Intel HD Graphics P4600 vs Intel UHD Graphics 710 Comparison

Intel UHD Graphics 710 and Intel HD Graphics P4600 are both end-of-life integrated graphics solutions from Intel, but they target completely different eras and platforms. The UHD 710, part of the Alder Lake generation, is a modern entry-level IGP, while the P4600 is a workstation-oriented Haswell part from 2013. The benchmark data shows a narrow overall victory for the newer UHD 710, but the architecture and specification sheets reveal that each chip has distinct strengths that matter for specific use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 takes the sole head-to-head benchmark victory, winning the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 3496 against the P4600's 3389, a 3.2% advantage. This win positions the UHD 710 slightly ahead in raw compute workloads that utilize OpenCL, such as general-purpose GPU computing tasks and some productivity accelerations. Its higher boost clock of 1300 MHz, compared to the P4600's 1200 MHz, contributes to this edge, along with its more modern Generation 12.2 architecture which supports newer instruction sets and optimizations.

The Intel HD Graphics P4600, despite losing the only direct benchmark comparison, wins in specific architectural areas that the UHD 710 cannot match. It has 160 shading units versus 128 on the UHD 710, and its texture rate of 24.00 GTexel/s is over twice the UHD 710's 10.40 GTexel/s. This makes the P4600 theoretically superior for texture-heavy workloads such as basic 3D rendering or image filtering. However, the P4600's pixel rate is severely limited at 2.400 GPixel/s, compared to 10.40 GPixel/s on the UHD 710, meaning the newer chip will dominate fill-rate-dependent tasks like high-resolution display output or simple 2D compositing. The P4600 also holds an advantage in raw FP32 compute, delivering 384.0 GFLOPS versus 332.8 GFLOPS, suggesting it can handle certain floating-point calculations that are not purely OpenCL-optimized.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on completely different process nodes and microarchitectures. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses the Alder Lake chip with a 10 nm process, while the Intel HD Graphics P4600 uses the Haswell GT2 chip on a 22 nm process. This process node difference is significant: the 10 nm node allows for higher clock speeds and better power efficiency, which is reflected in the UHD 710's higher boost clock and its much lower 15 W TDP compared to the P4600's 84 W TDP. The UHD 710 belongs to Generation 12.2, while the P4600 is from the much older Generation 7.5, representing a jump of five architecture generations.

The memory subsystem is identical in concept—both use System Shared memory with a System Shared bus width and System Dependent bandwidth—but the API support differs substantially. The UHD 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it compatible with modern gaming APIs and a wider range of current software. The P4600 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.3, and Vulkan 1.0, which restricts its compatibility with newer titles that require higher API feature levels. Both use a Ring Bus interface and have motherboard-dependent display outputs, meaning the actual video connectors depend on the specific motherboard.

The shading unit composition also differs: the UHD 710 has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, while the P4600 has 160 shading units, 20 TMUs, but only 2 ROPs. This ROP count is a critical bottleneck for the P4600, as it severely limits pixel throughput despite having more texture units. The UHD 710 supports FP16 compute at 665.6 GFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, while the P4600 has no listed FP16 capability, making the newer chip more flexible for half-precision workloads common in machine learning inference and some media processing.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the Intel UHD Graphics 710 scores 3496 versus the Intel HD Graphics P4600's 3389. This 107-point difference translates to a 3.2% delta, a relatively small margin but consistent with the UHD 710's architectural advantages. In the broader context of all GPUs, the UHD 710 sits at the 22nd percentile, while the P4600 sits at the 20th percentile, meaning both are firmly in the entry-level segment. The UHD 710's average benchmark score of 3792 across all its tests (including Vulkan) is higher than its OpenCL score alone, indicating that it performs better in Vulkan workloads, where it scores 4088. This Vulkan score is not available for the P4600, which only has an OpenCL result.

