AMD Radeon R7 M460 vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 Comparison

Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 and AMD Radeon R7 M460 are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions, but they represent fundamentally different approaches to integrated versus discrete GPUs. The data shows a clear performance gap, yet the story is more nuanced than a simple score comparison, especially when considering the architectural philosophies behind each chip. The Intel part, a Skylake GT4e integrated processor, leverages a massive execution unit count and shared system memory, while the AMD Radeon R7 M460 is a dedicated 28nm part with its own VRAM. Benchmark results indicate that the Intel solution holds a decisive edge in raw compute, but the AMD card’s dedicated memory and different feature set might appeal to specific use cases. This analysis explores the head-to-head data, architectural differences, and specification gaps to determine which GPU is the better choice based strictly on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are lopsided. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 scores 9082, while the AMD Radeon R7 M460 scores 6612. This translates to a 37.4% delta, with Intel winning the sole head-to-head contest. To put that in perspective, that is not a marginal victory; it is a substantial leap in compute throughput. The Intel part’s score is closer to the performance of a dedicated desktop GPU from a previous generation, as evidenced by its nearest rivals.

Looking at the nearest rival data for the Intel P580, its average benchmark score of 7170 places it within 0.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (average score 7157) and 0.7% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (average score 7222). This is remarkable for an integrated GPU, as it suggests the P580 can trade blows with those older discrete cards. The AMD R7 M460, with an average score of 6612, is also competitive with its own set of rivals, sitting 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (6581) and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513). However, its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (6698), is 1.3% faster, indicating the M460 is at the lower end of its performance class.

The 37.4% delta in the head-to-head is the single most important number here. It shows that in a pure OpenCL compute workload, the Intel chip is in a different league. While the Geekbench OpenCL test is not a direct gaming benchmark, it is a strong indicator of general-purpose compute performance, which can translate to better performance in physics simulations, video encoding, and other GPU-accelerated tasks. The data does not include any gaming or DirectX benchmarks for a direct comparison, so this compute lead is the primary quantitative evidence of Intel’s superiority.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is the clear winner. It wins the only head-to-head test with a 37.4% margin, and its average benchmark score of 7170 is significantly higher than the AMD R7 M460’s 6612. The percentile rankings also favor Intel, with the P580 sitting at the 39th percentile of all GPUs, while the M460 sits at the 38th percentile. While a one-percentile difference seems small, the raw score gap is substantial.

The data suggests that users who prioritize raw compute performance, especially in OpenCL workloads, should choose the Intel P580. Its performance rivals that of much older dedicated GPUs like the GTX 970, making it a surprisingly capable integrated solution. The AMD R7 M460, while not a poor performer, is anchored to a lower performance tier. Its nearest rivals are older mobile parts like the HD 7730M and GTX 670M, indicating it is not in the same class as the Intel chip. For the majority of tasks that leverage GPU compute, the Intel part is the superior choice. The only reason to consider the AMD part would be if the system context (e.g., the CPU platform) is more important than the GPU, but from a pure GPU performance perspective, the data is unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on vastly different architectural philosophies. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is based on the "Skylake GT4e" chip, using Intel’s Generation 9.0 architecture. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) that connects to the rest of the system via a Ring Bus, meaning it shares system memory. In contrast, the AMD Radeon R7 M460 is a discrete part based on the "Meso" chip, using AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) 3.0 architecture. It connects via a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface and has its own dedicated memory.

The manufacturing process highlights a significant generational gap. The Intel chip is fabricated on a 14 nm+ process at Intel’s own foundry, while the AMD chip is on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process advantage allows Intel to pack a high number of execution units into a small power envelope. The AMD chip, on the other hand, has a larger die size of 125 mm² and contains 1,550 million transistors, resulting in a transistor density of 12.4M / mm². The Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not listed, but the process node difference is a key factor in its efficiency and performance.

