Intel UHD Graphics 730 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M and Intel UHD Graphics 730 represent two fundamentally different approaches to graphics processing: a dedicated mobile discrete GPU from 2013 versus a modern integrated graphics solution from 2021. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner, but the details of how and why reveal a more nuanced story about architecture, power, and performance expectations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 8,552, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5,988. This gives the NVIDIA part a 42.8% advantage — a massive margin across GPU benchmarks. The data indicates that the GTX 770M is not just faster; it is substantially faster, dominating the integrated Intel solution in raw compute throughput.

However, the story is more complex when examining the broader benchmark landscape. The GTX 770M’s average benchmark score is 6,000, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 averages 5,929. This puts the two parts remarkably close in overall standing, with the NVIDIA card leading by only 1.2%. The discrepancy between the head-to-head OpenCL result and the average scores suggests that the GTX 770M’s OpenCL performance is an outlier strength, while its other benchmark results (like the Geekbench Metal score of 3,448) drag its average down significantly. The Intel part shows more consistency, with a Vulkan score of 5,870 that is close to its OpenCL result.

Looking at the percentile rankings, the GTX 770M sits at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is just below at the 33rd percentile. This two-percentile gap confirms that while the NVIDIA card is faster in the head-to-head test, both are positioned in the lower-midrange of the overall GPU landscape. The nearest rivals for the GTX 770M include the AMD Radeon RX 6400 with a nearly identical average score of 6,001 (0% delta), and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server at 5,996 (0.1% delta). For the Intel part, its closest competitors are the AMD Radeon HD 8730M at 5,955 (-0.4% delta) and the NVIDIA Quadro K620M at 5,957 (-0.5% delta). These rivalry comparisons highlight that the GTX 770M is bracketed by a mix of modern and professional parts, while the Intel integrated GPU competes with older mobile dedicated cards.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is built on the GK106 chip using the Kepler architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 2,540 million transistors into a 221 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 11.5 million per square millimeter. In contrast, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses the Rocket Lake chip with the Generation 12.1 architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm+++ process. The Intel part’s transistor count and die size are not listed, but the process node difference alone — 28 nm versus 14 nm+++ — indicates Intel is using a more advanced manufacturing technique, albeit one that is several generations old by 2021 standards.

The compute resources differ dramatically. The GTX 770M features 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has only 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This 5:1 ratio in shading units explains the GTX 770M’s compute advantage, despite the Intel part’s higher boost clock. The GTX 770M operates at a base clock of 706 MHz with a boost of 797 MHz, while the Intel part runs at 300 MHz base and 1,300 MHz boost. The Intel’s much higher boost clock cannot compensate for its drastically lower core count.

Memory architecture is another fundamental divergence. The NVIDIA card uses 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth described as System Dependent. This means the Intel GPU’s memory performance is entirely dependent on the host system’s RAM configuration, which is a significant disadvantage for bandwidth-sensitive workloads. The GTX 770M’s dedicated memory provides predictable, consistent performance, while the Intel part’s performance can vary wildly based on the laptop or desktop’s memory setup.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 770M wins in raw compute throughput, as demonstrated by its 42.8% lead in OpenCL. Its 1.530 TFLOPS of FP32 performance dwarfs the Intel part’s 499.2 GFLOPS. This makes the NVIDIA card the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, and any general-purpose GPU workloads that leverage OpenCL. The GTX 770M also offers superior pixel fill rate at 15.94 GPixel/s versus 10.40 GPixel/s, and texture fill rate at 63.76 GTexel/s versus 15.60 GTexel/s. These specifications translate to better performance in traditional gaming scenarios where fill rates matter.

The Intel UHD Graphics 730 wins in efficiency and integration. Its 15 W TDP is one-fifth of the GTX 770M’s 75 W TDP, making it far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power consumption and heat generation are critical constraints. The Intel part also supports newer API features, including DirectX 12 (12_1) versus the GTX 770M’s DirectX 12 (11_0). This means the Intel GPU can handle newer DirectX 12 titles with feature level 12_1, while the NVIDIA card is limited to the older 11_0 feature set. The Intel part also supports Vulkan 1.4, a newer version than the GTX 770M’s Vulkan 1.2.175.

