Intel HD Graphics 520 vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 vs Intel HD Graphics 505

Intel HD Graphics 520

The Intel HD Graphics 520 (GT2) is an integrated graphics unit, which can be found in various ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processors of the Skylake generation. This "GT2" version of the Skylake GPU offers 24 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at up to 1050 MHz (depending on the CPU model). Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the HD 520 has to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Performance

The exact performance of the HD Graphics 520 depends on various factors like L3 cache size, memory configuration (DDR3/DDR4) and maximum clock rate of the specific model. The fastest versions (Core i7-6600U) should perform similar to a dedicated GeForce 820M and will handle modern games (as of 2015) in low settings.

Features

The revised video engine now decodes H.265/HEVC completely in hardware and thereby much more efficiently than before. Displays can be connected via DP 1.2 / eDP 1.3 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz), whereas HDMI is limited to the older version 1.4a (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz). However, HDMI 2.0 can be added using a DisplayPort converter. Up to three displays can be controlled simultaneously.

Power Consumption

The HD Graphics 520 can be found in mobile processors specified at 15 W TDP and is therefore suited for compact laptops and ultrabooks.

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 (GT4e) is an integrated graphics unit of the Skylake generation (top version). As successors of the Iris Graphics 6200 (Broadwell), the Iris 580 can be found in some high-end quad core CPUs and offers 128 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory. Furthermore, the so-called GT4e-version features 72 Execution Units (EUs). Besides the eDRAM cache, the Iris 580 is able to access the main memory (2x 64bit DDR3L-1600 / DDR4-2133).

Compared to the Iris Graphics 550 (28 W GT3e), the Iris Pro Graphics 580 offers more EUs (72 vs. 48) and a larger eDRAM Cache (128 vs. 64 MB).

Performance

The exact performance of the Iris Graphics 580 depends on memory configuration and CPU model (different clock speeds). However, it should be clearly faster than the old Broadwell Iris Pro 6200 and may compete with a dedicated GeForce 945M. Modern games of 2015/2016 should be playable in medium settings.

Features

The revised video engine now decodes H.265/HEVC completely in hardware and thereby much more efficiently than before. Displays can be connected via DP 1.2 / eDP 1.3 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz), whereas HDMI is limited to the older version 1.4 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz). However, HDMI 2.0 can be added using a DisplayPort converter. Up to three displays can be controlled simultaneously.

Power Consumption

The Iris Graphics 580 can be found in some mobile high-end quad core processors (45 W). Therefore, they are most likely not used in thin and light laptops.

Intel HD Graphics 505

The Intel HD Graphics 505 is an integrated processor graphics unit from the Apollo Lake generation (e. g. Pentium N4200), which was announced mid 2016. The GPU can convince with low consumption figures, but the performance is only in the low-end segment and is rarely sufficient for modern games. Being the maximum configuration of the Apollo Lake GPU, the HD Graphics 505 is equipped with 18 Execution Units (EUs) running at up to 750 MHz. The technical specifications of the GPU are based on Intel's Gen9 architecture, which is also used for the more expensive Skylake series.

Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the HD 505 has to access the main memory via processor (2x 64bit DDR3L-/LPDDR3-1866, LPDDR4-2400).

Performance

The HD Graphics 505 should be slightly slower than the older Core-M GPU HD Graphics 5300, so modern games (as of 2016) will rarely run smoothly even at the lowest settings.

Features

The revised video engine now decodes H.265/HEVC completely in hardware and thereby much more efficiently than before. Up to three displays can be connected via DP/eDP or HDMI (4K probably only at 30 Hz via HDMI 1.4).

Power Consumption

The TDP of the whole Pentium N4200 chip is 6 Watts by default, so the GPU is primarily used for (often passively cooled) netbooks or thin notebooks. The TDP can also be reduced to 4 Watts, but this will obviously affect the performance.