AMD Radeon R7 M260X vs Intel UHD Graphics P630 Comparison

The comparison between the Intel UHD Graphics P630 and the AMD Radeon R7 M260X presents a generational clash: a modern 14 nm+++ integrated processor from Intel against a 28 nm discrete mobile GPU from AMD built on the older GCN 1.0 architecture. The data reveals a split decision, with each adapter claiming victory in a distinct workload category, making the choice heavily dependent on the intended application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two available benchmark results show a clear divergence in performance depending on the API used. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD Radeon R7 M260X emerges victorious with a score of 5690, outperforming the Intel UHD Graphics P630’s score of 5111 by a margin of 10.2%. This result aligns with the AMD part’s hardware specifications, which include a dedicated 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The integrated Intel solution, by contrast, relies on System Shared memory, making its bandwidth system-dependent and typically a bottleneck in compute-heavy tasks. The AMD GPU’s raw shading throughput advantage is also evident here, as it delivers 549.1 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is higher than the Intel’s 460.8 GFLOPS.

However, the tables turn dramatically in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the Intel UHD Graphics P630 scores 5628, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260X manages only 4631. This represents a decisive 21.5% lead for the Intel integrated graphics. This is a significant swing, suggesting that the Intel architecture’s support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and its newer Vulkan 1.3 implementation offer better performance in modern graphics APIs. The AMD adapter, with its older GCN 1.0 design and Vulkan 1.2.170 support, appears to struggle in this particular workload despite its dedicated memory and higher raw FP32 count. This result demonstrates that architectural efficiency and API optimization can outweigh raw specifications like memory bandwidth and shading unit count. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split, with the Intel part averaging 5370 points against the AMD’s 5161, placing them at the 31st and 30th percentiles of all GPUs respectively. The Intel card’s nearest rival by average score is the AMD Radeon R7 M365X, from which it trails by a negligible 0.8%, while the AMD R7 M260X sits just 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural divide between these two products explains their contrasting benchmark behavior. The Intel UHD Graphics P630 is built on the Generation 9.5 architecture using Intel’s 14 nm+++ process node, a mature and highly optimized manufacturing technology. It features a modest configuration of 192 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and only 3 raster output pipelines. This results in a pixel rate of 3.600 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 28.80 GTexel/s. The GPU operates with a base clock of 350 MHz and a boost clock of 1200 MHz, and it is integrated directly onto the processor die, connecting via a Ring Bus interface. Its power envelope is a mere 15 W, typical for an integrated graphics processor (IGP). Notably, the Intel part supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, indicating a modern feature set.

In contrast, the AMD Radeon R7 M260X is a discrete GPU from the GCN 1.0 architecture, manufactured on a larger 28 nm process at TSMC. The chip, codenamed Opal, contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, with a transistor density of 12.3M / mm². It packs a significantly higher number of shading units at 384, though it matches the Intel part with 24 TMUs. Its ROP count is higher at 8, contributing to a superior pixel rate of 5.720 GPixel/s. However, its texture rate is lower at 17.16 GTexel/s, a consequence of its lower core clocks of 620 MHz base and 715 MHz boost. The AMD GPU is paired with its own dedicated 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory, which is a critical differentiator, providing a fixed 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The architecture only supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170, which may limit its performance in titles that utilize the latest API features. The AMD part is a predecessor to the Polaris Mobile architecture, indicating its age relative to the Intel solution, which was released in 2020, about four and a half years after the AMD’s 2015 release.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in compute-oriented tasks?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X holds the advantage in compute workloads, as demonstrated by its Geekbench OpenCL score of 5690, which is 10.2% higher than the Intel UHD Graphics P630’s score of 5111. This is likely attributed to its higher FP32 throughput of 549.1 GFLOPS and dedicated GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which GPU performs better in modern graphics APIs like Vulkan?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics P630 is the clear winner in this area, achieving a Geekbench Vulkan score of 5628 against the AMD R7 M260X’s 4631. This represents a substantial 21.5% advantage for the Intel part, which supports Vulkan 1.3 compared to the AMD’s older Vulkan 1.2.170 implementation.

Q: How do their memory configurations compare?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has a dedicated 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, offering a fixed bandwidth of 64.00 GB/s. The Intel UHD Graphics P630 uses System Shared memory, meaning its size, type, and bus width are shared with the system, and its bandwidth is system-dependent.

Q: What are the architectural generational differences?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics P630 is based on the Generation 9.5 architecture on a 14 nm+++ process, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260X uses the older GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm process. The AMD chip has 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not listed.

Q: Which GPU has a higher raw pixel fill rate?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has the higher pixel rate at 5.720 GPixel/s, compared to the Intel UHD Graphics P630’s 3.600 GPixel/s. This is due to the AMD part having 8 ROPs versus the Intel part’s 3 ROPs.

Q: What is the overall performance percentile ranking for each?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics P630 is ranked in the 31st percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 5370. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X is ranked in the 30th percentile with an average score of 5161.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. For users prioritizing compute performance and raw data throughput, the AMD Radeon R7 M260X is the stronger candidate. Its 10.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL and superior FP32 performance of 549.1 GFLOPS indicate that it is better suited for tasks like OpenCL acceleration and general-purpose computing. Its dedicated 64.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth is a significant asset in these scenarios, providing predictable performance that does not depend on the system’s main memory.

Conversely, the Intel UHD Graphics P630 is the better choice for gaming or applications that leverage modern graphics APIs. Its commanding 21.5% victory in the Geekbench Vulkan test is a strong indicator of superior driver efficiency and architectural support for contemporary rendering pipelines. The support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3 positions it favorably for future software titles. Its lower 15 W power draw and integration into the CPU also make it a more power-efficient solution.

Ultimately, the choice hinges on the software environment. If the primary workloads are legacy compute tasks or use OpenCL, the AMD R7 M260X offers clear quantitative benefits. If the priority is modern API performance, particularly Vulkan, the Intel UHD Graphics P630 is the definitive winner. The split in wins (1 win each) underscores that neither GPU is universally superior, but rather that they are optimized for different performance domains.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the distinct specifications between the two GPUs, highlighting the areas where they differ.

| Specification | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | AMD Radeon R7 M260X |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Generation 9.5 | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm+++ | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 950 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | Not listed | 12.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 350 MHz | 620 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1200 MHz | 715 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 1024 MB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 64.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 192 | 384 |

| ROPs | 3 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 3.600 GPixel/s | 5.720 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 28.80 GTexel/s | 17.16 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 460.8 GFLOPS | 549.1 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 921.6 GFLOPS (2:1) | Not listed |

| TDP | 15 W | Not listed |

| Bus Interface | Ring Bus | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | 1.2.170 |

| Release Date | 2020-05-12 | 2015-12-05 |

| Predecessor | Not listed | Solar System |

| Successor | Not listed | Polaris Mobile |