Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 records an average benchmark score of 4360, placing it in the 26th percentile of all GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M scores 3740 on average, which lands in the 22nd percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two in the available benchmark?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 5042 against the GT 635M's 3740. This represents a 34.8% advantage for the Intel part, the only head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database.

Q: What are the memory specifications of each GPU?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 uses system shared memory with a system dependent bandwidth and no dedicated VRAM. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M comes with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 packs 320 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 4 ROPs. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M has 96 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 4 ROPs.

Q: What process node does each chip use?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is built on Intel's 22 nm process (Haswell GT3e). The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M uses TSMC's 40 nm process with 585 million transistors on a 116 mm² die.

Q: Which GPU supports Vulkan?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 lists Vulkan 1.0 support, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M has no Vulkan entry in the database. Both support DirectX 12, with Intel at 12 (11_1) and NVIDIA at 12 (11_0).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is the clear winner in raw compute workloads. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 5042 crushes the GT 635M's 3740 by 34.8%. The Intel part also demonstrates superior theoretical throughput across the board: 736.0 GFLOPS of FP32 performance against 182.4 GFLOPS, a texture rate of 46.00 GTexel/s versus 7.600 GTexel/s, and a pixel rate of 4.600 GPixel/s compared to 1.900 GPixel/s. For any task that leverages shader compute, OpenCL acceleration, or texture-heavy rendering, the Iris Pro 5200 dominates.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M, however, holds advantages in areas that matter for certain laptop configurations. It has dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 VRAM with a fixed 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Intel part relies entirely on system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. In scenarios where dedicated memory reduces contention with the CPU, the GT 635M may exhibit more consistent frame pacing. The GT 635M also supports OpenGL 4.6, a newer version than the Iris Pro's 4.3, which could benefit specific legacy OpenGL applications.

The bus interface differs as well: the GT 635M connects via PCIe 2.0 x16, while the Iris Pro uses a Ring Bus interface. For discrete GPU implementations where the PCIe link provides clean access to system resources, the NVIDIA part may have an edge in driver efficiency. But the benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel GPU wins the only recorded compute test, and it wins by a wide margin.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is built on the Haswell GT3e chip using Intel's Generation 7.5 architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. This is an integrated GPU (IGP) that shares system memory, with a base clock of 200 MHz and a boost clock of 1150 MHz. The architecture is designed for efficiency within the CPU package, using a Ring Bus interface to the host processor.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M is a Fermi-architecture part based on the GF108 chip, produced by TSMC on a 40 nm process. It is a discrete-class mobile GPU with its own 2 GB DDR3 frame buffer, 585 million transistors, and a die size of 116 mm². The transistor density is recorded at 5.0M per mm². The GT 635M has no base or boost clock listed in the database, but its memory runs at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective.

The architectural gap is significant. Intel's 22 nm process is two generations ahead of NVIDIA's 40 nm node in this comparison, allowing the Iris Pro to pack 320 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 4 ROPs into a power envelope of 45 W. The GT 635M's Fermi design, despite being a discrete GPU, manages only 96 shading units and 16 TMUs within a 35 W TDP. The GT 635M does have dedicated VRAM, which is a structural advantage, but the Intel part compensates with far higher raw throughput.

API support also differs. Intel lists DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.3, and Vulkan 1.0. NVIDIA lists DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and no Vulkan. The GT 635M's OpenGL 4.6 support is more recent, but the lack of Vulkan limits its modern API reach.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 has a base clock of 200 MHz and a boost clock of 1150 MHz, while the GT 635M has no base or boost clocks recorded. Intel's memory is system shared with system dependent bandwidth; NVIDIA offers 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s.

Shading units: Intel has 320, NVIDIA has 96. TMUs: Intel has 40, NVIDIA has 16. Both have 4 ROPs. Pixel rate: Intel at 4.600 GPixel/s, NVIDIA at 1.900 GPixel/s. Texture rate: Intel at 46.00 GTexel/s, NVIDIA at 7.600 GTexel/s. FP32 performance: Intel at 736.0 GFLOPS, NVIDIA at 182.4 GFLOPS.

Process node: Intel at 22 nm, NVIDIA at 40 nm. Transistors: NVIDIA lists 585 million, Intel has no figure. Die size: NVIDIA at 116 mm², Intel has none. Foundry: Intel for the Iris Pro, TSMC for the GT 635M. TDP: Intel at 45 W, NVIDIA at 35 W. Bus interface: Intel uses Ring Bus, NVIDIA uses PCIe 2.0 x16.

Display outputs: Intel is motherboard dependent, NVIDIA is portable device dependent. Power connectors: NVIDIA has none, Intel has none listed. The GT 635M has a predecessor (GeForce 500M) and successor (GeForce 700M), while Intel lists neither. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a single head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs, and it is a decisive one. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 5042, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M scores 3740. The delta is 34.8% in favor of Intel.

This result aligns with the theoretical specifications. The Iris Pro's 736.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute is more than four times the GT 635M's 182.4 GFLOPS. Its texture rate of 46.00 GTexel/s is over six times higher than the GT 635M's 7.600 GTexel/s. The pixel rate is roughly 2.4 times higher. In any compute-bound workload, the Intel part should win by a similar margin to the 34.8% observed.

Context from nearest rivals reinforces the gap. The Iris Pro's average score of 4360 sits within 0.6% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335) and 1.5% above the AMD FirePro W2100 (4295), while also being 1.2% behind the GeForce GT 645M (4411) and 0.6% ahead of the GeForce 930M (4388). The GT 635M's average of 3740 is 0.6% behind the Quadro 3000M (3718) and 0.6% behind the GT 740M (3717), while being 1.2% ahead of the GeForce 825M (3694) and 1.4% behind the Intel UHD Graphics 710 (3792). This places the Iris Pro in a higher performance tier entirely, roughly 16.6% above the GT 635M on average scores (4360 vs 3740).

The Verdict

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is the superior GPU in this comparison. The benchmark data is unambiguous: a 34.8% win in Geekbench OpenCL, a higher average score (4360 vs 3740), and a higher percentile ranking (26th vs 22nd). The Intel part also offers Vulkan support, which the GT 635M lacks, and a substantially higher compute ceiling across all measured throughput metrics.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M is not without merit. Its dedicated 2 GB DDR3 frame buffer with fixed 28.80 GB/s bandwidth provides a structural advantage over system shared memory, particularly in memory-constrained scenarios. Its 35 W TDP is lower than the Intel part's 45 W, and its OpenGL 4.6 support is newer. But these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data.

For users prioritizing compute performance, OpenCL acceleration, or modern API support, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is the clear choice. For those needing dedicated VRAM in a laptop configuration or preferring NVIDIA's driver ecosystem with OpenGL 4.6, the GT 635M remains a functional but slower option. The data favors Intel.