Intel UHD Graphics 710 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 and Intel UHD Graphics 710 represent two very different approaches to graphics processing: a dedicated discrete GPU from 2013 aimed at entry-level desktop gaming, and an integrated graphics processor from 2022 built into Alder Lake CPUs. Benchmark data shows they land within 0.8% of each other in average score, with the GTX 650 averaging 3823 and the UHD 710 averaging 3792. Both sit at the 22nd percentile of all GPUs, placing them in the lower tier of performance, though their architectural differences and API support tell a more nuanced story than the raw scores suggest.

FAQ

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in average benchmark scores?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 averages 3823 across its benchmarks, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 averages 3792. This puts the GTX 650 just 0.8% ahead of the UHD 710, and the UHD 710 trails the GTX 650 by 0.8% in the Intel's own nearestRivals data — a statistical tie.

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL workloads?

A: The GTX 650 wins decisively in Geekbench OpenCL, scoring 4545 versus 3496 for the UHD 710. That is a 30% advantage for the NVIDIA card, which is its largest head-to-head margin.

Q: What about Vulkan performance?

A: The GTX 650 also leads in Geekbench Vulkan, scoring 4524 against 4088 for the UHD 710. The delta here is 10.7%, a smaller but still clear win for the discrete card.

Q: What are the memory configurations?

A: The GTX 650 has 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 80.00 GB/s bandwidth. The UHD 710 uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth listed as System Dependent.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer DirectX version?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the GTX 650 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). In Vulkan, the UHD 710 supports version 1.4, compared to 1.2.175 for the GTX 650.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The GTX 650 has a TDP of 65 W and requires a 250 W suggested PSU plus a 1x 6-pin power connector. The UHD 710 has a TDP of just 15 W and draws all power from the motherboard as an IGP.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 uses the GK106 chip based on the Kepler architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 11.5M / mm². The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses the Alder Lake chip based on Generation 12.2 architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Its transistor count, die size, and density are not listed, but the process node difference — 28 nm versus 10 nm — is stark and reflects the eight-year gap in release dates.

The compute configuration differs significantly. The GTX 650 packs 384 shading units, 32 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster output pipelines (ROPs). The UHD 710 has just 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This 3x advantage in shaders and 4x advantage in TMUs for the NVIDIA card explains its fillrate lead. The GTX 650 delivers 8.464 GPixel/s pixel rate and 33.86 GTexel/s texture rate, while the UHD 710 achieves 10.40 GPixel/s and 10.40 GTexel/s respectively. Interestingly, the Intel part has a higher pixel rate despite fewer ROPs, likely due to its higher boost clock.

Clock speeds and memory architecture are also divergent. The UHD 710 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1300 MHz, while the GTX 650's base and boost clocks are not listed; only its memory clock of 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) is provided. The GTX 650 runs GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, while the UHD 710 relies on system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM. The GTX 650's FP32 throughput is 812.5 GFLOPS, nearly 2.5x the UHD 710's 332.8 GFLOPS, though the Intel part does list FP16 capability at 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1), which the NVIDIA card lacks entirely.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for distinct use cases. The GTX 650 is the stronger raw performer, winning both head-to-head benchmark tests (2 wins, 0 losses) with a 30% advantage in OpenCL and a 10.7% edge in Vulkan. Its dedicated 1024 MB GDDR5 memory with 80.00 GB/s bandwidth and 384 shading units make it the better choice for any workload that relies on sustained compute throughput or local memory access. The UHD 710, however, offers a more modern feature set with DirectX 12 (12_1) support and Vulkan 1.4, compared to DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175 on the GTX 650. It also consumes just 15 W versus 65 W, making it far more efficient for basic desktop tasks.

For gamers or users running OpenCL-heavy applications, the GTX 650 is the definitive pick based on benchmark results. The 30% delta in OpenCL is substantial and cannot be offset by the UHD 710's newer architecture. For users building a low-power system where the CPU's integrated graphics suffice, the UHD 710's 22nd percentile standing matches the GTX 650, but its lack of a dedicated memory bus and lower shader count will show in compute-bound tasks. The GTX 650's end-of-life status and 2013 release date mean it is a legacy part, while the UHD 710, despite also being end-of-life, launched in 2022 and benefits from newer API support. Choose the GTX 650 for performance, the UHD 710 for efficiency and modern API compatibility.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 | Intel UHD Graphics 710 |

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

| Architecture | Kepler | Generation 12.2 |

| Process Node | 28 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 2,540 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 221 mm² | Not listed |

| Shading Units | 384 | 128 |

| TMUs | 32 | 8 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | Not listed | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not listed | 1300 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1250 MHz (5 Gbps) | System Shared |

| Memory Size | 1024 MB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Bus Width | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Bandwidth | 80.00 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Pixel Rate | 8.464 GPixel/s | 10.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 33.86 GTexel/s | 10.40 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 812.5 GFLOPS | 332.8 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | Not listed | 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | IGP |

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

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | Not listed |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | Ring Bus |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 2x DisplayPort 1.2 | Motherboard Dependent |

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

| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | 1.2.175 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2013-11-26 | 2022-01-03 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test delivers the most lopsided result in this comparison. The GTX 650 scores 4545, while the UHD 710 manages only 3496, yielding a 30% delta in favor of NVIDIA. This margin is consistent with the hardware disparity: the GTX 650's 384 shading units and 16 ROPs provide a massive compute advantage over the UHD 710's 128 shaders and 8 ROPs. The dedicated GDDR5 memory with 80.00 GB/s bandwidth also eliminates the system-memory bottleneck that the UHD 710 faces with its System Dependent bandwidth. For OpenCL workloads like physics simulation, image processing, or cryptocurrency mining, the GTX 650 is unequivocally the stronger card.

The Vulkan test is closer but still favors the GTX 650. It scores 4524 against 4088 for the UHD 710, a 10.7% win. Vulkan's lower overhead and better multi-threading help the Intel part close some of the gap, but the GTX 650's superior texture rate (33.86 GTexel/s versus 10.40 GTexel/s) and fillrate keep it ahead. The UHD 710's higher pixel rate (10.40 GPixel/s versus 8.464 GPixel/s) does not translate into a Vulkan win, suggesting that shader throughput matters more than pixel output in this workload. The GTX 650's 812.5 GFLOPS FP32 performance versus 332.8 GFLOPS on the UHD 710 is the decisive factor.

In the broader nearestRivals context, the GTX 650's 3823 average sits just 0.3% below the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 (3834) and 1.5% above the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (3883, with a -1.5% delta). The UHD 710's 3792 average is 1.4% above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M (3740) and 2% above the NVIDIA Quadro 3000M (3718). Both cards occupy the same competitive neighborhood, but the GTX 650's wins are larger in magnitude than the UHD 710's losses. The head-to-head results confirm this asymmetry: the GTX 650 wins both tests, with its OpenCL victory being three times larger than its Vulkan edge.