AMD Radeon R7 M445 vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 Comparison

The benchmark data places the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 and the AMD Radeon R7 M445 in the same performance tier, but the numbers reveal a clear, if modest, hierarchy. The Intel part leads in the single available compute test, while the AMD part counters with a more modern feature set and dedicated memory. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the use cases where each GPU holds an edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, which measures general-purpose compute performance. Here, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 scores 5712 points, while the AMD Radeon R7 M445 scores 5358 points. That translates to a 6.6% advantage for the Intel solution. This is a decisive win in relative terms, though the absolute gap of 354 points is small enough that real-world application performance would likely feel similar.

The Intel GPU’s lead in this test is consistent with its nearest rival comparisons. The Iris Pro P6300 sits just 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX (which averages 5721) and 0.3% behind the GTX 550 Ti (5731). It edges out the AMD Radeon HD 8790M by 0.4% (5691) and the NVIDIA Quadro M500M by 1.9% (5604). This places the Intel part in a tight cluster of mid-range mobile and desktop GPUs from several generations ago.

The AMD Radeon R7 M445, by contrast, lands in a slightly lower bracket. Its score of 5358 puts it 0.2% behind the Intel UHD Graphics P630 (5370) and 0.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 840M (5322). It also beats the GeForce 930A by 0.8% (5317) and the GeForce GTX 980M by 0.9% (5308). The presence of the GTX 980M in that list is notable; it suggests that the Geekbench OpenCL workload does not translate directly to gaming performance, as the GTX 980M is otherwise a far more powerful part.

Looking at the broader percentile rankings, the Intel Iris Pro P6300 sits at the 33rd percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD Radeon R7 M445 sits at the 31st percentile. The two-point difference in percentile is a small but meaningful indicator that the Intel part is slightly more competitive against the full field of GPUs. In short, the head-to-head data shows a single, clear win for Intel, with a 6.6% margin that is consistent across its rival comparisons.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 is built on the Broadwell GT3e chip, using Intel’s Generation 8.0 architecture and a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The AMD Radeon R7 M445 uses the Meso chip, based on GCN 3.0 architecture, and is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The Intel part is the older product, with a release date of September 2014, while the AMD part launched in May 2016.

The process node difference is significant. Intel’s 14 nm node is denser than TSMC’s 28 nm node, which explains some of the performance efficiency. The AMD chip has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 12.4 million per square millimeter. The Intel chip does not list transistor count or die size, so a direct density comparison is impossible, but the architectural differences are clear.

The compute resources are organized very differently. The Intel GPU has 384 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 6 render output units (ROPs). The AMD GPU has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This means Intel has more shading units and TMUs, while AMD has more ROPs. The pixel rate reflects this: the AMD part achieves 7.360 GPixel/s versus Intel’s 4.800 GPixel/s, a substantial advantage in fill-rate-bound scenarios. Conversely, the texture rate favors Intel, at 38.40 GTexel/s versus AMD’s 18.40 GTexel/s, a two-to-one margin.

The memory subsystems are fundamentally different. The Intel Iris Pro P6300 uses system shared memory, with the bus width and bandwidth listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent." This means its performance is tied to the host system’s memory configuration. The AMD Radeon R7 M445 has dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a fixed bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s. The AMD memory clock is listed as 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective data rate. This dedicated memory is a major advantage for the AMD part, as it does not compete with the CPU for bandwidth or latency.

Clock speeds also differ. The Intel GPU runs at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 800 MHz. The AMD GPU runs at a base of 780 MHz and boosts to 920 MHz. Despite the higher clocks, the AMD part’s lower shading unit count and much lower TMU count yield a lower FP32 throughput: 588.8 GFLOPS versus Intel’s 614.4 GFLOPS. The AMD part also lists FP16 performance at 588.8 GFLOPS (1:1), while the Intel part does not list FP16 at all. The AMD GPU’s TDP is not listed, while the Intel part is rated at 15 W.

The API support favors AMD. The Radeon R7 M445 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.4, and Vulkan 1.0. The AMD part’s newer API versions are a direct consequence of its later release date. The bus interface also differs: the Intel part uses a Ring Bus, while the AMD part uses PCIe 3.0 x8. Display outputs are motherboard dependent for Intel and portable device dependent for AMD, reflecting their intended form factors.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is clear from the architecture. The Intel Iris Pro P6300 wins in compute-heavy workloads that leverage its higher shading unit count and texture rate. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 5712 versus 5358 is the primary evidence. Its 614.4 GFLOPS of FP32 performance and 38.40 GTexel/s texture rate make it more suitable for tasks like image processing, physics calculations, and other general-purpose compute that scale with shader and texture throughput.

The AMD Radeon R7 M445 wins in scenarios that are bound by pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth. Its 7.360 GPixel/s pixel rate is more than 50% higher than Intel’s 4.800 GPixel/s, which matters for high-resolution rendering or applications that rely heavily on framebuffer operations. Its dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 memory with 32.00 GB/s bandwidth is a significant advantage over Intel’s system shared memory, which is dependent on the host system’s memory speed and configuration. The AMD part is also better positioned for modern software, given its support for DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

The AMD part’s higher base and boost clocks (780 MHz and 920 MHz) suggest it will maintain performance more consistently under sustained loads compared to the Intel part’s lower 300 MHz base clock. However, the Intel part’s 15 W TDP is a known quantity, while the AMD part’s TDP is not listed, so power consumption cannot be directly compared. The Intel part is also the only one with a listed production status of end-of-life; the AMD part is also end-of-life but has a listed predecessor (Solar System) and successor (Polaris Mobile).

The Verdict

For compute performance, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 is the clear choice. Its 6.6% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is backed by a superior shading unit count, TMU count, and FP32 throughput. It also matches or beats several nearby rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro M500M by 1.9% and the AMD Radeon HD 8790M by 0.4%. This makes it the better option for users running OpenCL-accelerated applications where the host system’s memory is fast enough to avoid bottlenecks.

For graphics rendering and modern API support, the AMD Radeon R7 M445 is the better bet. Its dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 memory eliminates the dependency on system memory, and its higher pixel rate is a clear win for fill-rate-bound workloads. It also supports more recent API versions, which is crucial for compatibility with newer games and applications. The data shows it is a strong rival to the Intel UHD Graphics P630, sitting just 0.2% behind, while beating the NVIDIA GeForce 840M and GeForce 930A by small margins.

The two GPUs are close in overall performance, with the Intel part winning the only direct benchmark. The AMD part counters with a more robust feature set and dedicated memory, but its lower compute score and 31st percentile ranking versus Intel’s 33rd percentile mean it is the slightly weaker overall performer. Users who prioritize compute workloads should choose the Intel Iris Pro P6300. Users who prioritize rendering, modern API support, or consistent memory bandwidth should choose the AMD Radeon R7 M445. Given the data, the Intel part is the safer recommendation for general-purpose performance, while the AMD part is the better specialized choice for graphics-centric tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 scores 5712, which is 6.6% higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M445’s score of 5358.

Q: How does the Intel Iris Pro P6300 compare to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX?

A: The Intel part scores 5712, which is 0.1% lower than the GTX 670MX’s average score of 5721.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the AMD Radeon R7 M445?

A: It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 has 384 shading units, while the AMD Radeon R7 M445 has 320 shading units.

Q: What is the pixel rate difference between the two GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M445 achieves 7.360 GPixel/s, while the Intel Iris Pro P6300 achieves 4.800 GPixel/s.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of Vulkan?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M445 supports Vulkan 1.2.170, whereas the Intel Iris Pro P6300 supports Vulkan 1.0.