Intel HD Graphics 630 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel HD Graphics 630 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is defined by a split across three distinct API tests. The Intel HD Graphics 630 wins two of the three head-to-head tests, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M takes the remaining one by a substantial margin. The overall average benchmark score tells a tight story: the Intel part averages 4075, while the NVIDIA part averages 3953, a difference of roughly 3% in favor of Intel. This narrow average gap, however, masks the wide variance in individual test results.

The most dramatic divergence appears in the Geekbench Metal test. Here, the Intel HD Graphics 630 scores 5099 against the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M's 2777. That is a delta of 83.6% in Intel's favor, making it the single largest performance gap in either direction. The Intel part's Metal score is more than 80% higher, which is an enormous margin for any hardware comparison. This result suggests that in Metal-accelerated workloads, the Intel integrated solution is operating in a different performance class entirely than the older NVIDIA discrete GPU.

The Geekbench OpenCL test shows a near dead heat. Intel HD Graphics 630 scores 3587, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 3580. The delta is a mere 0.2% in favor of Intel. This is effectively a statistical tie, indicating that raw compute throughput in OpenCL is nearly identical between these two parts. For any application using OpenCL, the choice between these two GPUs would come down to factors other than raw performance, since benchmark results indicate parity.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M's counterpunch comes in the Geekbench Vulkan test. It scores 5502 against Intel's 3540, a delta of -35.7% from Intel's perspective, meaning NVIDIA leads by roughly 55% in relative terms. This is a significant victory for the Kepler-based part, showing that in Vulkan workloads, the discrete GPU has a clear advantage. The Vulkan result is the only test where NVIDIA wins, but it wins by a wide enough margin to keep the overall average competitive.

Looking at the percentile standings, both parts sit near the bottom of the GPU landscape. The Intel HD Graphics 630 is at the 24th percentile among all GPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M sits at the 23rd percentile. These are adjacent percentile ranks, reinforcing the notion that these are closely matched parts overall, despite their divergent API-specific results. The nearest rivals for each part further contextualize their standing. The Intel HD Graphics 630's closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB, with an average score of 4093, a delta of -0.4% from Intel's 4075. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon R5 M420 at 3956, a delta of -0.1%. Both parts sit in a dense cluster of GPUs scoring between roughly 3900 and 4150, where tiny percentage differences separate one product from the next.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is defined by API rather than by application type. The Intel HD Graphics 630 wins decisively in Metal-based workloads. Its Metal score of 5099 is not just a win over the GT 745M; it is a score that places it above several of its nearest rivals in the aggregate. For example, the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has an average score of 4151, which is 1.8% higher than Intel's average, but the Intel part's Metal score of 5099 far exceeds that average, suggesting Metal-specific strength. The Intel part also edges out a win in OpenCL, albeit by a razor-thin 0.2%, making it the safer choice for compute tasks that rely on OpenCL, though the practical difference is negligible.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M wins clearly in Vulkan-centric workloads. Its Vulkan score of 5502 is the highest single test score between the two parts, and it outperforms Intel by more than half in that test. For users running Vulkan-based games or applications, the GT 745M is the stronger option. Additionally, the GT 745M has a dedicated memory configuration: 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This contrasts with the Intel part's system-shared memory, which has a bandwidth described as "System Dependent." In memory-heavy scenarios, the discrete GDDR5 allocation gives NVIDIA an architectural advantage, even if the benchmark scores do not always reflect it.

For raw compute throughput, the numbers are close. The Intel HD Graphics 630 has an FP32 rate of 384.0 GFLOPS, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has 421.6 GFLOPS. The NVIDIA part is about 10% higher in theoretical FP32, which shows up in the Vulkan test but not in OpenCL. The Intel part counters with higher texture rate: 24.00 GTexel/s versus 17.57 GTexel/s for NVIDIA. Pixel rate favors NVIDIA at 4.392 GPixel/s versus Intel's 3.000 GPixel/s. These theoretical rates suggest that Intel has an edge in texturing throughput while NVIDIA has an edge in pixel fill and raw FP32 compute, yet the benchmark results show that API optimization plays a larger role than these raw specs.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision. For users whose workloads are dominated by Metal, the Intel HD Graphics 630 is the unequivocal choice. Its 83.6% lead in the Metal benchmark is overwhelming, and its average benchmark score of 4075 is slightly higher than the GT 745M's 3953. The Intel part also holds a marginal OpenCL advantage, making it the more consistent performer across two of the three tested APIs. Its 24th percentile standing versus the GT 745M's 23rd percentile further reinforces its slight edge in aggregate performance.

