AMD Radeon iGPU vs. Intel Iris Xe: What's the Best Integrated Graphics? (2024)

If you're buying a budget laptop or desktop PC, a discrete GPU probably isn't in your plan. But that doesn't mean you should settle for any CPU with an integrated GPU.

And with AMD and Intel integrating GPUs that feature tech used in their more powerful discrete GPU products, you might not even need a separate video card. So, which processor should you get if you don't want to spend on a discrete graphics card but still want to play some games?

Intel Iris Xe vs. AMD Radeon: Which Processors Have Them?

Intel introduced the Iris Xe integrated GPU on some 11th-Gen Intel Core mobile processors. Since then, it has appeared across the laptop processor line in the 12th and 13th-Gen Intel Core chips.

Not all 11th, 12th, and 13th-Gen Intel Core chips have Iris XE integrated GPUs, even if they're mobile processors.

This significant variation of Iris Xe-equipped CPUs means that Intel also adjusted the capability of the GPU inside. It did so by changing the number of execution units (EUs) to ensure the processor consumes power within its allotted budget.

The most powerful processors, usually the Core i9 and i7 chips, use 96 EUs, while Intel's mid-range variants only have 80. And for low-powered CPUs, Intel further lowered the EUs to 64 and 48.

You might notice that we did not include Intel's latest 14th-Gen chip in our list. That's because this processor generation does not strictly use the Iris Xe branding for CPUs with integrated graphics. Nevertheless, Intel's 14th-Gen chips do have Intel UHD Graphics feature Xe architecture, even though they aren't strictly Iris Xe-branded.

On the other hand, AMD's latest chips featured two different integrated GPU generations: RDNA2 and RDNA3. The 7000-Series AMD desktop CPUs all use AMD Radeon Graphics, which has two cores and a 2.2GHz frequency. As for the other processors, AMD used five different AMD Radeon Integrated Graphics chips.

We're also not including AMD handheld gaming processors—namely the AMD Ryzen Z1 and Z1 Extreme. However, they use the 740M and 780M AMD Radeon graphics, respectively.

Intel Iris Xe vs. AMD Radeon: Specifications

Given that there are numerous integrated GPUs, we'll only compare the two of the most powerful from each maker. So, let's compare the Intel Iris Xe 96 EU, Iris Xe 80 EU, AMD Radeon 780M, and AMD Radeon 760M.

First, we'll check their physical specifications:

Looking at these numbers, it seems AMD has the advantage over Iris Xe.

Intel Iris Xe vs. AMD Radeon: Theoretical Performance Comparison

So, let's confirm that on-paper advantage with the theoretical performance of these integrated GPUs.

These results confirm that the top AMD chips outclass the integrated Intel Iris Xe cards. But do they affect real-world performance?

Intel Iris Xe vs. AMD Radeon: Gaming Benchmarks

Because these are all laptop chips, finding a computer with the exact specifications except for the integrated GPU is nearly impossible. So, to help even the playing field as much as possible, we will only get the best results from each test run.

Many games are playable on all three integrated GPUs except Cyberpunk 2077, which had a terrible below-30 FPS average on both Intel Iris Xes. Just note that the games are set to minimum quality and the lowest possible resolution to give the hardware the best chance at running them.

How the Integrated GPU Will Affect Your Processor Choice

If you're a hardcore gamer, you need a gaming laptop or a desktop computer with a dedicated graphics card. But if you still want to game occasionally but are unwilling to shell out extra for GPU, then you should look at the CPUs or APUs we discussed today.

Of course, most laptop buyers have to stick to a budget, so we suggest you pick three to five laptop options that fit within that budget. From there, look at the fine print of their specifications and check out what kind of integrated GPU they sport.

Once you have that information, it's easy to look through here to see what games it could play. From there, pick the best CPU that will deliver your needs.

What Is the Better CPU/GPU Package?

According to the results above, the best CPU/GPU package is the AMD Radeon 780M-equipped Ryzen 9 8945HS and Ryzen 7 8845HS. If that's unavailable, go for the Ryzen 5 8645HS with a 760M integrated GPU. You can also go for the Ryzen 7 8700G if you have a desktop build instead.

With these APUs, you can play some titles even without a dedicated GPU, as long as you're willing to deal with low-quality visuals. However, while AMD-integrated GPUs deliver excellent performance, especially for older gamers, they still can't deliver the power required to appreciate the advancements in in-game graphics. While it's good to have a powerful APU as the beating heart of your PC, you still cannot forgo getting a dedicated GPU to play the latest titles.