Intel HD Graphics 630 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single recorded head-to-head comparison in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it delivers a decisive result. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4,855 points, while the Intel HD Graphics 630 scores 3,587 points. That is a 35.3% advantage for the NVIDIA part, a substantial margin that places the two chips in different performance tiers despite both carrying 192 shading units.

The GTX 560M's OpenCL score sits at the 28th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the HD Graphics 630 sits at the 24th percentile. These percentile figures are close, but the underlying average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The GTX 560M has an average benchmark score of 4,855 (its only recorded result), while the HD Graphics 630 averages 4,075 across three tests: 5,099 in Geekbench Metal, 3,587 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 3,540 in Geekbench Vulkan.

This split is revealing. The Intel part's Metal score of 5,099 exceeds the GTX 560M's OpenCL score of 4,855 by 244 points, roughly 5%. However, the Intel part's OpenCL and Vulkan scores are markedly lower, at 3,587 and 3,540 respectively. The NVIDIA GPU wins the head-to-head OpenCL matchup by a wide margin, but the Intel integrated graphics shows a surprising strength in the Metal API, which is Apple's graphics framework. This suggests the HD Graphics 630 has optimizations for specific API paths that do not translate to raw OpenCL compute performance.

In terms of nearest rivals, the GTX 560M's average score of 4,855 places it just 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4,844) and 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX (4,867). It also trails the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 by 0.8% (4,893) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB by 0.9% (4,901). The proximity of these scores, including a modern RTX card, indicates that the GTX 560M's compute capability remains competitive in synthetic workloads nearly a decade after its release.

The HD Graphics 630's average of 4,075 is similarly clustered. It sits 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB (4,093), 1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M (4,033), 1.5% ahead of the AMD FirePro M4150 (4,013), and 1.8% behind the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M (4,151). The tight deltas here, all within roughly 3 percentage points, indicate that the Intel integrated solution performs on par with entry-level discrete mobile GPUs from the same era.

The benchmark data shows a clear pattern: the GTX 560M excels in OpenCL compute workloads, while the HD Graphics 630 offers competitive or superior performance in specific API-bound tests. The Intel chip's Metal score is its standout result, but its OpenCL and Vulkan numbers drag the average down significantly. For users prioritizing OpenCL compute, the NVIDIA part is the unambiguous choice.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M has an average benchmark score of 4,855, while the Intel HD Graphics 630 averages 4,075. The GTX 560M leads by 780 points, or roughly 19%.

Q: How do the two compare in the Geekbench OpenCL test specifically?

A: The GTX 560M scores 4,855, and the HD Graphics 630 scores 3,587. The NVIDIA GPU wins by 35.3%, a significant margin in compute performance.

Q: Does the Intel HD Graphics 630 win any benchmark test?

A: Yes, in the Geekbench Metal test, the HD Graphics 630 scores 5,099, which is higher than the GTX 560M's OpenCL score of 4,855. However, this is a different API test, and the database records no direct head-to-head Metal comparison between the two.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each GPU?

A: The GTX 560M ranks in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, while the HD Graphics 630 ranks in the 24th percentile. Both are in the lower half of the database's performance distribution.

Q: How close is the GTX 560M to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 560M is 0.2% ahead of the GeForce 940MX (4,844) and 0.2% behind the Radeon R6 M255DX (4,867). It also trails the GTS 450 by 0.8% and the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB by 0.9%, showing it sits within a tight cluster of scores.

Q: What are the HD Graphics 630's strongest and weakest benchmark results?

A: Its strongest result is Geekbench Metal at 5,099, and its weakest is Geekbench Vulkan at 3,540. The OpenCL score of 3,587 falls between those two.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M uses the GF116 chip, built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, and is manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The Intel HD Graphics 630 uses the Kaby Lake GT2 chip, built on the Generation 9.5 architecture, and is manufactured on Intel's 14 nm++ process. This process difference is stark: 40 nm versus 14 nm++, representing more than two full process generations of advancement for the Intel part.

The transistor counts reflect the different integration strategies. The GTX 560M packs 1,170 million transistors into a 238 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9 million per square millimeter. The HD Graphics 630, being an integrated graphics processor (IGP), does not have separate transistor or die size data in the database, as it shares the CPU die. The Intel part's process advantage allows for significantly higher clock speeds relative to its power envelope.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The GTX 560M has no recorded base or boost clock, but its memory runs at 625 MHz, translating to 2.5 Gbps effective. The HD Graphics 630 has a base clock of 350 MHz and a boost clock of 1000 MHz, with system-shared memory. The Intel part's boost clock is nearly three times its base clock, indicating aggressive dynamic frequency scaling.

