Intel Iris Xe vs. Intel UHD: A Comprehensive Comparison
Daud Ahmad
[This is a sample of an article that's already been posted]
Intel Iris Xe vs. Intel UHD: A Comprehensive Comparison
Iris Xe and UHD graphics are part of Intel’s integrated chipset architecture – meaning, the GPU and CPU are built onto a single chip. Therefore, you will get a display without requiring a separate (dedicated) graphics card.
This serves several benefits such as reducing costs and energy usage, but primarily, they can help you overcome space constraints in tighter builds such as in laptops or small form factors.
But the question still remains – Intel Iris Xe or UHD, which one is better? Read on ahead to find the answer along with a few tips that will help you decide which one is better for you.
What Is Intel Iris Xe?
Intel Iris Xe is one of Intel’s top-of-the-line integrated graphics processors. Intel introduced the first set of Iris Xe Graphics back in Q3 2020 with its 11th-Gen processors. These were the company’s response to customers’ demand for better performance and speed.
The Xe architecture offers higher frequency, more memory bandwidth, and a greater number of execution units – which is the number of instructions that can be executed in a second (the higher the better).
Intel introduced 13th-Gen Raptor Lake mobile chips in 2023, which are a more advanced version of the Iris Xe Graphics – i.e., more execution units and increased speed.
Additionally, the 13th-Gen processors use a mode called “endurance gaming”. This mode locks the game’s FPS to 30 and then uses Intel’s XeSS upscaling technology to produce much better graphics.
Notable Features
· Iris Xe processors have a variable frequency that ranges from the slowest at 950MHz and the fastest at 1.65GHz.
· It supports a maximum resolution of 4096x2160 at 60Hz over HDMI.
· It can also support 7648x4320 at 60Hz via DisplayPort.
· It is compatible with 4K and 8K displays.
Pros
ü Can connect four HDR displays simultaneously.
ü Provides high-quality video streaming with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos support.
ü Iris Xe architecture consumes less power, meaning your laptop battery will last longer.
Cons
û Only available on Intel’s mobile CPUs.
û Graphics-intensive games don’t have a great look.
û The maximum frequency is slower than Intel’s processors without integrated graphics.
What Is Intel UHD?
Intel UHD Graphics has been around for several years and debuted by Intel back in 2015 in their “Skylake” architecture lineup. The company introduced Intel UHD 770 in 2022 on the launch of its 13th-Gen “Raptor Lake” desktop processors.
Although Intel UHD Graphics isn’t as fast as Iris Xe, but it is capable of handling basic tasks. It is a recommended choice for budget-minded users that do not require much graphical prowess from their system.
Along with budget considerations, Intel UHD offers better availability – it is available on both mobile as well as desktop processors. The Iris Xe graphics are only available on mobile processors (for laptops).
Notable Features
· It can support a maximum clock speed of up to 1.45GHz with a memory bandwidth of up to 128GB/s and 96 execution units (specs of Intel UHD 770).
· It can support a maximum resolution of 4096x2160 at 60Hz over HDMI.
· Over the DisplayPort, it can support 7680x4320 at 60Hz.
· It can support up to 4K 60Hz displays.
Pros
ü More budget-friendly option.
ü Has a better availability.
ü Uses Intel’s Clear Video HD Technology (image processing and decoding tech to improve video playback and quality).
Cons
û Isn’t as powerful as Iris Xe processors.
û Older models do not support 4K resolution and HDR.
û Older UHD graphics processors will struggle to run graphically intensive games.
Comparison: Intel Iris Xe vs Intel UHD
To understand a better comparison between Iris Xe and UHD, here’s a comparison between the fastest models of the two architectures in the following table. An explanation and a few details will be presented after this table.
Feature
Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Performance
Up to 4x Faster
Slower
Availability
Mobile Processors
Mobile And Desktop Processors
Execution Units
Up to 96
Up to 32
Base Clock Speed
300 MHz
300 MHz
Boost Clock Speed
1650 MHz
1550 MHz
Memory Bandwidth
128 GB/s
64 GB/s
Power Consumption
25 W
15 W
Estimated Budget
$600+
$300-$600
From the table above, you can see Intel Iris Xe offers a better performance than Intel UHD, but it also requires a higher budget. One of the reasons is that Intel UHD is based on older architecture and is typically found in earlier generations of Intel processors. Iris Xe, being a newer model, offers a significant improvement over previous generations.
Here are some advantages of Iris Xe over Intel UHD:
· More execution units – meaning, Iris Xe can process more instructions per second, resulting in a better overall performance.
· Higher clock speeds – which can speed up the calculation time.
· More memory bandwidth – this offers access to more amount of memory at a time, which is important for gaming and video editing.
Intel UHD also has some advantages over Iris Xe, here are a couple:
· Lower price – Intel UHD is less expensive, which is why it is a popular choice amongst consumers on a budget.
· Better availability – It is available on mobile as well as desktop processors (Iris Xe is only available on laptop variants and a few desktop systems).
Gaming Comparisons – Iris Xe Max vs UHD 770 vs Radeon Vega 8
i. Shadow Of The Tomb Raider:
At medium graphics settings at 1080p resolution, Iris Xe Max graphics was able to achieve an average of 50 FPS. Intel UHD averaged around half of that – 25 FPS. Radeon Vega 8 averaged around 35 FPS.
ii. Total War: Warhammer II:
At 1080p resolution and medium graphics settings, Iris Xe Max averaged 30 FPS while Intel UHD achieved a meager 15 FPS. Vega 8 averaged at 25 FPS.
iii. CS: GO:
At 1080p resolution and high graphics settings, Iris Xe achieved 120 FPS while UHD averaged 60 FPS; Vega 8 averaged 80 FPS.
iv. Fortnite:
At 1080p resolution and low graphics settings, Iris Xe delivered 60 FPS while UHD achieved 30 FPS; Vega 8 averaged 45 FPS.
