AMD Radeon R7 M260X vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data separates these two mobile graphics solutions by workload type more than by raw capability. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and AMD Radeon R7 M260X each win one of the two head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and their average scores across all recorded tests place them in different performance tiers.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 holds a clear advantage in Vulkan workloads. Its geekbench_vulkan score of 6032 beats the AMD Radeon R7 M260X score of 4631 by 30.3 percent. This is the largest measured performance gap between the two parts. For applications that leverage Vulkan, the Intel solution is the stronger choice.

The AMD Radeon R7 M260X counters in OpenCL workloads. Its geekbench_opencl score of 5690 surpasses the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 score of 4556 by 19.9 percent. The database shows this as a 19.9 percent deficit for the Intel part in that specific test. For OpenCL-accelerated tasks, the AMD part leads.

The overall average benchmark score favors Intel. The Iris Pro Graphics 6200 averages 6117 across its recorded tests, while the Radeon R7 M260X averages 5161. The Intel GPU sits at the 35th percentile of all GPUs in the database, compared to the 30th percentile for the AMD part. The Intel chip also has three recorded benchmark entries (geekbench_metal, geekbench_opencl, geekbench_vulkan), while the AMD part has only two (geekbench_opencl, geekbench_vulkan). The Intel part's geekbench_metal score of 7764 is its strongest recorded result and contributes to its higher average.

Users should choose based on their workload. For Vulkan-based applications, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 delivers a substantial performance edge. For OpenCL compute tasks, the AMD Radeon R7 M260X is the better option. The Intel part's higher average score and better percentile ranking make it the more balanced overall performer in this comparison, but the AMD part is not without merit in its preferred API.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different manufacturers and use fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 is built on the Broadwell GT3e chip using Generation 8.0 architecture, produced on a 14 nm process at Intel. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X uses the Opal chip with GCN 1.0 architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The Intel part integrates 950 million fewer transistors? No, the actual recorded data shows the AMD chip contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.3 million transistors per square millimeter. The Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Both parts feature 384 shading units. The similarity ends there. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has 48 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 6 raster operation pipelines (ROPs). The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has 24 TMUs and 8 ROPs. This gives Intel more than double the texture rate: 52.80 GTexel/s versus 17.16 GTexel/s for AMD. The AMD part has a higher pixel rate? No, the Intel part records 6.600 GPixel/s, while AMD records 5.720 GPixel/s. Intel leads in pixel throughput as well.

Compute throughput follows a similar pattern. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 delivers 844.8 GFLOPS of FP32 performance. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X delivers 549.1 GFLOPS. Intel leads by a significant margin in raw floating-point throughput.

Memory configurations differ drastically. The Intel part uses system shared memory, with system shared bus width and system dependent bandwidth. The AMD part has 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128 bit bus, with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This dedicated memory gives AMD a fixed bandwidth advantage, though the Intel part's bandwidth is recorded as system dependent, meaning it varies with the host platform.

Clock speeds also differ. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 runs at a 300 MHz base clock with a 1100 MHz boost. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X runs at a 620 MHz base clock with a 715 MHz boost. The Intel part has a much higher boost ceiling, while AMD runs higher at base.

API support shows a split. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan, but the versions differ. Intel supports OpenGL 4.4 and Vulkan 1.0. AMD supports OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170. AMD has more recent API versions in both cases.

The power profile differs as well. The Intel part is rated at 15 W TDP and uses a Ring Bus interface as an integrated GPU (IGP). The AMD part has no recorded TDP, uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, and has no power connectors, indicating it is a mobile discrete GPU. The AMD part's predecessor is recorded as "Solar System" and its successor as "Polaris Mobile." The Intel part has no recorded predecessor or successor.

Both parts are end-of-life products. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 was released on September 4, 2014. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X was released on December 5, 2015.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has an average benchmark score of 6117 across its three recorded tests, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260X averages 5161 across its two recorded tests. The Intel part also ranks higher at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, versus the 30th percentile for AMD.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in Vulkan performance?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 scores 6032 in geekbench_vulkan, which is 30.3 percent higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M260X score of 4631. This is the Intel part's largest recorded advantage.

Q: Which GPU wins in OpenCL performance?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X scores 5690 in geekbench_opencl, beating the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 score of 4556 by 19.9 percent. The database records this as a 19.9 percent deficit for the Intel part in this test.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128 bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 uses system shared memory with a system shared bus width and system dependent bandwidth.

