFLOPS. Intel does have a notable FP16 capability at 1,331.2 GFLOPS (2:1), which AMD does not list in the database.

Memory architecture is fundamentally different. AMD uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel uses System Shared memory, with size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as system dependent. This means Intel's memory performance is tied to the host system's RAM, while AMD has its own dedicated pool.

API support differs as well. AMD supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Intel has the newer Vulkan version and a higher DirectX feature level, but AMD's older API set is still sufficient for many workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8870M scores 8462 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 6743. AMD leads by 25.5%.

Q: Does the Intel UHD Graphics 750 have any benchmark advantage?

A: The Intel part has a recorded Geekbench Vulkan score of 8138, which the AMD part does not have. However, there is no head-to-head Vulkan comparison in the database, so the AMD part's Vulkan performance is unmeasured.

Q: How do their memory systems compare?

A: AMD uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. Intel uses System Shared memory, with bandwidth listed as System Dependent.

Q: What are their FP32 compute capabilities?

A: AMD delivers 992.0 GFLOPS of FP32 performance. Intel delivers 665.6 GFLOPS, which is about two-thirds of AMD's output.

Q: Which part has more shading units?

A: AMD has 640 shading units, while Intel has 256. That is a 2.5x advantage for AMD in shader count.

Q: Are both parts end-of-life?

A: Yes, the database lists both the AMD Radeon HD 8870M and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 as end-of-life products.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon HD 8870M | Intel UHD Graphics 750 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Generation 12.1 |

| Process Node | 28 nm (TSMC) | 14 nm+++ (Intel) |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | Not listed |

| Base Clock | 725 MHz | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 775 MHz | 1300 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 72.00 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 640 | 256 |

| TMUs | 40 | 16 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 12.40 GPixel/s | 10.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 31.00 GTexel/s | 20.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 992.0 GFLOPS | 665.6 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | Not listed | 1,331.2 GFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | Not listed | 15 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | Ring Bus |

| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2013-03-31 | 2021-03-29 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison in the database is Geekbench OpenCL. The AMD Radeon HD 8870M scores 8462, and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 6743. The delta is 25.5% in AMD's favor. That is a substantial margin, roughly equivalent to the difference between the Intel part and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 8850M, which scores 7447 (Intel trails that part by 0.1%).

To put the AMD score in context, its nearest rivals are tightly clustered. The NVIDIA GeForce MX330 scores 8458 (0.1% behind AMD), the AMD Radeon 880M scores 8436 (0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX scores 8427 (0.4% behind). The Intel Arc A380 scores 8558, which is 1.1% ahead of the AMD part. This means the AMD Radeon HD 8870M sits in a competitive tier where small percentage differences separate it from several modern and older parts.

The Intel UHD Graphics 750's average benchmark score of 7441 places it near the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7447, 0.1% ahead), the AMD Radeon R7 350 (7425, 0.2% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (7472, 0.4% ahead). The Intel Arc A310 scores 7550, which is 1.4% ahead of Intel's integrated part. The 25.5% gap between the two reviewed GPUs is far larger than any of these rival deltas, making it the dominant factor in the comparison.

The Intel part's Vulkan score of 8138 is its only other benchmark entry. That figure is lower than the AMD part's OpenCL score of 8462, but the two tests are not directly comparable. Without a shared Vulkan test, the database cannot determine which part wins in Vulkan workloads.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for OpenCL compute: the AMD Radeon HD 8870M is the faster GPU. Its 8462 score against the Intel UHD Graphics 750's 6743 is a 25.5% lead, and its 43rd percentile placement versus Intel's 40th confirms the overall ranking. The AMD part also wins on every measured specification that affects raw throughput: more shading units, more TMUs, more ROPs, higher pixel rate, higher texture rate, and higher FP32 compute.

The Intel UHD Graphics 750 does have advantages in certain areas. Its FP16 capability of 1,331.2 GFLOPS (2:1) is higher than its own FP32 output, which could matter for workloads that use half-precision math. Its Vulkan 1.4 support is newer than AMD's 1.2.170, and its DirectX 12 (12_1) feature level is higher than AMD's 12 (11_1). Its 1300 MHz boost clock is also much higher than AMD's 775 MHz, though this does not compensate for the shader count deficit.

For a builder choosing between these two, the decision depends on the workload. If the task is OpenCL compute, rendering, or any general-purpose GPU work measured by the database, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M is the pick. Its dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth also avoids the system memory dependency that the Intel part carries.

The Intel UHD Graphics 750 is an integrated part with a 15 W TDP, which makes it suitable for low-power systems where a discrete GPU is not an option. It also has the newer API support and a Vulkan benchmark score, which is useful if the software stack relies on Vulkan. However, the database does not show a Vulkan score for the AMD part, so it is impossible to claim Intel wins that comparison.

The verdict is straightforward: the AMD Radeon HD 8870M wins the head-to-head benchmark by a wide margin and offers superior hardware specifications in every measured category except FP16 and API version. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 is the appropriate choice only if you need an integrated solution with modern API support and can accept significantly lower OpenCL performance. For any workload that stresses compute throughput, the AMD part is the clear winner in this database comparison.