Looking at their nearest rivals provides additional context. The UHD 710 is closest to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 (avg score 3823, delta -0.8%), the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 (avg score 3834, delta -1.1%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M (avg score 3740, delta 1.4%). The P4600 is closest to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 (avg score 3431, delta -1.2%), the NVIDIA Quadro 2000M (avg score 3434, delta -1.3%), and the Intel HD Graphics 530 (avg score 3332, delta 1.7%). These deltas show that the UHD 710 is competitive with low-end discrete GPUs from the GTX 600 series, while the P4600 matches older mid-range parts like the GT 740. The UHD 710's Vulkan score of 4088 places it ahead of its own OpenCL score, suggesting that modern API adoption gives it a performance boost that the P4600 cannot access.

Specification Differences

• Process Node: Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses 10 nm; Intel HD Graphics P4600 uses 22 nm.
• Base Clock: UHD 710 runs at 300 MHz; P4600 runs at 350 MHz.
• Boost Clock: UHD 710 boosts to 1300 MHz; P4600 boosts to 1200 MHz.
• Shading Units: UHD 710 has 128; P4600 has 160.
• Texture Mapping Units (TMUs): UHD 710 has 8; P4600 has 20.
• Render Output Units (ROPs): UHD 710 has 8; P4600 has 2.
• Pixel Rate: UHD 710 achieves 10.40 GPixel/s; P4600 achieves 2.400 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: UHD 710 achieves 10.40 GTexel/s; P4600 achieves 24.00 GTexel/s.
• FP32 Performance: UHD 710 delivers 332.8 GFLOPS; P4600 delivers 384.0 GFLOPS.
• FP16 Performance: UHD 710 offers 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1); P4600 has no FP16 capability.
• TDP: UHD 710 consumes 15 W; P4600 consumes 84 W.
• DirectX Support: UHD 710 supports 12 (12_1); P4600 supports 12 (11_1).
• OpenGL Support: UHD 710 supports 4.6; P4600 supports 4.3.
• Vulkan Support: UHD 710 supports 1.4; P4600 supports 1.0.
• Release Date: UHD 710 launched on 2022-01-03; P4600 launched on 2013-05-31.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the only benchmark where both have scores?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 3496, defeating the Intel HD Graphics P4600's 3389 by a 3.2% margin.

Q: Does the older P4600 have any compute advantages over the UHD 710?

A: Yes, the P4600 has a higher FP32 throughput at 384.0 GFLOPS compared to 332.8 GFLOPS, and it also has more shading units (160 vs 128) and a higher texture rate (24.00 GTexel/s vs 10.40 GTexel/s).

Q: Why does the UHD 710 have a much higher pixel rate despite fewer texture units?

A: The UHD 710 has 8 ROPs compared to the P4600's 2 ROPs, allowing it to achieve 10.40 GPixel/s versus 2.400 GPixel/s. The higher ROP count compensates for its lower TMU count.

Q: Which GPU supports newer software APIs?

A: The UHD 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the P4600 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.3, and Vulkan 1.0.

Q: How do these GPUs compare to their nearest rivals in average score?

A: The UHD 710 is within 1.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 and MX110, while the P4600 is within 1.3% of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 and Quadro 2000M. Both sit below the 25th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between the two?

A: The UHD 710 has a 15 W TDP, while the P4600 has an 84 W TDP. This makes the UHD 710 significantly more power-efficient, especially considering its higher boost clock.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but nuanced recommendation. For users building a modern system with an Alder Lake processor, the Intel UHD Graphics 710 is the obvious choice due to its superior API support, much higher pixel rate, lower power consumption, and better benchmark performance. It wins the only head-to-head comparison, offers Vulkan 1.4 support for newer applications, and its 10.40 GPixel/s pixel rate is essential for driving modern displays and basic GUI acceleration smoothly. Its 15 W TDP also makes it far more palatable for compact or power-conscious builds.

The Intel HD Graphics P4600 should only be considered by those who already own a Haswell workstation platform and need its specific characteristics. Its higher FP32 throughput and texture rate mean it can handle certain compute or texture-heavy tasks that the UHD 710 would struggle with, though its 2 ROPs will bottleneck any pixel-bound workload. The P4600's 84 W TDP and lack of modern API support make it a poor choice for new builds, but for legacy systems where the processor is already in place, it remains a functional option. Ultimately, the UHD 710 is the better all-rounder, while the P4600 is a specialized part for a bygone era.