AMD Radeon R9 M375X vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M375X records an average benchmark score of 8325, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 averages 7170. The AMD part sits 43rd percentile among all GPUs, the Intel part 39th.

Q: How do the two compare in OpenCL performance?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, Intel wins with a score of 9082 versus AMD’s 8273, a margin of 8.9 percent. This is Intel’s strongest result in the head-to-head data.

Q: What about Vulkan performance?

A: AMD dominates Vulkan, scoring 8377 against Intel’s 5258, a delta of 59.3 percent. This is the largest performance gap recorded between the two.

Q: Which GPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M375X boosts to 1015 MHz, whereas the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 boosts to 1000 MHz. The AMD base clock is also higher at 925 MHz versus 350 MHz.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12, but at different feature levels. AMD supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Intel also offers Vulkan 1.3 versus AMD’s Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: What memory type does each GPU use?

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.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD’s Radeon R9 M375X is built on the Tropo chip using the GCN 1.0 architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 1,500 million transistors into a 123 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.2 million per square millimeter. Intel’s Iris Pro Graphics P580 uses the Skylake GT4e chip with Generation 9.0 architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm+ process. The Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size in the database.

Core configurations differ significantly. AMD fields 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation pipelines. Intel counters with 576 shading units, but a much higher 72 TMUs and only 9 ROPs. This imbalance explains why Intel reaches a texture rate of 72.00 GTexel/s versus AMD’s 40.60 GTexel/s, while AMD’s pixel rate of 16.24 GPixel/s more than doubles Intel’s 9.000 GPixel/s.

Compute throughput tells a similar story. AMD delivers 1,299.2 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, slightly ahead of Intel’s 1,152.0 GFLOPS. Intel does offer FP16 capability at 2.304 TFLOPS (2:1), a feature AMD does not list. Clock behavior also diverges: AMD runs at a 925 MHz base and 1015 MHz boost, while Intel idles at 350 MHz base and reaches only 1000 MHz boost.

Memory architecture is another clear split. AMD uses dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 with a 128-bit bus and 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. Intel relies entirely on system shared memory, making its bandwidth system dependent. This means AMD has predictable, dedicated memory performance, while Intel’s performance varies with the host system’s memory configuration.

The bus interface also differs: AMD uses PCIe 3.0 x16, a discrete card connection, while Intel uses a Ring Bus, reflecting its integrated position. Intel’s slot width is listed as IGP, and its display outputs are motherboard dependent. AMD’s TDP is not listed, but Intel’s is 15 W, typical for an integrated part.

The Verdict

The data points to a split decision based on workload. For OpenCL-centric tasks, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is the stronger choice, scoring 9082 versus AMD’s 8273, a 8.9 percent advantage. This aligns with Intel’s higher texture rate and FP16 support, which can benefit certain compute workloads.

However, for Vulkan-based applications, the AMD Radeon R9 M375X is decisively ahead. Its 8377 score versus Intel’s 5258 represents a 59.3 percent lead. If you are running Vulkan games or compute, AMD is the clear pick.

The average benchmark score favors AMD overall: 8325 versus 7170, a difference of roughly 16 percent. AMD also sits higher in the percentile ranking at 43rd versus Intel’s 39th. Builders prioritizing consistent performance across both APIs should lean AMD. Those who know their workload is OpenCL-heavy and system memory is fast may favor Intel.

For legacy applications or DirectX 11_1 titles, AMD’s architecture is proven. For DirectX 12_1 feature levels, Intel has the edge in API support. The choice hinges on your specific software stack, not on raw specifications alone.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every core specification. AMD’s process node is 28 nm from TSMC, while Intel uses 14 nm+ from its own foundry. AMD has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die; Intel lists no transistor count or die size. AMD’s transistor density is 12.2M per mm²; Intel has no listed density.

Clock speeds diverge sharply. AMD’s base clock is 925 MHz and boost is 1015 MHz. Intel’s base is 350 MHz and boost is 1000 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: AMD uses 1125 MHz with 4.5 Gbps effective, while Intel uses system shared memory with no dedicated clock.

