GPU Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score, the Intel UHD Graphics 710 or the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a higher average benchmark score of 3792, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M’s 3740. This places the Intel part 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA part in the nearestRivals data.

Q: In the head-to-head Geekbench OpenCL test, which GPU wins and by how much?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 3740 versus the Intel UHD Graphics 710’s 3496, a margin of 6.5% in NVIDIA’s favor.

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two GPUs?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 is built on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M uses TSMC’s 40 nm process. This represents a significant generational gap in manufacturing technology.

Q: How do the shading unit counts compare between the two cards?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has 128 shading units, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M has 96 shading units. However, the NVIDIA part has 16 texture mapping units versus Intel’s 8, and 4 ROPs versus Intel’s 8.

Q: What are the pixel and texture rates for each GPU?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 achieves 10.40 GPixel/s and 10.40 GTexel/s. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M delivers 1.900 GPixel/s and 7.600 GTexel/s, meaning Intel leads in both fillrate metrics.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX and Vulkan versions?

A: No. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits the two GPUs into distinct strengths. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 wins on raw compute throughput and modern API support. Its FP32 performance is 332.8 GFLOPS, which is 82% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M’s 182.4 GFLOPS. This theoretical compute advantage is reflected in the average benchmark score, where Intel leads by 52 points (3792 vs 3740). The Intel part also holds a massive lead in pixel rate, delivering 10.40 GPixel/s against NVIDIA’s 1.900 GPixel/s, over five times higher.

However, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M wins in the only direct head-to-head benchmark available. In Geekbench OpenCL, NVIDIA scores 3740 against Intel’s 3496, a 6.5% victory. This suggests that despite the Intel part’s higher theoretical specs, the NVIDIA GPU’s mature Fermi architecture and dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with a 128-bit bus (28.80 GB/s bandwidth) may provide real-world advantages in certain workloads. The NVIDIA part also has double the texture mapping units (16 vs 8), which could benefit texture-heavy applications.

The win counts reflect this split: the Intel part wins on architectural efficiency and modern features, while the NVIDIA part wins on the actual OpenCL benchmark result. Users prioritizing raw compute and API compatibility would favor the Intel UHD Graphics 710, while those needing proven OpenCL performance in legacy applications might prefer the GeForce GT 635M.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from vastly different architectural eras. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 is based on Alder Lake silicon using Intel’s Generation 12.2 architecture, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It belongs to the HD Graphics (Alder Lake) generation and was released on January 3, 2022. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M uses the GF108 chip with the Fermi architecture, built on TSMC’s 40 nm process, and was released on March 21, 2012, nearly a decade earlier.

The transistor budgets tell part of the story. The NVIDIA GF108 contains 585 million transistors on a 116 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 5.0M per mm². The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has no listed transistor count, die size, or density, but its 10 nm process compared to 40 nm suggests significantly higher integration density. This is reinforced by the Intel part’s substantially lower TDP of 15 W versus NVIDIA’s 35 W, meaning Intel achieves higher theoretical performance with less than half the power envelope.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M has dedicated 2 GB DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. This dedicated memory gives NVIDIA a fixed memory footprint, whereas Intel’s performance depends entirely on the host system’s memory configuration.

API support also reveals the generational gap. Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while NVIDIA only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) with no Vulkan support. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The Intel part’s FP16 capability at 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1 ratio) is notable, while NVIDIA lists no FP16 support.

Specification Differences

The most striking difference is the process node: Intel at 10 nm versus NVIDIA at 40 nm. This drives nearly every other specification gap. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1300 MHz, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M has no base or boost clock listed but runs memory at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).

Shading units favor Intel at 128 versus NVIDIA’s 96, but NVIDIA has 16 TMUs against Intel’s 8. ROPs are equal in count at 8 for Intel and 4 for NVIDIA. The fillrate numbers confirm Intel’s dominance: 10.40 GPixel/s and 10.40 GTexel/s versus NVIDIA’s 1.900 GPixel/s and 7.600 GTexel/s.

FP32 compute is another decisive difference: Intel delivers 332.8 GFLOPS, NVIDIA delivers 182.4 GFLOPS. Intel also lists FP16 at 665.6 GFLOPS, while NVIDIA has no FP16 specification. Power consumption favors Intel at 15 W TDP versus NVIDIA’s 35 W TDP.

Memory configuration is where NVIDIA holds the edge in terms of dedicated resources: 2 GB DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth versus Intel’s system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth. The bus interface differs as well: Intel uses Ring Bus, while NVIDIA uses PCIe 2.0 x16.

Display outputs are motherboard-dependent for Intel and portable-device-dependent for NVIDIA, reflecting their different target platforms. Both GPUs are end-of-life, but Intel’s release date of January 3, 2022, versus NVIDIA’s March 21, 2012, shows they are from entirely different product generations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and it favors the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M. NVIDIA scores 3740, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 scores 3496, giving NVIDIA a 6.5% advantage. This is a notable result given that Intel’s average benchmark score across all tests is 3792, which is higher than NVIDIA’s 3740. The discrepancy suggests that Intel’s average is boosted by its Geekbench Vulkan score of 4088, a test the NVIDIA part does not have a result for.

Looking at the nearestRivals data provides context. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 sits within 2% of several NVIDIA parts: it is 0.8% behind the GeForce GTX 650 (3823), 1.1% behind the GeForce MX110 (3834), 1.4% ahead of the GeForce GT 635M (3740), and 2% ahead of the Quadro 3000M (3718). The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M, meanwhile, is 0.6% ahead of both the Quadro 3000M (3718) and the GeForce GT 740M (3717), 1.2% ahead of the GeForce 825M (3694), and 1.4% behind the Intel UHD Graphics 710 (3792).

The single head-to-head result indicates that in OpenCL compute workloads, the NVIDIA Fermi architecture outperforms Intel’s Generation 12.2 despite Intel’s superior theoretical specs. The 6.5% delta is substantial in this performance tier. However, the Intel part’s Vulkan score of 4088 suggests that in Vulkan-based applications, Intel would likely extend its lead, though no direct comparison exists in the data.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a nuanced picture. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has the higher average score at 3792, the higher FP32 compute (332.8 GFLOPS vs 182.4 GFLOPS), the higher pixel rate (10.40 GPixel/s vs 1.900 GPixel/s), and the lower TDP (15 W vs 35 W). It also supports Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12 (12_1), making it the more forward-looking choice for modern APIs.

However, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M wins the only direct benchmark comparison, taking Geekbench OpenCL with a 6.5% margin. It also has dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, which provides predictable performance independent of system memory. For users running legacy OpenCL applications or those needing fixed memory allocation, the NVIDIA part is the safer pick.

The data suggests that the Intel UHD Graphics 710 is the better choice for users prioritizing modern API support, lower power consumption, and higher theoretical compute throughput. It is particularly suited for systems where Vulkan is available and where power efficiency matters. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M is the better choice for users whose workloads are dominated by OpenCL compute, given its proven 6.5% advantage in that specific test. Its dedicated memory also makes it more reliable in systems with slow or shared system memory.

Users in the market for either GPU should note that both are end-of-life products. The Intel part is much newer (2022 vs 2012) and offers a higher average score, but the NVIDIA part holds the actual benchmark win. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether the user values Intel’s modern feature set and efficiency or NVIDIA’s demonstrated OpenCL performance and dedicated memory. The data favors Intel for general compute and modern applications, but NVIDIA for specific OpenCL workloads.