Intel UHD Graphics 730 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti Comparison

Intel UHD Graphics 730 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti land in the same performance tier despite a decade of architectural separation, with the integrated Intel part edging out the older discrete card in the only directly comparable benchmark. The data shows a narrow but definitive victory for the Intel solution, though each GPU brings distinct strengths that matter for different workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head result is Geekbench OpenCL, where Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5988 against the GTX 550 Ti’s 5731. That is a 4.5% delta in Intel’s favor, a meaningful margin in a benchmark that stresses raw compute throughput. When placed against their nearest rivals, both GPUs sit at the 33rd percentile of all GPUs, confirming they are direct competitors in the entry-level segment. Intel’s average benchmark score of 5929 is derived from two tests (OpenCL and Vulkan), while NVIDIA’s 5731 average comes from a single OpenCL run, so the comparison slightly favors the card with more data points.

Looking at the rival clusters, Intel UHD Graphics 730 sits within a tight band: it trails AMD Radeon HD 8730M by 0.4%, Quadro K620M by 0.5%, and Radeon HD 8750M by 0.7%, while leading Quadro K4000 by 0.9%. The GTX 550 Ti’s rivals show a similar pattern: it beats GeForce GTX 670MX by 0.2%, Iris Pro Graphics P6300 by 0.3%, and Radeon HD 8790M by 0.7%, but falls 1.9% behind Radeon R7 M465. Neither card dominates its peer group, reinforcing that this is a coin-flip matchup in aggregate performance.

The 4.5% OpenCL advantage for Intel is consistent with its higher FP32 throughput (499.2 GFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS for NVIDIA — wait, that shows NVIDIA is actually higher). This discrepancy requires careful reading: the benchmark result favors Intel despite NVIDIA’s higher theoretical compute, which suggests real-world efficiency differences beyond raw specs. The Geekbench score likely reflects driver maturity, memory subsystem behavior, and the integrated part’s ability to leverage system memory more effectively in this specific workload.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two is vast. Intel UHD Graphics 730 is built on Intel’s 14 nm+++ process node and uses the Generation 12.1 architecture, also known as HD Graphics (Rocket Lake). It is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a Ring Bus interface, meaning it shares system memory and has no dedicated VRAM. Its base clock is 300 MHz with a boost of 1300 MHz, and memory bandwidth is listed as “System Dependent” — a critical caveat because performance scales with the host system’s RAM speed.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti, by contrast, is a discrete card from the Fermi 2.0 architecture, built on TSMC’s 40 nm process. It has 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9M per mm². The card uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 98.50 GB/s of bandwidth — a fixed, dedicated resource that does not depend on the host system. Its memory clock is 1026 MHz with 4.1 Gbps effective data rate.

Core configuration differences are stark. Both have 192 shading units, but NVIDIA packs 32 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 24 raster output units (ROPs), versus Intel’s 12 TMUs and 8 ROPs. This gives NVIDIA a massive advantage in texture fill rate (28.80 GTexel/s vs 15.60 GTexel/s) and a slight edge in pixel rate (7.200 GPixel/s vs 10.40 GPixel/s — actually Intel wins pixel rate). The FP32 compute tells a similar split story: NVIDIA reaches 691.2 GFLOPS while Intel manages 499.2 GFLOPS, yet Intel still won the OpenCL benchmark.

Feature support diverges significantly. Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while NVIDIA is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and lacks Vulkan entirely. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The GTX 550 Ti predates modern API expectations, which matters for compatibility with newer titles. Intel’s power envelope is dramatically lower at 15 W TDP versus NVIDIA’s 116 W, and the bus interface differs: Ring Bus for Intel, PCIe 2.0 x16 for NVIDIA.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but conditional conclusion: Intel UHD Graphics 730 is the better choice for modern API support and power efficiency, while NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti wins on raw texture throughput and dedicated memory bandwidth. In the only direct benchmark comparison, Intel leads by 4.5%, but that lead comes from a single OpenCL test. The GTX 550 Ti’s higher FP32 (691.2 vs 499.2 GFLOPS) and texture rate (28.80 vs 15.60 GTexel/s) suggest it would win in texture-heavy workloads, even though the benchmark data does not capture that scenario.

For users prioritizing compatibility with current software, Intel’s Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12_1 support are decisive advantages. The GTX 550 Ti’s DirectX 11_0 ceiling and absent Vulkan make it a legacy part. Power consumption is another separator: 15 W vs 116 W is not a minor difference — it determines whether a system needs a discrete power connector and a 300 W PSU (as the GTX 550 Ti requires) or can run off the motherboard.

The verdict from the data: pick Intel UHD Graphics 730 if you need modern API coverage, low power draw, and competitive OpenCL performance. Pick the GTX 550 Ti if you have a workload that leverages its 32 TMUs and 98.50 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth, and you can tolerate its 116 W power draw and 2011-era feature set.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5988 versus the GTX 550 Ti’s 5731, a 4.5% advantage for Intel.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, but differently: Intel supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while NVIDIA supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses System Shared memory, while the GTX 550 Ti has 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5.

Q: Which GPU has more texture mapping units?

A: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has 32 TMUs, compared to Intel’s 12 TMUs.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: Intel UHD Graphics 730 is rated at 15 W TDP, while the GTX 550 Ti is rated at 116 W TDP.

Q: Does the GTX 550 Ti support Vulkan?

A: No, Vulkan support is listed as null for the GTX 550 Ti; Intel UHD Graphics 730 supports Vulkan 1.4.

Where Each One Wins

Intel UHD Graphics 730 wins in OpenCL compute performance, as evidenced by its 5988 score versus 5731. It also wins on API modernity with Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12_1, and on power efficiency with 15 W TDP. Its pixel rate is higher at 10.40 GPixel/s versus 7.200 GPixel/s, which benefits fill-rate-bound scenarios. The integrated nature means zero additional slot space and no power connectors.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti wins decisively on texture throughput: 28.80 GTexel/s is 84.6% higher than Intel’s 15.60 GTexel/s. Its FP32 compute of 691.2 GFLOPS exceeds Intel’s 499.2 GFLOPS by 38.5%. The dedicated 98.50 GB/s GDDR5 bandwidth on a 192-bit bus provides consistent memory performance, unlike Intel’s system-dependent bandwidth. The 24 ROPs also triple Intel’s 8 ROPs, which helps in certain rasterization workloads. It supports OpenGL 4.6 just like Intel, but its PCIe 2.0 x16 interface allows it to be installed in any desktop with a compatible slot.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel UHD Graphics 730 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti |

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

| Process Node | 14 nm+++ | 40 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 238 mm² |

| Transistor Density | Not listed | 4.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | Not listed |

| Boost Clock | 1300 MHz | Not listed |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 1024 MB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 98.50 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 192 | 192 |

| TMUs | 12 | 32 |

| ROPs | 8 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 10.40 GPixel/s | 7.200 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 15.60 GTexel/s | 28.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 499.2 GFLOPS | 691.2 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 998.4 GFLOPS (2:1) | Not listed |

| TDP | 15 W | 116 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | 1x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | Not listed | 300 W |

| Bus Interface | Ring Bus | PCIe 2.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a |

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

| Vulkan | 1.4 | Not listed |

| Length | Not listed | 210 mm / 8.3 inches |

| Release Date | 2021-03-29 | 2011-03-14 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | 149 USD |