Memory configurations are entirely different. The GTX 560M features 1536 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 60.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD Graphics 630 uses system-shared memory, with the bus width and bandwidth listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent" respectively. This is the fundamental architectural divide: dedicated versus shared memory.

The compute resources show both similarities and differences. Both GPUs have 192 shading units. However, the GTX 560M has 32 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 24 render output units (ROPs), while the HD Graphics 630 has 24 TMUs and only 3 ROPs. This ROP disparity is significant, affecting pixel processing throughput. The pixel rate reflects this: the GTX 560M achieves 6.200 GPixel/s, while the HD Graphics 630 manages just 3.000 GPixel/s. Texture rates are closer, at 24.80 GTexel/s versus 24.00 GTexel/s.

Floating-point performance also diverges. The GTX 560M delivers 595.2 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the HD Graphics 630 delivers 384.0 GFLOPS. The Intel part does support FP16 at 768.0 GFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, a capability the GTX 560M lacks entirely.

API support reveals the generational gap. The GTX 560M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but has no Vulkan support. The HD Graphics 630 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The Intel part's Vulkan support is a notable feature absent from the older NVIDIA chip.

Power consumption is a major differentiator. The GTX 560M has a TDP of 75 W and uses an MXM module slot with no power connectors required. The HD Graphics 630 has a TDP of just 15 W and is an IGP with a Ring Bus interface. The 60 W difference in TDP is substantial, making the Intel part far more suitable for thin-and-light systems.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but situational verdict. For OpenCL compute workloads, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is the superior choice. Its 35.3% lead in the OpenCL head-to-head, combined with its higher average benchmark score (4,855 versus 4,075), establishes it as the more capable compute processor. The GTX 560M also dominates in pixel throughput, with 6.200 GPixel/s versus 3.000 GPixel/s, and in FP32 performance, with 595.2 GFLOPS versus 384.0 GFLOPS.

However, the Intel HD Graphics 630 cannot be dismissed outright. Its Geekbench Metal score of 5,099 outperforms the GTX 560M's best recorded result, and its 15 W TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient. The 14 nm++ process, Vulkan 1.3 support, and DirectX 12_1 feature level represent modern capabilities that the Fermi-based NVIDIA chip lacks.

Users who need raw compute performance in OpenCL applications should select the GTX 560M. Its dedicated 1536 MB GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 60.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is essential for memory-intensive workloads. The 192-bit memory bus, 32 TMUs, and 24 ROPs give it a structural advantage in traditional 3D rendering tasks.

Users who prioritize power efficiency, modern API support, or system integration should select the HD Graphics 630. Its 15 W TDP is one-fifth the GTX 560M's 75 W TDP, making it viable for ultraportable devices. The Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12_1 support ensure compatibility with contemporary software stacks.

The percentile rankings, 28th for NVIDIA and 24th for Intel, suggest that both are low-to-mid tier performers in the overall database. But the GTX 560M's higher raw scores and dedicated memory make it the better choice for compute-heavy tasks, while the HD Graphics 630's efficiency and API modernity make it the better choice for general-purpose integrated use.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The process node is a major divergence: the GTX 560M uses 40 nm at TSMC, while the HD Graphics 630 uses 14 nm++ at Intel. Transistor data exists only for the NVIDIA chip, with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, at a density of 4.9M per square millimeter.

Clock specifications are not directly comparable. The GTX 560M has no recorded base or boost clock, but its memory runs at 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective). The HD Graphics 630 has a 350 MHz base clock and a 1000 MHz boost clock, with system-shared memory.

Memory configurations are entirely different. The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 60.00 GB/s bandwidth. The HD Graphics 630 uses system-shared memory, with the type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent."

Both GPUs have 192 shading units, but the GTX 560M has 32 TMUs and 24 ROPs, while the HD Graphics 630 has 24 TMUs and 3 ROPs. Pixel rates are 6.200 GPixel/s versus 3.000 GPixel/s, and texture rates are 24.80 GTexel/s versus 24.00 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 595.2 GFLOPS versus 384.0 GFLOPS, with the Intel part adding FP16 at 768.0 GFLOPS.

Power and form factor differ sharply: the GTX 560M has a 75 W TDP and uses an MXM Module slot with no power connectors, while the HD Graphics 630 has a 15 W TDP and is an IGP with a Ring Bus interface. The bus interfaces are MXM-B (3.0) for NVIDIA and Ring Bus for Intel.

API support shows the GTX 560M with DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but no Vulkan. The HD Graphics 630 has DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. Display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent" for the NVIDIA chip and "Motherboard Dependent" for the Intel chip. The GTX 560M was released in 2011 and is end-of-life, while the HD Graphics 630 was released in 2016 and is also end-of-life.