Here are key takeaways from the above gaming comparison:
· Intel Iris Xe can run the majority of modern games at low to medium settings, while the Intel UHD is capable of running older and less demanding games.
· Iris Xe can run a wider range of games than Intel UHD and at higher settings.
· Iris Xe achieves 60 FPS in some games while UHD caps up at 60 FPS in most games.
· Intel Iris Xe is significantly faster than both Intel UHD and Radeon Vega 8.
· The performance difference is more noticeable at higher resolutions and graphics settings.
What Laptops Can You Get With Intel iGPUs?
With Iris Xe:
For a price comparison in laptops, here are some laptop models with Intel Iris Xe and their prices.
· Dell XPS 13: Starting at $999
· HP Spectre x360: Starting at $1,199
· Lenovo Yoga 9i: Starting at $1,299
With Intel UHD:
· Acer Aspire 5: Starting at $399
· Lenovo IdeaPad 3: Starting at $499
· HP Pavilion 15: Starting at $599
From the prices of the laptops in both categories, it’s evident that UHD models are much cheaper and highly budget friendly as compared to Intel Iris Xe.
How Does Intel Iris Xe Graphics Compare To iGPU From AMD?
A gaming comparison between the two iGPUs is given above. Here is a brief comparison between Intel Iris Xe and Radeon Vega 8:
Feature
Intel Iris Xe
AMD Radeon Vega 8
Execution Units
Up to 96
Up to 80
Base Clock Speed
Up to 300 MHz
Up to 300 MHz
Boost Clock Speed
Up to 1650 MHz
Up to 1100 MHz
Memory Bandwidth
128 GB/s
72 GB/s
Power Consumption
25 W
25 W
Ray Tracing
Supported
Not Supported
Price
$600+
$300-$600
Pros/Cons
Intel Iris Xe
AMD Radeon Vega
ü Faster in most benchmarks
ü Hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing
ü More Efficient – Runs Cooler and Quieter
û Available on a smaller range of processors
û More Expensive
û Slower
û No Ray Tracing
û Runs Hotter and Louder
ü Better Availability
ü More Affordable
AMD Radeon Vega delivers a performance somewhere between Intel Iris Xe and Intel UHD (see gaming comparison above). However, Radeon Vega and Intel UHD have almost similar prices; only, Radeon Vega has a better performance. Here are some laptops with Radeon Vega 8 and their estimated prices:
· Lenovo IdeaPad 3: Starting at $499.99
· Acer Aspire 5: Starting at $549.99
· Dell Inspiron 15: Starting at $599.99
FAQs
What is the difference between Intel Iris Xe and Intel UHD?
Iris Xe and Intel UHD are both integrated graphics solutions from Intel. However, Intel Iris Xe is significantly faster and delivers a better performance. They have more execution units, higher clock speeds, and more memory bandwidth. Though, they do cost more than Intel UHD.
Intel Iris Xe or Intel UHD, which is better for gaming and video editing?
For gaming as well as video editing, Intel Iris Xe is better than Intel UHD, thanks to more power, better clock speeds, and higher memory bandwidth. It can run most modern games, that too at low to medium settings. On the other hand, Intel UHD is capable of running older or less demanding games.
Can I upgrade from Intel UHD to Intel Iris Xe graphics on my existing system?
No, you cannot upgrade your existing system from Intel UHD to Intel Iris Xe. This is because Iris Xe is a newer architecture that isn’t compatible with UHD architecture. It is like you can’t fix an AMD processor or an Intel motherboard.
How Intel Iris GPU is different from an Intel Arc?
Intel Iris is an integrated GPU, which means it is built onto the same CPU processor chip. Intel Arc is a dedicated GPU from Intel, and likewise, it is able to deliver a much better performance. You will need a CPU if you decide to go with Intel Arc, and therefore the total budget will go up as well.
Which Intel processor families include Intel Iris Xe graphics?
Intel Iris Xe is included in the 11th, 12th, and 13th-gen processor families from Intel. These processors families are named by Intel as Tiger Lake, Alder Lake, and Raptor Lake respectively. Some processors that have Intel Iris Xe graphics are Core i9-13900K, Core i5-13600, Core i7-12700KF, and Core i3-1115G4.
Is Intel’s Iris Xe future-proof?
If your usage is light, such as simple browsing, working with spreadsheets, or even light gaming, then Intel Iris Xe is future-proof for you. However, they are still not as powerful as dedicated GPUs, so they aren’t sufficient for demanding applications or games.
Verdict Intel UHD Graphics vs. Intel Iris Xe: Which Is Better?
In terms of performance, Iris Xe tops Intel UHD all the time. It has more execution units, more power, and higher clock speeds, and it is based on a newer more efficient architecture.
However, all this power means it costs more than Intel UHD which is a highly budget-friendly option. And if you consider Iris Xe’s performance, it isn’t too much great. It will just get you by and will always be toppled by a dedicated GPU.
With that in mind, here’s a thought for you: what if you get a budget-friendly Intel UHD and combine it with an entry-level discreet GPU? Can you achieve a much better performance at almost the same price as a Laptop with an Intel Iris Xe?
Let us know your answers in the comments below!
2021