Memory capacity and type are different. AMD has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s. Intel uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. The bus width for Intel is listed as system shared.

Core counts vary. AMD has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Intel has 576 shading units, 72 TMUs, and 9 ROPs. Pixel rates are 16.24 GPixel/s for AMD and 9.000 GPixel/s for Intel. Texture rates are 40.60 GTexel/s for AMD and 72.00 GTexel/s for Intel.

FP32 performance is 1,299.2 GFLOPS for AMD and 1,152.0 GFLOPS for Intel. Intel adds FP16 at 2.304 TFLOPS (2:1); AMD lists no FP16 figure. TDP is absent for AMD but 15 W for Intel. Slot width is not listed for AMD but is IGP for Intel. Bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for AMD and Ring Bus for Intel.

API support differs in DirectX and Vulkan versions. AMD supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6. Release dates differ: AMD launched May 4, 2015, while Intel launched August 31, 2015. Both are end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows one win each. In Geekbench OpenCL, Intel wins with 9082 versus AMD’s 8273, a delta of 8.9 percent in Intel’s favor. This is Intel’s only benchmark victory, but it is substantial enough to matter for OpenCL-focused users.

In Geekbench Vulkan, AMD wins decisively with 8377 versus Intel’s 5258, a delta of 59.3 percent. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison. AMD’s Vulkan score is actually higher than its OpenCL score, while Intel’s Vulkan score is dramatically lower than its OpenCL result.

The average benchmark scores reflect these extremes. AMD’s average of 8325 is close to both its individual scores, indicating consistent performance across APIs. Intel’s average of 7170 is pulled down heavily by its weak Vulkan showing, sitting between its 9082 OpenCL and 5258 Vulkan results.

When compared to nearest rivals, AMD’s average of 8325 is within 1.6 percent of the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (8458) and 1.3 percent of the AMD Radeon 880M (8436). It is essentially tied with the NVIDIA Quadro K1200 at 8265, just 0.7 percent apart, and trails the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX at 8427 by 1.2 percent.

Intel’s average of 7170 is exactly matched by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE at 7171, a 0 percent delta. It is 0.2 percent ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7157) and 0.5 percent behind the AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile (7203). The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (7222) sits 0.7 percent above Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R9 M375X wins in Vulkan workloads by a wide margin. Its 8377 Vulkan score is 59.3 percent ahead of Intel’s, making it the obvious choice for Vulkan-based games and compute. AMD also wins on raw pixel throughput, delivering 16.24 GPixel/s versus Intel’s 9.000 GPixel/s, which benefits fill-rate-bound scenarios.

AMD’s average benchmark score of 8325 is higher than Intel’s 7170, and its 43rd percentile ranking beats Intel’s 39th. For users who want consistent performance across both OpenCL and Vulkan, AMD’s narrower spread between its two scores (8273 to 8377) versus Intel’s wide gap (9082 to 5258) suggests more predictable behavior.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 wins in OpenCL, scoring 9082 versus 8273, an 8.9 percent advantage. This makes Intel the pick for OpenCL-heavy applications like certain encoding, image processing, or scientific workloads. Intel also has a much higher texture rate at 72.00 GTexel/s versus AMD’s 40.60 GTexel/s, which benefits texture-heavy tasks.

Intel’s DirectX 12 (12_1) support is a higher feature level than AMD’s DirectX 12 (11_1), and its Vulkan 1.3 is newer than AMD’s 1.2.170. For API version purists, Intel has the edge. Intel’s FP16 capability at 2.304 TFLOPS also opens compute paths AMD lacks.

The 15 W TDP for Intel, while AMD lists none, suggests Intel is far more power-efficient, which matters for laptops or compact systems. AMD’s dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth versus Intel’s system shared memory means AMD wins in scenarios where memory bandwidth is critical and the host system memory is slow.

In practical terms, pick AMD for Vulkan gaming, dedicated memory, and higher pixel throughput. Pick Intel for OpenCL compute, texture-heavy workloads, lower power draw, and newer API feature levels.