Intel UHD Graphics 730 vs NVIDIA Quadro K3100M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits the two graphics processors evenly, with one decisive victory per GPU. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 takes the Vulkan compute test, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M takes the OpenCL test. This is not a case of one product dominating outright; instead, each part claims a different API workload.

For Vulkan, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5870, which is 7% ahead of the Quadro K3100M's 5484. This is the larger relative gap in either direction, making Vulkan performance the clearest differentiator in favor of the Intel part. The Quadro, by contrast, wins the OpenCL test by a narrower margin: 6154 versus 5988, a 2.7% advantage.

The broader benchmark averages reinforce that these are closely matched parts overall. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has an average benchmark score of 5929, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M averages 5154. However, the average includes the Quadro's Metal benchmark (3823), which the Intel part cannot run, so the head-to-head OpenCL and Vulkan results are the more meaningful comparison for this pairing.

The Intel part occupies the 33rd percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the Quadro sits at the 30th percentile. These are both firmly mid-pack performers; neither is a high-flyer, nor are they bottom-tier parts. The Intel GPU's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon HD 8730M (5955 average, 0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro K620M (5957, 0.5% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 8750M (5970, 0.7% ahead), and the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 (5982, 0.9% ahead). The Quadro K3100M's nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon R7 M260X (5161, 0.1% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M (5211, 1.1% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M (5236, 1.6% ahead), and the AMD Radeon R7 240 (5063, 1.8% behind). These clusters show that each GPU is competitive with a slightly different set of mid-range parts.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from completely different architectural lineages. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 is built on Generation 12.1 architecture, using the Rocket Lake chip, and is manufactured on a 14 nm+++ process at Intel's own foundry. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M uses the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process.

The transistor and die data are only recorded for the NVIDIA part. The Quadro K3100M packs 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². No comparable figures exist for the Intel GPU in the database.

The shading resources differ substantially. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has 192 shading units, 12 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M has 768 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. In raw counts, the NVIDIA part has four times the shading units, more than five times the TMUs, and four times the ROPs. However, the Intel part compensates with a much higher boost clock: 1300 MHz versus the Quadro's fixed 706 MHz (base and boost are identical for the NVIDIA part).

Memory configurations are fundamentally different. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses system shared memory, with the bus width and capacity both listed as "System Shared" and bandwidth described as "System Dependent." The Quadro K3100M has a dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth.

The API support also differs. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA part supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. Notably, the Quadro also has a Metal benchmark recorded, while the Intel part does not. The Intel GPU has no recorded fp16 or fp32 compute figures for comparison beyond its GFLOPS numbers, while the Quadro has fp32 of 1,084.4 GFLOPS and no fp16 figure recorded.

Power and physical specifications differ as well. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has a TDP of 15 W and is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a Ring Bus interface. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M has a TDP of 75 W, uses an MXM Module form factor with an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, and requires no power connectors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded head-to-head benchmarks are Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan. In OpenCL, the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M scores 6154 against the Intel UHD Graphics 730's 5988. The delta is 2.7% in favor of the NVIDIA part. This is a modest but clear win for the Quadro, and it aligns with the Quadro's larger shading unit count and dedicated memory bandwidth.

In Vulkan, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 reverses the result. It scores 5870 versus the Quadro's 5484, a 7% advantage for the Intel part. This is the more decisive margin of the two tests. The Intel GPU's newer architecture generation, despite far fewer shading units, appears to extract more efficiency from the Vulkan API.

The Intel part also records a higher single-test score in Vulkan (5870) than the Quadro does in that same test (5484), while the Quadro's OpenCL score (6154) is higher than the Intel's OpenCL score (5988). The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the Intel GPU averages 5929 across its two recorded tests (OpenCL and Vulkan), while the Quadro averages 5154 across three tests (Metal, OpenCL, Vulkan). The Metal score of 3823 drags down the Quadro's average considerably, but Metal is not a cross-platform comparison point here.

