Intel HD Graphics 630 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB Comparison

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB and Intel HD Graphics 630 occupy opposite ends of the GPU spectrum, one a discrete flagship-class board, the other an integrated processor graphics solution. The recorded data shows a massive performance chasm, with the RTX 3080 12 GB achieving an average benchmark score of 4791 versus 4075 for the Intel HD Graphics 630. However, each part has a clear purpose, and this analysis breaks down where each one wins, the architectural differences, and the benchmark implications.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB wins in every measurable compute and rendering scenario. Its single recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, scores 4791, placing it in the 28th percentile of all GPUs. The Intel HD Graphics 630, by contrast, has no recorded DirectX 12 gaming benchmark; its scores come from Geekbench compute tests (Metal: 5099, OpenCL: 3587, Vulkan: 3540), averaging 4075 and placing it in the 24th percentile. The RTX 3080 12 GB is built for high-resolution gaming, ray tracing, and content creation, while the HD 630 is designed for basic desktop tasks, video playback, and light 2D workloads.

Where the Intel part "wins" is in system integration and power efficiency. It is an IGP with a 15 W TDP, no dedicated power connectors, and no add-in card footprint. For a low-power office PC or HTPC, the HD 630 provides display output without any discrete hardware. The RTX 3080 12 GB, meanwhile, requires a 350 W TDP, a 750 W suggested PSU, a dual-slot cooler, and a 1x 12-pin power connector. The data shows the RTX 3080 12 GB is end-of-life, as is the HD 630, but neither part is aimed at the same buyer.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is fundamental. The RTX 3080 12 GB uses NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture on the GA102 chip, built on Samsung’s 8 nm process. It packs 28,300 million transistors on a 628 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 45.1 million per mm². The Intel HD Graphics 630 uses Intel’s Generation 9.5 architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake GT2 chip, on Intel’s 14 nm++ process. Intel does not list transistor count or die size for this part, so direct density comparisons are impossible, but the process node difference alone (8 nm versus 14 nm++) signals a generational gulf.

The RTX 3080 12 GB has 8,960 shading units, 280 texture mapping units, 96 ROPs, 70 RT cores, and 280 tensor cores. The HD 630 has 192 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 3 ROPs, with no RT or tensor cores. Clock speeds differ: the RTX 3080 12 GB runs at a 1260 MHz base and 1710 MHz boost, while the HD 630 runs at a 350 MHz base and 1000 MHz boost. Memory is another chasm: the RTX 3080 12 GB has 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus, delivering 912.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the HD 630 uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

The RTX 3080 12 GB supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the HD 630 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The RTX 3080 12 GB also has dedicated ray tracing and tensor hardware, which the HD 630 lacks entirely. The bus interface differs too: PCIe 4.0 x16 for the NVIDIA part versus a Ring Bus for the Intel part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark list is empty, meaning there are no direct comparison tests where both parts ran the same workload. Instead, the database provides separate benchmark suites. The RTX 3080 12 GB’s only recorded test is 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, scoring 4791. The HD 630’s tests are Geekbench Metal (5099), OpenCL (3587), and Vulkan (3540). These tests are not directly comparable, but the average scores give a rough indication: 4791 versus 4075, a gap of 716 points, or about 17.6% higher for the RTX 3080 12 GB.

Looking at nearest rivals provides context. The RTX 3080 12 GB’s closest competitor in the database is the AMD Radeon R5 M255, which averages 4788, a delta of just 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA part. The R5 M335 is 0.8% slower (4752), while the GeForce 940MX is 1.1% faster (4844) and the GTX 560M is 1.3% faster (4855). These are all low-end mobile or entry-level discrete GPUs, which underscores that the RTX 3080 12 GB’s 4791 score in this particular test places it in a strange cohort, likely due to the specific benchmark’s scaling.

For the HD 630, its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB (avg 4093, delta -0.4%, meaning the HD 630 is 0.4% slower), the GeForce GT 755M (4033, delta 1%, so the HD 630 is 1% faster), the FirePro M4150 (4013, delta 1.5%), and the Quadro K2100M (4151, delta -1.8%). These are all older or low-tier discrete GPUs, and the HD 630’s scores sit right among them, showing that a 15 W IGP can match a decade-old entry-level discrete card in compute tests.

The biggest wins for the RTX 3080 12 GB come from raw throughput: its pixel rate is 164.2 GPixel/s versus 3.000 GPixel/s for the HD 630, and its texture rate is 478.8 GTexel/s versus 24.00 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 30.64 TFLOPS versus 384.0 GFLOPS. Those are not close numbers. The RTX 3080 12 GB also handles FP16 at 30.64 TFLOPS (1:1), while the HD 630 does 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1), meaning the NVIDIA part is about 40 times faster in FP16.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB averages 4791, while the Intel HD Graphics 630 averages 4075, a difference of 716 points.

Q: Does the Intel HD Graphics 630 support ray tracing?

A: No, the HD 630 has no RT cores. The RTX 3080 12 GB has 70 RT cores, which provide dedicated ray tracing hardware.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RTX 3080 12 GB delivers 912.4 GB/s via 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus. The HD 630 uses system shared memory, with bandwidth listed as system dependent.

Q: How do the TDPs compare?

A: The RTX 3080 12 GB has a 350 W TDP and requires a 750 W suggested PSU, while the HD 630 has a 15 W TDP and is an integrated part with no power connectors.

Q: Which API support differs?

A: The RTX 3080 12 GB supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the HD 630 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: Are both products still in production?

A: No, both are listed as end-of-life. The RTX 3080 12 GB released on 2022-01-10, and the HD 630 released on 2016-08-29.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB | Intel HD Graphics 630 |

|----------------|-------------------------------|------------------------|

| Architecture | Ampere | Generation 9.5 |

| Process Node | 8 nm (Samsung) | 14 nm++ (Intel) |

| Transistors | 28,300 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 628 mm² | Not listed |

| Transistor Density | 45.1M / mm² | Not listed |

| Base Clock | 1260 MHz | 350 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1710 MHz | 1000 MHz |

| Memory Size | 12 GB GDDR6X | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 912.4 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 8,960 | 192 |

| TMUs | 280 | 24 |

| ROPs | 96 | 3 |

| RT Cores | 70 | None |

| Tensor Cores | 280 | None |

| Pixel Rate | 164.2 GPixel/s | 3.000 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 478.8 GTexel/s | 24.00 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 30.64 TFLOPS | 384.0 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 30.64 TFLOPS (1:1) | 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 350 W | 15 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 750 W | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | Ring Bus |

| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Motherboard Dependent |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Dimensions | 285 mm x 112 mm x 40 mm | Not listed |

| Launch MSRP | 799 USD | None |

The specification table shows every field where the two parts differ, which is nearly all of them. The RTX 3080 12 GB is a discrete, high-power, high-performance card with dedicated ray tracing and tensor hardware, while the HD 630 is a low-power integrated solution with no dedicated memory. The data confirms that these are not competitors; they serve entirely different system classes. The RTX 3080 12 GB’s 30.64 TFLOPS FP32 output is roughly 80 times the HD 630’s 384.0 GFLOPS, and its pixel rate is over 50 times higher. For any user needing 3D performance, the RTX 3080 12 GB is the only choice between the two, but for a silent, low-power desktop, the HD 630 has no discrete requirements at all.