Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics represent two vastly different approaches to GPU design, separated by nearly eight years of technological evolution. The data shows a clear overall winner in raw compute, but the comparison reveals how far integrated-class graphics have come.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the dataset is Geekbench OpenCL, where the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN delivers a score of 24,873 against the Intel Iris Xe MAX’s 14,315. That is a 73.8% advantage for the older, larger card. This is not a marginal win; it is a decisive gap that places the GTX TITAN in a different performance tier entirely.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the GTX TITAN scores 14,373 across all tests, while the Iris Xe MAX averages 14,315. The delta here is a mere 0.4% in favor of the TITAN, meaning that when you average out all available workloads, the two are statistically equivalent. However, this aggregate figure masks the OpenCL result where the TITAN’s lead is overwhelming.

The TITAN also holds a distinct advantage in its nearest-rival comparisons. Its average score of 14,373 places it 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14,385, delta -0.1%) and 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M (14,404, delta -0.2%). Meanwhile, the Iris Xe MAX’s 14,315 average puts it 0.3% behind the AMD Radeon Vega 11 (14,352) and 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14,385).

In the single head-to-head test, the TITAN wins outright. The Intel part does not win any benchmark in the dataset. That said, the Iris Xe MAX’s average is dragged up by its OpenCL score being its only recorded benchmark, whereas the TITAN’s average includes lower Vulkan and Metal scores that dilute its OpenCL dominance.

The Geekbench Vulkan result for the TITAN is 10,027, and its Metal score is 8,218. These are substantially lower than its OpenCL figure, suggesting the Kepler architecture is less efficient in newer API workloads. The Iris Xe MAX has no Vulkan or Metal scores listed, so a cross-API comparison is impossible from the available data.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN wins decisively in raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 24,873 versus 14,315 indicates a 73.8% advantage in general-purpose GPU compute tasks. This makes it the clear choice for workloads that leverage OpenCL heavily, such as scientific simulation, rendering, or data processing where raw parallel execution is paramount.

The TITAN also wins on memory bandwidth. It offers 288.4 GB/s across a 384-bit bus, compared to 68.26 GB/s on a 128-bit bus for the Iris Xe MAX. That is a fourfold difference in bandwidth, which directly impacts texture-heavy workloads and large dataset operations. The TITAN’s 6 GB of GDDR5 memory also provides 50% more capacity than the Iris Xe MAX’s 4 GB of LPDDR4X, making it better suited for holding larger working sets.

The Intel Iris Xe MAX wins on efficiency and integration. Its 25 W TDP is a tenth of the TITAN’s 250 W, and it requires a suggested PSU of only 200 W versus the TITAN’s 600 W. The Iris Xe MAX is an IGP with no display outputs, meaning it is designed to sit alongside a CPU in a compact system, whereas the TITAN is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm in length.

The Iris Xe MAX also wins on architectural modernity. It supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the TITAN is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. For applications that require these newer API features, the Intel part is the only option. Its boost clock of 1650 MHz also far exceeds the TITAN’s 876 MHz boost, though this is offset by the TITAN’s vastly larger shader count.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN uses the GK110 chip on TSMC’s 28 nm process, packing 7,080 million transistors into a 561 mm² die. The transistor density is 12.6M per mm². This is a massive, power-hungry design from the Kepler generation, part of the GeForce 700 series.

The Intel Iris Xe MAX uses the DG1 chip on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a die size of just 95 mm². Transistor count and density are not listed, but the die size alone tells the story: this is a much smaller, more integrated part. It belongs to the Xe Graphics generation, using the Generation 12.1 architecture.

The shader configuration differs dramatically. The TITAN has 2,688 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. The Iris Xe MAX has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. In raw FLOPs, the TITAN delivers 4.709 TFLOPS of FP32, nearly double the Iris Xe MAX’s 2.534 TFLOPS. However, the Iris Xe MAX does offer FP16 at 5.069 TFLOPS (2:1 rate), a capability the TITAN does not list.

Memory architecture is another key divider. The TITAN uses 6 GB of GDDR5 with a 384-bit bus and 288.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Iris Xe MAX uses 4 GB of LPDDR4X with a 128-bit bus and 68.26 GB/s bandwidth. The TITAN’s memory clock is 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective), while the Iris Xe MAX runs at 2133 MHz (4.3 Gbps effective). The higher effective data rate on the TITAN, combined with the wider bus, explains its bandwidth advantage.

Pixel and texture rates follow the same pattern. The TITAN achieves 49.06 GPixel/s and 196.2 GTexel/s, while the Iris Xe MAX manages 39.60 GPixel/s and 79.20 GTexel/s. The TITAN wins both, but the pixel rate gap is smaller than the texture rate gap, suggesting the Intel part is relatively stronger at pixel output than texture work.

The bus interface also differs: the TITAN uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the Iris Xe MAX uses PCIe 4.0 x8. The newer PCIe 4.0 standard offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the x8 width limits total throughput. The TITAN’s power delivery requires 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors, while the Iris Xe MAX has no power connectors listed, consistent with its IGP form factor.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN averages 14,373 across all benchmarks, while the Intel Iris Xe MAX averages 14,315. The TITAN leads by 0.4%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: In Geekbench OpenCL, the TITAN scores 24,873 versus the Iris Xe MAX’s 14,315, a 73.8% difference in favor of the TITAN.

Q: Does the Intel Iris Xe MAX support newer graphics APIs?

A: Yes. The Iris Xe MAX supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the TITAN is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The TITAN has a 250 W TDP and requires a 600 W suggested PSU. The Iris Xe MAX has a 25 W TDP and a 200 W suggested PSU.

Q: Which card has more memory and bandwidth?

A: The TITAN has 6 GB of GDDR5 with 288.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Iris Xe MAX has 4 GB of LPDDR4X with 68.26 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Intel part wins?

A: No. The dataset shows zero wins for the Intel Iris Xe MAX in head-to-head testing. The TITAN wins the sole OpenCL comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN | Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics |

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

| Chip | GK110 | DG1 |

| Architecture | Kepler | Generation 12.1 |

| Generation | GeForce 700 | Xe Graphics |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 561 mm² | 95 mm² |

| Base Clock | 836 MHz | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 876 MHz | 1650 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) | 2133 MHz (4.3 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 6 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 288.4 GB/s | 68.26 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 2688 | 768 |

| TMUs | 224 | 48 |

| ROPs | 48 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 49.06 GPixel/s | 39.60 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 196.2 GTexel/s | 79.20 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 4.709 TFLOPS | 2.534 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | Not listed | 5.069 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 250 W | 25 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | 200 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 | No outputs |

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

| Vulkan | 1.2.175 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2013-02-18 | 2020-10-30 |

| Launch MSRP | 999 USD | Not listed |