Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Comparison

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M and Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 represent two distinct approaches to mobile graphics, separated by three years of silicon evolution. The data shows a clear split: the GTX 580M dominates in raw OpenCL compute, while the Iris Pro 6200 counters with broader API support and a much more efficient design. Benchmark results indicate the GTX 580M is the performance leader in the only directly comparable test, but the Iris Pro's feature set and power profile tell a different story about intended use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6389 points, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 manages 4556 points. That is a 40.2% advantage for the NVIDIA part. This is not a marginal lead; it is a substantial gap that places the GTX 580M in a different performance tier for compute workloads. In absolute terms, the GTX 580M delivers roughly 40% more OpenCL throughput than the Intel solution.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the GTX 580M's average benchmark score of 6389 puts it in the 37th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE, which scores exactly 6389, showing a 0% delta. The GTX 580M also edges out the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 by 0.9% and the AMD Radeon R7 M350 by 1%. The only GPU ranked above it in this group is the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell, but by a razor-thin 0.3% margin. This clustering indicates the GTX 580M sits at a specific performance plateau where many mid-range parts converge.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 6117, placing it in the 35th percentile. Its OpenCL score of 4556 is its weakest result, while its Metal score reaches 7764 and its Vulkan score hits 6032. The nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 8690M at 6137, which is 0.3% faster. The Iris Pro then leads the NVIDIA RTX A400 by 0.6%, the NVIDIA GeForce MX230 by 0.7%, and the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 by 1.1%. These tight margins show that the Iris Pro's average performance is competitive with entry-level discrete GPUs, even though its OpenCL showing lags significantly behind the GTX 580M.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 580M wins exclusively in raw compute throughput. Its 40.2% OpenCL lead over the Iris Pro 6200 is the defining metric. This advantage comes from having more dedicated graphics resources: 384 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The GTX 580M also has dedicated GDDR5 memory with a 256-bit bus and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, which is critical for memory-intensive workloads. The data shows this translates directly into faster OpenCL execution, which is relevant for applications that leverage GPU compute, such as video encoding, image processing, and scientific simulations.

The Iris Pro 6200 wins on versatility and API coverage. It supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.4, and Vulkan 1.0. The GTX 580M, despite being a discrete GPU, only lists DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support mentioned. The Iris Pro's Vulkan capability is a genuine advantage for modern game engines and compute frameworks that rely on this low-overhead API. Additionally, the Iris Pro's Metal score of 7764 is its highest benchmark result, indicating strong performance in Apple's graphics API, which is relevant for macOS applications.

The power efficiency story is one-sided. The GTX 580M has a TDP of 100 W, while the Iris Pro 6200 draws only 15 W. That is an 85 W difference, making the Iris Pro more than six times more power-efficient. For thin-and-light laptops or systems where battery life is paramount, this efficiency gap is more important than raw performance. The GTX 580M requires an MXM module slot and has no power connectors, while the Iris Pro is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) that uses the Ring Bus interface and shares system memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two GPUs is generational. The GTX 580M is built on NVIDIA's Fermi 2.0 architecture, using the GF114 chip fabricated on TSMC's 40 nm process. This is a mature, power-hungry design from 2011 that packs 1,950 million transistors into a 332 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 5.9M per mm². The Fermi architecture was designed for high-end desktop and mobile performance, prioritizing raw throughput over efficiency.

The Iris Pro 6200 uses Intel's Generation 8.0 architecture, built on the Broadwell GT3e chip. It is fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process, a significant jump from 40 nm. While Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size for this chip, the 14 nm node allows for much better power efficiency. The Iris Pro has 384 shading units, the same count as the GTX 580M, but only 48 TMUs and 6 ROPs. This configuration favors texture throughput over pixel fill, with a texture rate of 52.80 GTexel/s compared to the GTX 580M's 39.68 GTexel/s. However, the GTX 580M wins on pixel rate: 9.920 GPixel/s versus 6.600 GPixel/s.

Memory architecture is another key differentiator. The GTX 580M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Iris Pro 6200 has no dedicated memory; it uses System Shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the Iris Pro's memory performance depends entirely on the host system's RAM and bus configuration, which is a fundamental disadvantage for bandwidth-sensitive workloads. The GTX 580M's memory clock is 750 MHz, translating to 3 Gbps effective, while the Iris Pro's base clock is 300 MHz with a boost of 1100 MHz.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: choose the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M if you need maximum compute performance and have the power budget to accommodate it. Its 40.2% OpenCL lead over the Iris Pro 6200 is the decisive factor. The GTX 580M also has dedicated GDDR5 memory with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, which is essential for tasks that move large datasets. This GPU is for users who prioritize performance over portability and battery life.

Choose the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 if you value efficiency, modern API support, and integration. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the GTX 580M's 100 W, making it suitable for ultrabooks and compact systems. The Iris Pro's Vulkan 1.0 support is a significant feature that the GTX 580M lacks entirely. Furthermore, the Iris Pro's average benchmark score of 6117 is only 4.3% lower than the GTX 580M's 6389, showing that the performance gap is not insurmountable in all workloads. The Iris Pro's Metal score of 7764 even exceeds the GTX 580M's OpenCL score, suggesting that in certain API-specific tests, the Intel part can outperform the NVIDIA part.

The production status of both GPUs is end-of-life, so neither is a future-proof investment. The GTX 580M was released on 2011-06-27, while the Iris Pro followed on 2014-09-04. The GTX 580M has a clear predecessor in the GeForce 400M and a successor in the GeForce 600M, whereas the Iris Pro lists no predecessor or successor in the data. For a modern system, the Iris Pro's feature set is more relevant, but for legacy applications that rely on raw OpenCL compute, the GTX 580M remains the stronger choice.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6389 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 scores 4556. This gives the GTX 580M a 40.2% advantage in this test.

Q: Does the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 supports Vulkan 1.0. It also supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and OpenGL 4.4. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M does not list Vulkan support in the data.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has a TDP of 100 W, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has a TDP of 15 W. The Iris Pro consumes 85 W less power, making it significantly more efficient.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ?

A: The GTX 580M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Iris Pro 6200 uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth, meaning it relies on the host system's RAM.

Q: Which GPU has more texture mapping units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has 64 TMUs, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has 48 TMUs. However, the Iris Pro achieves a higher texture rate of 52.80 GTexel/s compared to the GTX 580M's 39.68 GTexel/s.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each GPU?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has an average benchmark score of 6389, placing it in the 37th percentile. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has an average benchmark score of 6117, placing it in the 35th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M | Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |

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

| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Generation 8.0 |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 1,950 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 332 mm² | Not specified |

| Transistor Density | 5.9M / mm² | Not specified |

| Base Clock | Not specified | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not specified | 1100 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective) | System Shared |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 96.00 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 384 | 384 |

| TMUs | 64 | 48 |

| ROPs | 32 | 6 |

| Pixel Rate | 9.920 GPixel/s | 6.600 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 39.68 GTexel/s | 52.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 952.3 GFLOPS | 844.8 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 100 W | 15 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Bus Interface | MXM-B (3.0) | Ring Bus |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | Motherboard Dependent |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_1) |

| OpenGL Support | 4.6 | 4.4 |

| Vulkan Support | Not specified | 1.0 |

| Release Date | 2011-06-27 | 2014-09-04 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |