GPU Comparison

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M are both end-of-life parts that land in the bottom quartile of the GPU landscape, but they achieve similar overall results through very different means. The data shows a near-perfect split: the GT 740M wins the OpenCL compute test by 12%, while the Intel UHD 710 wins the Vulkan test by 18.2%. The GT 740M is the safer pick for legacy DirectX 11-era workloads and raw compute, given its 384 shading units and dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory. The UHD 710 is the better choice for modern API support and any task that leverages Vulkan, as it posts a higher score in that specific benchmark. Neither part is a gaming powerhouse; their percentile ranking of 22nd versus all GPUs places both firmly in entry-level territory. If you are building a system where the CPU's integrated graphics are the only option, the UHD 710 is a competent, low-power solution. If you are upgrading an older laptop with an MXM slot, the GT 740M provides a dedicated memory bus and higher raw throughput, though its age shows in API support.

The Verdict

Choose the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M if your priority is compute performance in OpenCL or compatibility with older software stacks. Its average benchmark score of 3717 is nearly identical to the UHD 710's 3792, but its OpenCL score of 3974 is a clear 12% higher than the Intel part's 3496. The GT 740M also offers dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, which eliminates the system memory contention that the UHD 710's "System Shared" configuration may suffer from. Its 384 shading units and 32 texture mapping units provide a substantial hardware resource advantage that shows up in texture-heavy workloads.

Choose the Intel UHD 710 if you value modern API features and lower power draw. The Vulkan score of 4088 is an 18.2% improvement over the GT 740M's 3459, indicating better driver optimization for current graphics APIs. The UHD 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GT 740M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. At 15 W TDP versus 33 W, the Intel solution is far more efficient, making it ideal for ultraportable or passively cooled systems. The data suggests the UHD 710 is a forward-looking choice, while the GT 740M is a backward-compatible workhorse.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different manufacturing eras and design philosophies. The Intel UHD 710 is built on Intel's 10 nm process and uses the Generation 12.2 architecture from the Alder Lake chip. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) that connects via a Ring Bus, sharing system memory for both framebuffer and texture storage. Its 128 shading units and 8 texture mapping units are a fraction of what the NVIDIA part offers, but it compensates with a higher pixel rate of 10.40 GPixel/s and a boost clock of 1300 MHz. The UHD 710 supports the latest API standards, including DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it more future-proof for modern software.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M is a 28 nm TSMC part based on the Kepler 2.0 architecture, specifically the GK208 chip. It is a discrete mobile GPU designed for MXM modules, with 1,020 million transistors on an 87 mm² die. The GT 740M has 384 shading units and 32 texture mapping units, which gives it a significant advantage in parallel compute. Its texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s is more than three times higher than the Intel part's 10.40 GTexel/s. However, its pixel rate is lower at 8.264 GPixel/s, and its memory bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s is constrained by the 64-bit DDR3 bus. The GT 740M also has a higher base clock of 980 MHz and a boost clock of 1033 MHz, but its API support stops at DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175, which limits its use in the newest titles.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel UHD 710 has an average benchmark score of 3792, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M scores 3717. The difference is approximately 2%, which is within the margin of error for these synthetic tests.

Q: Can the GT 740M handle modern Vulkan games?

A: The GT 740M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, but its Vulkan benchmark score of 3459 is 18.2% lower than the UHD 710's 4088. The data suggests it is less optimized for this API, so expect weaker performance in Vulkan-based applications.

Q: Is the UHD 710 better for compute workloads?

A: No. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GT 740M scores 3974 versus the UHD 710's 3496, a 12% advantage for NVIDIA. The GT 740M's 384 shading units provide more raw compute throughput, resulting in a higher FP32 rating of 793.3 GFLOPS compared to 332.8 GFLOPS for the Intel part.

Q: How do they compare in power consumption?

A: The UHD 710 has a TDP of 15 W, which is less than half of the GT 740M's 33 W TDP. This makes the Intel solution significantly more power-efficient, especially for thin-and-light laptops or systems with limited cooling.