For users who prioritize Vulkan performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is the better hardware. Its Vulkan score of 5502 is the standout result in this comparison, and its 55% relative lead over Intel in that test is substantial. The GT 745M also offers dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a structural advantage over Intel's system-shared memory. Users running Vulkan-based titles or applications should expect noticeably better frame rates and responsiveness on the NVIDIA part.

The overall averages suggest these are nearly equivalent GPUs. The Intel HD Graphics 630 edges ahead with a 3% higher average score, but the NVIDIA part is not far behind. Neither part is positioned well in the broader GPU market, with both sitting in the bottom quartile of all GPUs. The choice ultimately depends on the API in use. A user locked into Metal environments—such as macOS ecosystems—should pick the Intel HD Graphics 630. A user running Vulkan-heavy software should pick the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M. For OpenCL-only workloads, the choice is essentially arbitrary, as the 0.2% difference is within measurement noise.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel HD Graphics 630 has an average benchmark score of 4075, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has an average score of 3953, giving Intel a lead of approximately 3%.

Q: How large is the difference in the Metal benchmark?

A: The Intel HD Graphics 630 scores 5099 in Geekbench Metal, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 2777. This represents an 83.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: In which benchmark does the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M win?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M wins in the Geekbench Vulkan test, scoring 5502 against Intel's 3540, a delta of -35.7% from Intel's perspective.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each GPU?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel HD Graphics 630 uses system-shared memory with a bus width and size described as "System Shared" and bandwidth that is "System Dependent."

Q: How do their percentile rankings compare?

A: The Intel HD Graphics 630 is at the 24th percentile among all GPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is at the 23rd percentile, placing them in adjacent positions near the bottom of the performance distribution.

Q: What are the theoretical FP32 compute rates?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has an FP32 rate of 421.6 GFLOPS, which is higher than the Intel HD Graphics 630's 384.0 GFLOPS.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark. The Intel HD Graphics 630 is built on the Kaby Lake GT2 chip using the Generation 9.5 architecture, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm++ process node. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M uses the GK107 chip with the Kepler architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The process node difference is significant: Intel's 14 nm++ is a much smaller manufacturing process than TSMC's 28 nm, which affects power efficiency and transistor density. The Intel part has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA part has a TDP of 45 W, meaning Intel delivers comparable performance at one-third the power envelope.

The NVIDIA part has a known transistor count of 1,270 million on a die size of 118 mm², yielding a transistor density of 10.8M per mm². The Intel part does not disclose its transistor count or die size in the available data. The Intel architecture supports FP16 at 768.0 GFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio to FP32, while the NVIDIA part has no listed FP16 capability. Both parts support DirectX 12, but with different feature levels: Intel supports 12_1, while NVIDIA supports 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6. For Vulkan, Intel supports version 1.3, while NVIDIA supports 1.2.175, giving Intel a newer API version.

The memory architecture is fundamentally different. The Intel HD Graphics 630 relies entirely on system-shared memory, with its memory type, bus width, and size all listed as "System Shared." The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The bus interface also differs: Intel uses a Ring Bus, while NVIDIA uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The display outputs are motherboard dependent for Intel and portable device dependent for NVIDIA, reflecting their target platforms.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification field. The process node is 14 nm++ for Intel versus 28 nm for NVIDIA. The Intel part has a base clock of 350 MHz and a boost clock of 1000 MHz, while the NVIDIA part has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective). The memory configuration differs completely: Intel has system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, while NVIDIA has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth.

The compute unit counts differ substantially. The Intel HD Graphics 630 has 192 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 3 ROPs. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Despite having half the shading units, Intel achieves a higher texture rate of 24.00 GTexel/s versus NVIDIA's 17.57 GTexel/s. The pixel rate favors NVIDIA at 4.392 GPixel/s versus Intel's 3.000 GPixel/s. The FP32 rates are 384.0 GFLOPS for Intel and 421.6 GFLOPS for NVIDIA, while FP16 is only supported by Intel at 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1).

The TDP is another major differentiator: 15 W for Intel versus 45 W for NVIDIA. Both are listed as IGP slot width, meaning neither is a discrete add-in card. The bus interface is Ring Bus for Intel and PCIe 3.0 x16 for NVIDIA. The API support differs in DirectX feature level (12_1 for Intel, 11_0 for NVIDIA) and Vulkan version (1.3 for Intel, 1.2.175 for NVIDIA). The release dates are separated by over three years: Intel launched on 2016-08-29, while NVIDIA launched on 2013-03-31. The NVIDIA part has a predecessor in the GeForce 600M and a successor in the GeForce 800M, while the Intel part has no listed predecessor or successor. Both are end-of-life products.