Within their respective nearest-rival groups, the Intel part sits just below the AMD Radeon HD 8730M, the NVIDIA Quadro K620M, the AMD Radeon HD 8750M, and the NVIDIA Quadro K4000, all of which are within 0.9% of its average score. The Quadro K3100M sits within 1.6% of the AMD Radeon R7 M260X, the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M, while the AMD Radeon R7 240 is 1.8% behind it. These groupings show that neither GPU has a clear tier advantage; they are both positioned among older mid-range mobile and workstation parts.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in OpenCL performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M wins the OpenCL test with a score of 6154, beating the Intel UHD Graphics 730's 5988 by 2.7%.

Q: Which GPU wins in Vulkan performance?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 wins the Vulkan test with a score of 5870, beating the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M's 5484 by 7%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has an average benchmark score of 5929, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M averages 5154. The Quadro's average includes a Metal score of 3823, which the Intel part does not have recorded.

Q: What are their relative positions in the database?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 is at the 33rd percentile among all GPUs, and the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is at the 30th percentile.

Q: Do they have the same memory configuration?

A: No. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M has 768 shading units, compared to the Intel UHD Graphics 730's 192 shading units.

The Verdict

The data points to a use-case split rather than a single winner. If the workload is OpenCL compute, the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is the better choice, with a 2.7% lead over the Intel UHD Graphics 730. If the workload is Vulkan, the Intel part is clearly ahead, with a 7% margin.

For users who prioritize Vulkan compute, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is the stronger option. Its 7% advantage in that test is the largest delta recorded between the two parts, and its 33rd percentile ranking is slightly better than the Quadro's 30th percentile. The Intel part also runs on a newer architecture generation (Generation 12.1 versus Kepler) and supports Vulkan 1.4 versus the Quadro's 1.2.175.

For users who need OpenCL performance or dedicated memory, the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is the safer pick. Its 4 GB of GDDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth is a significant advantage over system shared memory, and its 768 shading units provide substantially more raw compute resources. The Quadro's 2.7% OpenCL win is smaller than the Intel's Vulkan win, but the dedicated memory and higher throughput rates (45.18 GTexel/s texture rate versus 15.60 GTexel/s, and 1,084.4 GFLOPS fp32 versus 499.2 GFLOPS) suggest it handles sustained compute workloads more consistently.

Neither part is a high performer in the absolute sense. Both sit below the 35th percentile in the database, and both are end-of-life products. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 was released in 2021, while the Quadro K3100M was released in 2013. The Quadro has a clear predecessor (Quadro Fermi-M) and successor (Quadro Maxwell-M) recorded; the Intel part has neither.

The decision hinges on the target API. Vulkan-centric tasks favor the Intel part by a healthy margin. OpenCL-centric tasks favor the NVIDIA part by a smaller margin. The Quadro's dedicated memory and higher compute throughput make it the more conventional choice for professional mobile workloads, while the Intel part's newer architecture and Vulkan efficiency make it the better fit for modern API-based compute.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel UHD Graphics 730 | NVIDIA Quadro K3100M |

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

| Architecture | Generation 12.1 | Kepler |

| Chip | Rocket Lake | GK104 |

| Process Node | 14 nm+++ | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 3,540 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 294 mm² |

| Transistor Density | Not recorded | 12.0M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 706 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1300 MHz | 706 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 102.4 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 192 | 768 |

| TMUs | 12 | 64 |

| ROPs | 8 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 10.40 GPixel/s | 11.30 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 15.60 GTexel/s | 45.18 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 499.2 GFLOPS | 1,084.4 GFLOPS |

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

| TDP | 15 W | 75 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | Not applicable | None |

| Bus Interface | Ring Bus | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2021-03-29 | 2013-07-22 |

| Predecessor | Not recorded | Quadro Fermi-M |

| Successor | Not recorded | Quadro Maxwell-M |