In terms of raw benchmark scores, the Intel part’s Vulkan score of 5,870 is respectable and shows it can handle modern graphics APIs reasonably well. Its OpenCL score of 5,988 is also competitive with its own peer group, as evidenced by its nearest rivals being within 0.9% of its average score. The Intel GPU wins in scenarios where the workload is light enough that the integrated solution’s lower compute capacity is not a bottleneck, and where its superior API support and lower power draw provide tangible benefits.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two parts are extensive. The GTX 770M uses the Kepler architecture on a 28 nm process, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses Generation 12.1 on 14 nm+++. The NVIDIA card has 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die; the Intel part’s transistor count and die size are not specified. Clock speeds differ: the GTX 770M runs at 706 MHz base and 797 MHz boost, while the Intel part runs at 300 MHz base and 1,300 MHz boost. Memory configurations are fundamentally different: the GTX 770M has 3 GB GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth.

Compute resources show the NVIDIA card’s superiority: 960 shading units versus 192, 80 TMUs versus 12, and 24 ROPs versus 8. Pixel rate is 15.94 GPixel/s versus 10.40 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 63.76 GTexel/s versus 15.60 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 1.530 TFLOPS versus 499.2 GFLOPS, though the Intel part offers FP16 at 998.4 GFLOPS (2:1) while the GTX 770M has no listed FP16 capability. TDP differs massively: 75 W versus 15 W. The GTX 770M uses an MXM Module slot with MXM-B (3.0) interface and no power connectors, while the Intel part is an IGP with a Ring Bus interface. Display outputs are Portable Device Dependent for NVIDIA and Motherboard Dependent for Intel. API support differs in DirectX version (12 (11_0) versus 12 (12_1)) and Vulkan version (1.2.175 versus 1.4), but both support OpenGL 4.6. The GTX 770M was released on May 29, 2013, while the Intel part came later on March 29, 2021.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 6,000 compared to the Intel UHD Graphics 730’s 5,929, a difference of about 1.2%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two in the head-to-head test?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 770M scores 8,552 versus 5,988 for the Intel UHD Graphics 730, giving the NVIDIA card a 42.8% advantage.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The GTX 770M has a TDP of 75 W, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 has a TDP of just 15 W, making the Intel part five times more power-efficient.

Q: Which GPU supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 770M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The GTX 770M has 3 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth.

Q: How do the shading unit counts compare?

A: The GTX 770M has 960 shading units, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 has 192, giving the NVIDIA card a 5:1 advantage in this metric.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is the superior performer for compute-intensive tasks. Its 42.8% lead in OpenCL, combined with 5x more shading units, 4x more TMUs, and 3x more ROPs, makes it the obvious choice for gaming, 3D rendering, and general GPU compute workloads. The GTX 770M’s dedicated 3 GB of GDDR5 memory with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth provides consistent, high-bandwidth access that the Intel part’s System Shared memory cannot match. Its higher fill rates (15.94 GPixel/s versus 10.40 GPixel/s) and texture rates (63.76 GTexel/s versus 15.60 GTexel/s) translate directly to better performance in rasterization-heavy applications.

However, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is not without merit. Its 15 W TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the GTX 770M’s 75 W, and its support for newer APIs (DirectX 12_1 and Vulkan 1.4) means it can run modern software features that the older NVIDIA part cannot. The Intel GPU’s higher boost clock of 1,300 MHz versus 797 MHz shows it can handle burst workloads reasonably well, and its Vulkan score of 5,870 demonstrates respectable performance in modern API contexts.

The choice between these two GPUs depends entirely on the use case. For anyone needing maximum compute performance in a mobile or small-form-factor system, the GTX 770M is the clear winner, despite its age and higher power draw. For those prioritizing battery life, minimal heat, and the ability to run modern API features in light workloads, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is the sensible choice. The benchmark data shows that while the NVIDIA card wins the raw performance battle by a significant margin, the Intel part’s efficiency and modern feature set make it a viable option for specific scenarios. The GTX 770M’s average score of 6,000 places it just 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server in its rival group, while the Intel part sits 0.9% behind the NVIDIA Quadro K4000, illustrating that both are firmly in the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.