Intel HD Graphics P530 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear, if not entirely uniform, picture of the performance relationship between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M and the Intel HD Graphics P530. Across the two benchmark tests available in the database, the NVIDIA part wins both, but the margin of victory tells a more nuanced story about the nature of the workloads involved.

In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 760M records a score of 5604 against the Intel HD Graphics P530's 4549. This represents a substantial 23.2% advantage for the NVIDIA solution. This is a significant gap, indicating that in compute-heavy, general-purpose GPU workloads that leverage OpenCL, the discrete NVIDIA graphics processor is in a different class entirely. The P530, an integrated solution, simply cannot match the raw computational throughput that the GTX 760M can bring to bear.

However, the picture shifts considerably when we look at the Vulkan API benchmark. Here, the GTX 760M scores 4868, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 scores 4571. The delta shrinks dramatically to just 6.5%. This is a much closer contest. While the NVIDIA GPU still comes out on top, the narrow margin suggests that in modern, low-level graphics APIs, the Intel integrated part is able to punch well above its weight. The efficiency of the Vulkan API, combined with the architectural improvements in Intel's Generation 9.0 design, allows the P530 to close much of the gap that exists in other workloads. The data implies that the performance difference is highly workload-dependent, with the largest advantage for the GTX 760M appearing in more traditional compute scenarios.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this hierarchy. The GTX 760M holds an average score of 5236, placing it in the 31st percentile of all GPUs. The Intel HD Graphics P530, with an average score of 4560, sits in the 26th percentile. While both are in the lower half of the performance spectrum, the GTX 760M's higher average and percentile rank confirm its overall superiority in the recorded metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M is the clear winner in raw compute performance. Its 23.2% lead in OpenCL demonstrates a decisive advantage in tasks that are heavily parallel and benefit from a dedicated GPU with its own memory and higher thermal budget. This makes it the preferred option for any application that offloads significant parallel processing to the GPU, such as video encoding, rendering, or data processing tasks that are not reliant on a specific graphics API.

The Intel HD Graphics P530, while losing both recorded benchmarks, shows its relative strength in the Vulkan test. Its 6.5% deficit in this metric is a much closer result than the OpenCL gap. This suggests that in gaming or other real-time graphics applications that use the Vulkan API, the P530 can deliver a surprisingly competitive experience, especially when considering its status as an integrated processor with a 15 W TDP. The data implies that for light gaming or less demanding graphical workloads, the P530 may be sufficient, and its performance is not as far behind as one might expect from a purely integrated solution.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M is a discrete, dedicated graphics processor built on the Kepler architecture. It uses a chip designated GK106S, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. This chip contains a substantial 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 11.5M per mm². In contrast, the Intel HD Graphics P530 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP), built on Intel's Generation 9.0 architecture using a Skylake GT2 chip. It is manufactured by Intel on a much more advanced 14 nm+ process. The die size is recorded as 123 mm², though the transistor count for the whole die is not specified in the database, likely because it includes much more than just the graphics execution units.

The core configurations are vastly different. The GTX 760M features 768 shading units, 64 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster operation units (ROPs). Its pixel rate is 11.50 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 46.02 GTexel/s. The Intel P530, by comparison, has only 192 shading units, 16 TMUs, and just 3 ROPs. This leads to a pixel rate of only 3.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 16.00 GTexel/s. The disparity in ROPs is particularly stark, which directly impacts fill-rate dependent tasks. The GTX 760M also has a massive advantage in FP32 compute, rated at 1,104.4 GFLOPS versus the P530's 384.0 GFLOPS, a nearly threefold difference. Interestingly, the Intel part does list an FP16 rate of 768.0 GFLOPS, a feature not specified for the NVIDIA GPU.

Memory architecture also differs entirely. The GTX 760M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 64.13 GB/s. The P530 uses System Shared memory, meaning its bandwidth is System Dependent and will vary based on the host system's RAM configuration. This is a critical distinction; the dedicated memory of the GTX 760M ensures consistent and high-speed access for the GPU, whereas the P530 must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The database reveals several key specification differences beyond the core architecture. The clock speeds are notably different. The NVIDIA GTX 760M has a base clock of 628 MHz and a boost clock of 719 MHz. The Intel P530 clocks are substantially lower, with a base of 350 MHz and a boost of 1000 MHz. While the P530's boost is significantly higher than its base, the GTX 760M's higher base clock and dedicated hardware allow it to maintain superior performance.

The power envelope is a major differentiator. The GTX 760M has a TDP of 55 W and is designed as an MXM Module, a form factor for laptop systems. The Intel HD Graphics P530 is an IGP with a TDP of just 15 W, integrated directly into the processor. This makes the P530 vastly more power-efficient from a system-level perspective, as it requires no additional power beyond what the CPU package already draws.

The bus interface also differs: the GTX 760M uses PCIe 3.0 x16, a standard discrete connection, while the P530 uses a Ring Bus, which is the internal interconnect for Intel processors. API support shows a subtle difference, with the GTX 760M supporting DirectX 12 (11_0 and Vulkan 1.2.175, while the P530 supports the newer DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3. Finally, the release dates and process nodes differ: the GTX 760M was released in 2013 on a 28 nm node, while the P530 came later in 2015 on a 14 nm+ node.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M wins with a score of 5604, which is 23.2% higher than the Intel HD Graphics P530's score of 4549.

Q: How does the performance gap change when using the Vulkan API?

A: The gap narrows significantly. The GTX 760M scores 4868 in the Vulkan benchmark, only 6.5% higher than the Intel HD Graphics P530's 4571.

Q: Is the Intel HD Graphics P530 more power-efficient?

A: Yes, the P530 has a TDP of only 15 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M has a TDP of 55 W, making the Intel part much more power-efficient.

Q: What are the memory configurations of these two GPUs?

A: The GTX 760M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with a bandwidth of 64.13 GB/s. The Intel HD Graphics P530 uses System Shared memory with a bandwidth that is System Dependent.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of DirectX?

A: The Intel HD Graphics P530 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), which is a newer version than the DirectX 12 (11_0) supported by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M.

Q: What is the difference in their FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M has a FP32 performance of 1,104.4 GFLOPS, which is significantly higher than the Intel HD Graphics P530's 384.0 GFLOPS.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M is the superior performer in raw graphics and compute tasks. With a 23.2% advantage in OpenCL and a 6.5% lead in Vulkan, it wins both recorded head-to-head benchmarks and holds a higher average score and percentile ranking. For any user whose primary concern is maximum GPU performance in applications that can utilize a discrete GPU, the GTX 760M is the clear choice from the recorded data. Its dedicated memory, higher core count, and higher fill rates provide a decisive edge.

However, the choice is not simply about raw performance. The Intel HD Graphics P530 offers a dramatically lower power draw at 15 W versus the GTX 760M's 55 W. This makes it the sensible option for systems where power efficiency and thermal management are the top priorities, such as thin-and-light laptops. Its performance, while lower, is far from irrelevant, especially in the Vulkan API where it trails by a small margin. The P530 also supports newer API versions, including DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3. The verdict hinges on the use case: the GTX 760M is for users who need performance, while the P530 is for those who need an integrated, low-power solution with adequate, not exceptional, graphics capability. The data suggests the GTX 760M is the winner for performance, and the P530 is the winner for efficiency.