GPU Comparison

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 is the superior graphics processor in every measurable head-to-head comparison. Across the two shared benchmark tests, the GTX 1050 wins decisively, with an average benchmark score of 3629 versus 3792 for the Intel UHD Graphics 710, though this aggregate figure flatters the Intel part due to its 22nd percentile ranking. The Intel UHD Graphics 710, with a 21st percentile ranking, is positioned at the very bottom of the GPU performance hierarchy, while the GTX 1050, despite its similar percentile, delivers dramatically higher raw compute in practical workloads.

The Verdict

The GTX 1050 is the clear choice for anyone needing actual graphics processing capability. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 1050 scores 15,233 compared to 3,496 for the Intel UHD Graphics 710, a 77% deficit for the Intel part. The Vulkan results tell the same story: 8,995 for the GTX 1050 versus 4,088 for the Intel, a 54.6% gap. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 should be viewed strictly as a display-output solution for basic desktop tasks, not as a gaming or compute device. The GTX 1050, while also an entry-level part, is the only one of the two that can handle modern 3D workloads at playable settings. The GTX 1050's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 6770 (0.5% higher score) and NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M (0.4% lower score), placing it in a different performance class than the Intel part, whose closest competitors are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 (0.8% lower score) and GeForce MX110 (1.1% lower score).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) built on Intel's 10 nm process, part of the Alder Lake generation using Generation 12.2 architecture. It relies on the system's shared memory for both storage and bandwidth, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1300 MHz. The silicon contains 128 shading units, 8 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units, yielding a pixel rate of 10.40 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 10.40 GTexel/s. Its FP32 compute is rated at 332.8 GFLOPS, with FP16 at 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The GTX 1050, by contrast, is a discrete dual-slot card based on the GP107 chip using NVIDIA's Pascal architecture, manufactured on Samsung's 14 nm process. It has 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die (25.0M transistors per mm²), with 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Its base clock is 1354 MHz with a boost of 1455 MHz, and it features 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus delivering 112.1 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 1050's pixel rate is 46.56 GPixel/s and texture rate is 58.20 GTexel/s. Its FP32 throughput is 1.862 TFLOPS, while FP16 is a mere 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio). Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, but the similarity ends there.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only two benchmarks shared between these GPUs are Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan, and the GTX 1050 dominates both. In OpenCL, the GTX 1050's score of 15,233 is more than four times the Intel's 3,496, a 77% lead that reflects the massive difference in shading units (640 versus 128) and memory bandwidth (112.1 GB/s versus system-dependent). The Vulkan test narrows the gap somewhat, with the GTX 1050 scoring 8,995 against 4,088 for the Intel part, but that still represents a 54.6% advantage. The Intel UHD Graphics 710's best result in its own benchmark suite is a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4,088 and OpenCL score of 3,496, which aligns it with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M (1.4% higher score) and Quadro 3000M (2% higher score). The GTX 1050's additional benchmark data reinforces its position: it scores 5,028 in Passmark G3D, 2,091 in Passmark GPU Compute, and 457 in Passmark G2D, with DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 scores of 83, 24, 38, and 20 respectively. Notably, the GTX 1050 also achieves a 7,823 score in Geekbench Metal, a test unavailable to the Intel part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 is overwhelmingly faster. It delivers 1.862 TFLOPS of FP32 performance versus 332.8 GFLOPS for the Intel UHD Graphics 710, a 5.6x difference in theoretical peak throughput.

Q: Is the Intel UHD Graphics 710 suitable for gaming?

A: No. Its 22nd percentile ranking among all GPUs and its nearest rivals (GeForce GTX 650, MX110, GT 635M) are all entry-level parts from previous generations. Its maximum shared-memory bandwidth is system-dependent, and its 128 shading units are insufficient for modern 3D titles.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The GTX 1050 has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 112.1 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses system-shared memory with no dedicated allocation, meaning its performance depends entirely on the host system's RAM.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a TDP of 15 W and requires no power connectors as an IGP. The GTX 1050 has a 75 W TDP, requires no additional power connectors, but needs a 250 W suggested PSU.

Q: Which GPU has better API support?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 1050 additionally supports Metal, evidenced by its Geekbench Metal score of 7,823, while the Intel part does not.

Q: What is the release timing difference?

A: The GTX 1050 was released on 2016-10-24, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 arrived on 2022-01-03, nearly six years later. Despite the newer release, the Intel part remains far behind in every benchmark metric.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 1050 wins in every performance category that matters. It dominates compute workloads with a 77% lead in OpenCL and 54.6% lead in Vulkan. Its dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 112.1 GB/s bandwidth makes it usable for texture-heavy applications, while the Intel part's system-shared memory creates a bottleneck for any data-intensive task. The GTX 1050's Passmark G3D score of 5,028 and GPU Compute score of 2,091 demonstrate capability in 3D rendering and general-purpose compute, areas where the Intel UHD Graphics 710 has no comparable benchmark data. The GTX 1050 also wins on physical design: it is a dual-slot card with dedicated display outputs (1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a) and a 145 mm length, whereas the Intel part is an IGP with motherboard-dependent outputs.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 wins only in power efficiency and integration. Its 15 W TDP is one-fifth of the GTX 1050's 75 W, making it suitable for low-power systems where a discrete GPU cannot be installed. It also requires no PCIe slot, using a Ring Bus interface instead of the GTX 1050's PCIe 3.0 x16. For users who need basic display output for office work, web browsing, or video playback, the Intel part suffices. However, the data shows no scenario where the Intel UHD Graphics 710 outperforms the GTX 1050 in any benchmark, rendering the choice simple: the GTX 1050 for any real graphics work, and the Intel part only when physical constraints or power limits force its use.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every technical specification. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses a 10 nm process from Intel's Alder Lake generation (Generation 12.2), while the GTX 1050 uses Samsung's 14 nm process with Pascal architecture. The GTX 1050 has 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die, while the Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size. Clock speeds: the Intel part runs at 300 MHz base and 1300 MHz boost, versus 1354 MHz base and 1455 MHz boost for the GTX 1050. Memory configuration is fundamentally different: the Intel part uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, while the GTX 1050 has 2 GB GDDR5, 128-bit bus, and 112.1 GB/s bandwidth. Compute resources: the Intel part has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, while the GTX 1050 has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Pixel and texture rates: the Intel part achieves 10.40 GPixel/s and 10.40 GTexel/s, versus 46.56 GPixel/s and 58.20 GTexel/s for the GTX 1050. FP32 performance: 332.8 GFLOPS for Intel versus 1.862 TFLOPS for NVIDIA. FP16: 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1) for Intel versus 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64) for NVIDIA. TDP: 15 W versus 75 W. Slot width: IGP versus dual-slot. Bus interface: Ring Bus versus PCIe 3.0 x16. Physical dimensions: the GTX 1050 measures 145 mm (5.7 inches) in length and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in height, while the Intel part has no listed dimensions. Display outputs: motherboard-dependent versus 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GTX 1050 has a launch MSRP of 109 USD, while the Intel part has no listed MSRP. Both are end-of-life products.