Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M represent two fundamentally different approaches to mobile graphics from the same era, yet benchmark data shows they end up in a statistical tie overall. The integrated Intel part, built on a 14 nm process with Generation 8.0 architecture, achieves an average benchmark score of 6117, while the discrete NVIDIA part, using the 28 nm Kepler architecture, scores 6000. Both sit at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, meaning they occupy nearly identical positions in the performance hierarchy, but the path each takes to get there could not be more different.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results reveal a clear split based on the workload type. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 dominates in Apple's Metal API test, scoring 7764 compared to the GTX 770M's 3448. That is a massive 125.2% advantage, making the integrated solution more than twice as fast in this specific compute scenario. This suggests the Iris Pro's architecture, despite having fewer shading units, is particularly well-optimized for Metal-based workloads, which are common in macOS applications and creative software.

Conversely, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M takes the crown in OpenCL testing, where it scores 8552 versus the Intel part's 4556. This represents a 46.7% deficit for the Iris Pro, meaning the GTX 770M is roughly 87% faster in this cross-platform compute API. OpenCL remains widely used in professional applications, video encoding, and scientific computing, so this win carries significant weight for users in those fields.

The wins split evenly at one benchmark apiece, but the margins are not symmetrical. The Intel part's Metal victory is decisively larger in percentage terms than the NVIDIA part's OpenCL victory. This asymmetry matters: the Iris Pro's 125.2% lead in Metal is a much bigger swing than the GTX 770M's 87% lead in OpenCL, yet the overall average scores remain close because of how these individual results aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental divide lies in the manufacturing process. Intel fabricates the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 on a 14 nm node at its own foundry, while NVIDIA uses TSMC's 28 nm process for the GTX 770M. This process advantage gives the Intel part a significant efficiency edge, reflected in its 15 W TDP compared to the GTX 770M's 75 W. The Intel chip is a Broadwell GT3e part, part of the HD Graphics (Broadwell) generation, while NVIDIA's is a GK106 chip from the GeForce 700M lineup.

The compute resources tell a different story. The GTX 770M packs 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operations pipelines, dwarfing the Intel part's 384 shading units, 48 TMUs, and just 6 ROPs. This 2.5x advantage in shader count and 4x advantage in ROPs explains why the NVIDIA part achieves 1.530 TFLOPS of FP32 performance versus the Intel part's 844.8 GFLOPS. The GTX 770M also carries 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, while the Iris Pro's transistor count is not specified in the data.

Memory architecture differs entirely. The Intel Iris Pro uses system shared memory with a dependent bandwidth figure, while the GTX 770M has 3 GB of dedicated GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus delivering 96.19 GB/s. The NVIDIA part's memory clock runs at 1002 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed. This dedicated memory setup gives the GTX 770M predictable performance without competing with the CPU for bandwidth, whereas the Iris Pro's performance depends entirely on system memory configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The geekbench_metal test delivers the most dramatic divergence between these two parts. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 scores 7764, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M manages only 3448. This 125.2% delta is not a marginal difference; it represents a fundamental architectural advantage for Intel in this API. The Iris Pro's Metal performance is so strong that it places the integrated GPU in a completely different performance class than the discrete GTX 770M, despite the latter having far more raw compute hardware.

The geekbench_opencl test reverses the outcome with similar decisiveness. Here, the GTX 770M scores 8552 against the Iris Pro's 4556, a 46.7% deficit for the Intel part. The NVIDIA GPU's advantage in OpenCL aligns with its hardware specifications: more shading units, higher texture fill rate at 63.76 GTexel/s versus 52.80 GTexel/s, and significantly higher pixel rate at 15.94 GPixel/s versus 6.600 GPixel/s. The GTX 770M's FP32 throughput of 1.530 TFLOPS also exceeds the Iris Pro's 844.8 GFLOPS by 81%, which likely contributes to its OpenCL superiority.

These benchmark results suggest that raw compute specifications do not directly translate to API-level performance. The Iris Pro, despite being outgunned on paper, achieves a massive Metal victory that the GTX 770M cannot counter in OpenCL with equal magnitude relative to its hardware advantage. This implies that Intel's Generation 8.0 architecture has superior Metal optimization, while NVIDIA's Kepler architecture remains stronger in OpenCL contexts.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs diverge on nearly every measurable specification. Process technology differs significantly: Intel uses 14 nm while NVIDIA uses 28 nm, with the Iris Pro offering better power efficiency at 15 W versus 75 W TDP. The GTX 770M is built on the GK106 chip with 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 11.5M / mm², while the Iris Pro's chip details remain unspecified.

Memory configuration is another major differentiator. The GTX 770M has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth, while the Iris Pro uses system shared memory with bandwidth labeled as system dependent. The NVIDIA part's memory runs at 1002 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed. The Intel part's base clock runs at 300 MHz with a boost of 1100 MHz, while the GTX 770M operates at 706 MHz base and 797 MHz boost—the Intel part has a higher boost clock, but the NVIDIA part's higher base clock suggests better sustained performance.

Compute unit counts heavily favor NVIDIA: 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 24 ROPs versus Intel's 384 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 6 ROPs. The GTX 770M achieves 1.530 TFLOPS FP32, 63.76 GTexel/s texture rate, and 15.94 GPixel/s pixel rate, all exceeding the Iris Pro's 844.8 GFLOPS, 52.80 GTexel/s, and 6.600 GPixel/s. The bus interface also differs: the Iris Pro uses Ring Bus as an IGP, while the GTX 770M uses MXM-B (3.0) as an MXM module.

API support shows minor differences. Both support DirectX 12, but the Iris Pro supports 12 (11_1) while the GTX 770M supports 12 (11_0). OpenGL support favors NVIDIA at 4.6 versus Intel's 4.4, and Vulkan support differs significantly with the GTX 770M at 1.2.175 versus the Iris Pro's 1.0. The NVIDIA part also has a predecessor in GeForce 600M and a successor in GeForce 800M, while the Intel part has no listed predecessor or successor.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has an average benchmark score of 6117, which is 117 points higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M's 6000 average. Both GPUs sit at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Why does the Intel Iris Pro win the Metal benchmark by such a large margin?

A: The Iris Pro Graphics 6200 scores 7764 in geekbench_metal versus the GTX 770M's 3448, a 125.2% advantage. This suggests Intel's Generation 8.0 architecture has substantially better optimization for Apple's Metal API, despite having fewer shading units and lower raw compute specifications.

Q: What explains the GTX 770M's OpenCL advantage?

A: The GTX 770M scores 8552 in geekbench_opencl against the Iris Pro's 4556, a 46.7% lead. This aligns with its hardware advantages: 960 shading units versus 384, 1.530 TFLOPS FP32 versus 844.8 GFLOPS, and dedicated 3 GB GDDR5 memory with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth versus system shared memory.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 has a 15 W TDP, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M has a 75 W TDP. This represents a 5x difference in power consumption, giving the integrated Intel solution a substantial efficiency advantage for thin-and-light systems.

Q: Which GPU supports better Vulkan performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 only supports Vulkan 1.0. The NVIDIA part also supports OpenGL 4.6 versus Intel's 4.4, giving it broader API compatibility for modern applications.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: No, both GPUs are end-of-life products. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M was released on 2013-05-29, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 was released on 2014-09-04. Both have been succeeded by newer generations.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture for potential users. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 is the clear choice for anyone working primarily in Metal-based environments, particularly macOS users or those running Metal-accelerated creative applications. Its 125.2% benchmark advantage in Metal is overwhelming, and its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained systems where the GTX 770M's 75 W requirement would be prohibitive. The Iris Pro also offers more recent Vulkan 1.0 support, though the GTX 770M's 1.2.175 support is more advanced in version number.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M, conversely, is the better option for OpenCL-heavy workloads, where its 46.7% advantage in that benchmark delivers tangible benefits for compute tasks. Its dedicated 3 GB GDDR5 memory with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth provides consistent performance that system-shared memory cannot guarantee, and its higher pixel rate of 15.94 GPixel/s suggests better rasterization throughput for traditional rendering workloads. The GTX 770M also supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more current than the Iris Pro's 4.4.

For users whose workloads span both APIs, the choice is less clear. The overall average scores are nearly identical—6117 versus 6000—and both GPUs sit at the 35th percentile. The deciding factor should be the specific API mix in your applications. If Metal dominates, the Iris Pro's 125.2% lead makes it the obvious pick. If OpenCL is more common, the GTX 770M's 46.7% advantage wins. The data does not support a universal recommendation, but it clearly identifies which GPU excels in which environment.