Q: Which GPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The GT 740M has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory with a 64-bit bus and a bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s. The UHD 710 uses System Shared memory, where bandwidth is "System Dependent" and cannot be directly compared numerically. The dedicated memory of the GT 740M is generally more predictable.

Q: What are the production statuses of these parts?

A: Both are listed as end-of-life. The UHD 710 was released on 2022-01-03, while the GT 740M is much older, released on 2013-06-19.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two GPUs differ, based on the the benchmark database data.

| Specification | Intel UHD Graphics 710 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M |

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

| Manufacturer | Intel | NVIDIA |

| Chip | Alder Lake | GK208 |

| Architecture | Generation 12.2 | Kepler 2.0 |

| Generation | HD Graphics (Alder Lake) | GeForce 700M |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | N/A | 1,020 million |

| Die Size | N/A | 87 mm² |

| Transistor Density | N/A | 11.7M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 980 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1300 MHz | 1033 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 14.40 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | System Shared | 900 MHz / 1800 Mbps effective |

| Shading Units | 128 | 384 |

| TMUs | 8 | 32 |

| ROPs | 8 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 10.40 GPixel/s | 8.264 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 10.40 GTexel/s | 33.06 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 332.8 GFLOPS | 793.3 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1) | N/A |

| TDP | 15 W | 33 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | N/A | None |

| Bus Interface | Ring Bus | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2022-01-03 | 2013-06-19 |

| Predecessor | N/A | GeForce 600M |

| Successor | N/A | GeForce 800M |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean split between the two benchmarks. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M takes a decisive victory. It scores 3974 points, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 manages 3496 points. The deltaPct is -12 for the Intel part, meaning the GT 740M is 12% faster in this compute-oriented workload. This result aligns with the hardware specifications: the GT 740M has triple the shading units (384 vs 128) and more than double the FP32 performance (793.3 GFLOPS vs 332.8 GFLOPS). The GT 740M's dedicated memory also avoids the potential bottlenecks of shared system memory.

The second benchmark, Geekbench Vulkan, flips the result. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 scores 4088 points, which is 18.2% higher than the GT 740M's 3459 points. The deltaPct of 18.2 for the Intel part indicates a substantial advantage in Vulkan-specific rendering tasks. This is likely due to the UHD 710's superior API support (Vulkan 1.4 vs 1.2.175) and its newer architecture, which is better optimized for modern low-level graphics APIs. Despite having far fewer shading units, the Intel part leverages its architectural efficiency to outperform the older Kepler design in this test.

The average benchmark scores reflect this balance: the UHD 710 averages 3792, while the GT 740M averages 3717. This places the Intel part slightly ahead overall, but the margin is negligible. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the UHD 710 sits within 0.8% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 and 1.1% of the MX110, while the GT 740M is within 0.6% of the GeForce 825M and 1.9% of the Radeon HD 6770. Both GPUs occupy the same performance tier, with the 22nd percentile ranking confirming they are entry-level options.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M wins in scenarios that demand raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 3974 is the higher of the two, making it the go-to choice for OpenCL-accelerated applications like older video encoding tools or scientific simulations that rely on this API. The 384 shading units and 32 TMUs provide a substantial edge in texture-heavy workloads, which is reflected in its texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s. The dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus ensures that memory access is not shared with the CPU, which can reduce latency in memory-intensive tasks. For any DirectX 11-era game or application, the GT 740M's higher FP32 throughput (793.3 GFLOPS) is likely to deliver better frame rates, even if its pixel rate is lower at 8.264 GPixel/s.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 wins in modern API environments and power-sensitive applications. Its Vulkan score of 4088 is 18.2% ahead of the GT 740M, making it the superior choice for Vulkan-based games and workloads. The support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with the latest software, whereas the GT 740M's older API support may cause issues. The UHD 710's pixel rate of 10.40 GPixel/s is also higher, which can benefit fill-rate-limited scenarios. At 15 W TDP, it is the clear winner for battery life and thermal efficiency in ultraportable devices. Its shared memory architecture is a drawback, but for light gaming or general productivity, the UHD 710 is a more than capable integrated solution. The data ultimately shows a tie in wins (1-1), but the UHD 710 edges ahead in average score, making it the more balanced recommendation for a new system.