In terms of compute resources, the Intel P580 is equipped with 576 shading units, 72 texture mapping units (TMUs), and only 9 raster output units (ROPs). The AMD M460 has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Intel part has a 50% advantage in shading units and a 3x advantage in TMUs, which explains its higher texture fill rate of 72.00 GTexel/s versus the AMD’s 24.58 GTexel/s. The pixel rates are closer, with Intel at 9.000 GPixel/s and AMD at 8.192 GPixel/s, due to the AMD part having a higher boost clock. The FP32 performance is also heavily in Intel’s favor at 1,152.0 GFLOPS versus 786.4 GFLOPS.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs show distinct differences in almost every category. The most glaring difference is memory. The Intel P580 uses "System Shared" memory, with a type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This means its performance is contingent on the system’s RAM speed and configuration. The AMD R7 M460, conversely, has a fixed 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing a dedicated bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s. This is a crucial difference for gaming, as dedicated VRAM is often more consistent than shared memory.

Clock speeds also differ. The Intel P580 has a base clock of 350 MHz and a boost clock of 1000 MHz. The AMD M460 has a higher base clock of 730 MHz and a boost clock of 1024 MHz. While the AMD part starts at a much higher frequency, the Intel part’s boost clock is only slightly lower, and its superior execution unit count more than compensates for the clock speed deficit. The memory clock for the AMD part is listed at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective), while the Intel part’s is system-dependent.

The feature set also varies. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The AMD part supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Intel part has a slightly higher DirectX feature level and a newer Vulkan version. The power dynamics are also different: the Intel P580 has a TDP of 15 W, while the AMD R7 M460’s TDP is not listed in the spec sheet. The Intel part’s slot width is listed as "IGP," indicating it is integrated, while the AMD part’s slot width is not specified.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 has a significantly higher average benchmark score of 7170, compared to the AMD Radeon R7 M460’s 6612.

Q: How much faster is the Intel P580 in the head-to-head Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The Intel P580 scores 9082 versus the AMD M460’s 6612, resulting in a 37.4% performance lead for Intel.

Q: What type of memory does the AMD R7 M460 use?

A: The AMD R7 M460 uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node for the Intel P580?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is built on Intel’s 14 nm+ process, whereas the AMD R7 M460 is built on a 28 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Does the AMD R7 M460 support Vulkan 1.3?

A: No, the data shows the AMD R7 M460 supports Vulkan version 1.2.170, while the Intel P580 supports Vulkan 1.3.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel P580 has 576 shading units, while the AMD R7 M460 has 384 shading units.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 wins in raw compute performance. The data shows it is 37.4% ahead of the AMD M460 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, and its average score is 8.4% higher. It also has a higher texture fill rate (72.00 GTexel/s vs 24.58 GTexel/s) and more shading units (576 vs 384). This makes it the clear choice for any workload that leverages general-purpose GPU compute, such as OpenCL-accelerated applications, video encoding, or light compute tasks. Its FP32 performance of 1,152.0 GFLOPS is also substantially higher. Furthermore, its 15 W TDP suggests it can deliver this performance in a highly power-efficient manner, which is critical for thin-and-light laptops.

The AMD Radeon R7 M460 wins in the category of dedicated memory. Its 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM on a 64-bit bus provides a fixed bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s, which is a stark contrast to the Intel part’s "System Dependent" memory. For gaming, this is a meaningful advantage, as it does not rely on system RAM and is less likely to suffer from bandwidth bottlenecks. The AMD part also has a higher base clock (730 MHz vs 350 MHz), which could offer more consistent performance in lightly-threaded tasks. However, the benchmark data does not show a single test where the AMD part wins, so its advantages are purely speculative based on its memory architecture. The Intel part’s lead in compute is so large that it likely overcomes any memory latency issues in most scenarios, but for users who specifically need a GPU with its own VRAM for compatibility or driver reasons, the AMD M460 is the only option presented.