Q: How do the texture and pixel rates compare?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has a texture rate of 52.80 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 6.600 GPixel/s. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has a texture rate of 17.16 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 5.720 GPixel/s. Intel leads in both measures.

Q: Which GPU has better API version support?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X supports OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 supports OpenGL 4.4 and Vulkan 1.0. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1).

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every recorded specification category. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 uses a 14 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260X uses a 28 nm process at TSMC. The AMD chip contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die with a density of 12.3 million transistors per square millimeter; the Intel chip has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Clock speeds: Intel runs at 300 MHz base and 1100 MHz boost. AMD runs at 620 MHz base and 715 MHz boost. The memory clock for AMD is recorded as 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective data rate, while Intel's memory clock is listed as system shared.

Memory: Intel uses system shared memory with system shared type and bus width, and system dependent bandwidth. AMD uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128 bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Shading units are identical at 384 for both. TMUs differ: 48 for Intel, 24 for AMD. ROPs differ: 6 for Intel, 8 for AMD.

Throughput rates: Intel records 6.600 GPixel/s pixel rate and 52.80 GTexel/s texture rate. AMD records 5.720 GPixel/s and 17.16 GTexel/s. FP32 compute: Intel at 844.8 GFLOPS, AMD at 549.1 GFLOPS.

Power and interface: Intel is rated at 15 W TDP, uses a Ring Bus interface, and is an IGP. AMD has no recorded TDP, uses PCIe 3.0 x8, has no power connectors, and is a mobile discrete part.

API support: Both support DirectX 12 (11_1). Intel supports OpenGL 4.4 and Vulkan 1.0. AMD supports OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Release dates: Intel released September 4, 2014. AMD released December 5, 2015. Both are end-of-life. AMD has recorded predecessor "Solar System" and successor "Polaris Mobile." Intel has none recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains two benchmark comparisons, and each GPU wins one.

The AMD Radeon R7 M260X wins the geekbench_opencl test with a score of 5690. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 scores 4556 in the same test. The delta is recorded as 19.9 percent in favor of AMD. This is a substantial margin in a compute-oriented workload. The AMD part's dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth likely contributes to this result, though the database does not explicitly state causation. The Intel part relies on system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth, which can be a limiting factor in memory-intensive compute tasks.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 wins the geekbench_vulkan test with a score of 6032. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X scores 4631. The delta is 30.3 percent in favor of Intel. This is the larger of the two wins. The Intel part's higher FP32 throughput (844.8 GFLOPS versus 549.1 GFLOPS) and higher texture rate (52.80 GTexel/s versus 17.16 GTexel/s) may explain its Vulkan advantage, though again the database records only the scores, not the reasons.

The Intel part also has a third benchmark result that has no AMD counterpart. Its geekbench_metal score of 7764 is the highest single score recorded for either GPU in any test. This test is not part of the head-to-head comparison, but it contributes to Intel's average benchmark score of 6117.

Comparing the two recorded head-to-head tests, Intel's Vulkan win is larger (30.3 percent) than AMD's OpenCL win (19.9 percent). This asymmetry matters. A 30.3 percent lead is more decisive than a 19.9 percent lead. The Intel part's wins in the database include one head-to-head victory and the overall average score advantage. The AMD part wins one head-to-head test but loses the average score comparison by a wide margin: 6117 versus 5161.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 sits within 1.1 percent of the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (6049), within 0.7 percent of the NVIDIA GeForce MX230 (6077), within 0.6 percent of the NVIDIA RTX A400 (6078), and 0.3 percent below the AMD Radeon HD 8690M (6137). The AMD Radeon R7 M260X sits 1.9 percent above the AMD Radeon R7 240 (5063), 0.1 percent above the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M (5154), 1 percent below the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M (5211), and 1.4 percent below the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M (5236). These rival positions show the Intel part competing in a higher performance neighborhood than the AMD part.

For Vulkan workloads, the data clearly favors Intel. For OpenCL workloads, the data clearly favors AMD. For a user whose software uses both APIs, the Intel part's higher average score and higher percentile ranking suggest it is the more versatile choice. The AMD part's dedicated memory and 19.9 percent OpenCL advantage make it attractive for compute-focused users who prioritize that API.