Intel HD Graphics P530 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M and Intel HD Graphics P530 represent two very different approaches to mobile graphics: a dedicated discrete GPU from the Fermi 2.0 era versus an integrated processor graphics unit from Intel’s Generation 9.0 architecture. The benchmark data shows a narrow but definitive performance gap, with the GTX 560M winning the only shared head-to-head test by a meaningful margin, yet the P530 counters with superior API support and dramatically lower power consumption. The choice between them is not about raw speed alone, but about the context of the system they are meant to serve.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M takes the clear victory in raw compute performance. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 560M scores 4855, which is 6.7% higher than the Intel HD Graphics P530’s score of 4549. This win is consistent with its hardware profile: the GTX 560M delivers 595.2 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, 60.00 GB/s of dedicated GDDR5 memory bandwidth over a 192-bit bus, and a pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s. The P530, by contrast, maxes out at 384.0 GFLOPS FP32, relies on system shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent," and manages only 3.000 GPixel/s. For any workload that stresses shader throughput, texture fill, or memory bandwidth, the GTX 560M is the decisive performer. Its 24.80 GTexel/s texture rate versus 16.00 GTexel/s on the P530 further solidifies this advantage.

The Intel HD Graphics P530, however, wins on architectural modernity and feature support. It is built on a 14 nm+ process compared to the GTX 560M’s 40 nm node, which explains its vastly lower 15 W TDP against the GTX 560M’s 75 W. The P530 also supports DirectX 12 (12_1), a full step above the GTX 560M’s DirectX 12 (11_0) capability, and it includes Vulkan 1.3 support—a feature entirely absent from the GTX 560M’s specification sheet. The P530 also offers FP16 compute at 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1), which the GTX 560M does not provide at all. For applications that leverage modern graphics APIs or mixed-precision compute, the P530 is the more future-proof option, despite its lower absolute peak throughput.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental gap between these two GPUs lies in their design philosophies. The GTX 560M is a discrete GPU based on the GF116 chip, part of NVIDIA’s Fermi 2.0 architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 40 nm process. It packs 1,170 million transistors into a 238 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9M / mm². The chip is configured with 192 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. Memory is a dedicated 1536 MB of GDDR5 running at 2.5 Gbps effective, providing 60.00 GB/s of bandwidth over a 192-bit bus. The GTX 560M is an MXM Module with a bus interface of MXM-B (3.0), meaning it is a replaceable, high-power component designed for gaming laptops. Its pixel rate is 6.200 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 24.80 GTexel/s.

The Intel HD Graphics P530 is a completely different beast. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) built into the Skylake GT2 chip, part of Intel’s Generation 9.0 architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm+ process. The die size is 123 mm², but Intel does not disclose transistor count or density in the data. It features the same number of shading units as the GTX 560M—192—but only 16 TMUs and a mere 3 ROPs. Clock speeds are 350 MHz base and 1000 MHz boost, with no dedicated memory; instead, it uses "System Shared" memory with a "System Dependent" bandwidth figure. The P530’s pixel rate is 3.000 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 16.00 GTexel/s. It connects via a Ring Bus interface and is physically an IGP, meaning it shares power and thermal budgets with the CPU. The TDP of 15 W is a fraction of the GTX 560M’s 75 W. The P530 also supports FP16 at 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1), a feature the Fermi-based GTX 560M lacks entirely.

The Verdict

The data yields a straightforward verdict for distinct use cases. For any scenario where compute performance is the primary metric—OpenCL workloads, shader-heavy rendering, or any task that benefits from high memory bandwidth—the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is the superior choice. Its 6.7% lead in the head-to-head Geekbench OpenCL test is backed by a 55% advantage in FP32 GFLOPS (595.2 versus 384.0), a 100% advantage in texture rate (24.80 versus 16.00 GTexel/s), and a 107% advantage in pixel rate (6.200 versus 3.000 GPixel/s). The dedicated 60.00 GB/s memory bandwidth is a structural advantage that the P530 cannot overcome with its system-shared memory.

However, the Intel HD Graphics P530 is the correct pick for a system where power efficiency, modern API support, and integration are paramount. The 15 W TDP versus 75 W TDP is a five-fold difference, making the P530 viable in ultraportable and low-power designs where the GTX 560M would be impossible to cool or power. The P530’s support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3 means it can run modern titles and applications that the GTX 560M, with its DirectX 12 (11_0) and no Vulkan support, cannot fully utilize. The P530 also offers FP16 compute at 768.0 GFLOPS, which the GTX 560M lacks. For a user prioritizing battery life and compatibility with contemporary software over peak framerates, the P530 is the rational choice. The GTX 560M is a relic of 2011 (release date 2011-05-29) that wins on legacy raw power; the P530, released in 2015 (2015-08-31), wins on efficiency and capability.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is faster. It scores 4855 in Geekbench OpenCL, compared to 4549 for the Intel HD Graphics P530, a 6.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel HD Graphics P530 support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes. The P530 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the GTX 560M only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M has a TDP of 75 W, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 has a TDP of 15 W. This is a five-fold difference in power draw.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. The P530 uses "System Shared" memory with no dedicated amount, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent."

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The GTX 560M has a pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s, which is more than double the P530’s 3.000 GPixel/s.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: No. Both are listed as "End-of-life" production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and it tells a clear story. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 scores 4549. The delta is 6.7%, favoring the GTX 560M. This is a notable margin, but context matters. The GTX 560M’s score of 4855 places it in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, barely above the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4844, +0.2%) and just below the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX (4867, -0.2%). The P530’s score of 4549 places it in the 26th percentile, nearly matching the AMD Radeon RX 560 (4569, -0.2%) and trailing the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M (4621, -1.3%).

In terms of raw architectural throughput, the GTX 560M’s wins are decisive. Its FP32 compute of 595.2 GFLOPS is 55% higher than the P530’s 384.0 GFLOPS. The texture rate of 24.80 GTexel/s is 55% higher than the P530’s 16.00 GTexel/s. The pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s is 107% higher than the P530’s 3.000 GPixel/s. The memory bandwidth of 60.00 GB/s (dedicated GDDR5) versus "System Dependent" shared memory is a structural mismatch that heavily favors the discrete GPU. Even the GTX 560M’s 192-bit bus width, while not a direct performance metric, underscores the bandwidth advantage.

The P530 does have one benchmark result beyond OpenCL: a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4571. However, this test has no corresponding result for the GTX 560M, which lacks Vulkan support entirely. This is a qualitative advantage for the P530 in modern cross-platform graphics workloads, but it cannot be quantified against the GTX 560M. The P530’s FP16 capability of 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1) is double its FP32 rate, offering a specialized compute advantage that the GTX 560M does not possess. Still, the only head-to-head metric available shows the GTX 560M winning by 6.7%, and that is the decisive number for any performance comparison between these two.