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Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580

Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580: Detailed Review of the Integrated Graphics Solution

Introduction

Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is an integrated graphics solution released in 2016 as part of the Skylake-H processors (e.g., Core i7-6770HQ). Targeted at laptops and compact PCs, this graphics card combines energy efficiency with sufficient performance for basic tasks. In this article, we will examine its features, strengths and weaknesses, as well as its practical value in 2024.

1. Architecture and Key Features

Architecture: Gen9 (ninth generation Intel Graphics).

Process Technology: 14 nm (FinFET technology).

Unique Features:

- eDRAM (Embedded DRAM): 128 MB level 4 cache that accelerates texture handling and reduces latency.

- Quick Sync Video: Hardware acceleration for H.265 (4K) and VP9 encoding/decoding, beneficial for editing and streaming.

- API Support: DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.4, OpenCL 2.0.

Lack of Modern Technologies:

There is no equivalent to RTX (ray tracing), DLSS, or FidelityFX. This limits its capabilities in gaming and tasks involving AI rendering.

2. Memory

Type: System memory DDR4 + eDRAM.

Capacity: Up to 64 GB (depends on system RAM), but effectively utilizes 1-2 GB for graphics.

Bandwidth:

- eDRAM: ~64 GB/s (256-bit bus).

- DDR4: ~34 GB/s (at 2133 MHz).

Impact on Performance:

eDRAM reduces reliance on RAM speed, providing smoothness in gaming and rendering. However, for modern AAA titles, this memory capacity is insufficient.

3. Gaming Performance

Resolution and Settings:

- 1080p (Low/Medium): Optimal settings.

- 1440p and 4K: Only for less demanding games or video.

FPS Examples (2016-2018):

- CS:GO: 50-60 FPS (1080p, Medium).

- Dota 2: 40-50 FPS (1080p, Medium).

- Overwatch: 30-35 FPS (720p, Low).

- GTA V: 25-30 FPS (720p, Low).

Modern Games (2023-2024):

Even at low settings in Cyberpunk 2077 or Hogwarts Legacy, FPS rarely exceeds 20-25. Ray tracing is non-existent.

4. Professional Tasks

Video Editing:

Thanks to Quick Sync, rendering H.264/H.265 in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve is performed quickly (up to 2x faster than CPU rendering).

3D Modeling:

In Blender or AutoCAD — suitable only for simple scenes. OpenCL acceleration is limited due to weak computational power.

Scientific Calculations:

Suitable for basic tasks (MATLAB, Python), but serious simulations (e.g., in ANSYS) require discrete graphics.

5. Power Consumption and Heat Output

TDP: 45 W (including CPU).

Cooling: Passive or compact cooler (in laptops).

Recommendations:

- For mini-PCs: A case with ventilation holes.

- Avoid prolonged peak loads — throttling may occur.

6. Comparison with Competitors

2016 Analogues:

- AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge): Comparable performance but worse driver optimization.

- NVIDIA GeForce 940MX: 20-30% faster in games but requires more power.

In 2024:

It lags behind even budget GPUs, such as the NVIDIA MX350 or AMD Radeon Vega 8 (in Ryzen 5000), which can deliver 60 FPS at 1080p (Low).

7. Practical Tips

Power Supply: Integrated into the CPU, no additional PSU required. A system with P580 needs about 200-300 watts.

Compatibility:

- Only with Skylake-H processors (laptops and NUC).

- Does not support PCIe 4.0/5.0.

Drivers:

- Official support ended in 2021.

- Use the latest available versions (from Intel's website).

8. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Energy efficient.

- Fast video encoding.

- Supports 4K@60Hz (via HDMI 1.4/DisplayPort).

Cons:

- Weak gaming performance.

- No support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate).

- Limited compatibility with new software.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the Iris Pro P580 For?

- Office Users: Working with documents, browsing, YouTube 4K.

- Media Centers: Streaming video, HTPC.

- Students: Light editing, basic 3D design.

Why Not:

- Gamers: At least a GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 6400 is required.

- Professionals: Prefer NVIDIA Quadro or AMD Radeon Pro.

Price: Since the P580 is part of the CPU, current systems based on the i7-6770HQ range from $300-500 (new, if still available).

Conclusion:

Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 is a niche solution for those who cherish compactness and energy efficiency. In 2024, it should only be considered for specific scenarios, but not as a foundation for gaming or serious work.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Integrated

Launch Date

September 2015

Model Name

Iris Pro Graphics P580

Generation

HD Graphics-W

Base Clock

350MHz

Boost Clock

1000MHz

Bus Interface

Ring Bus

Transistors

Unknown

TMUs

Texture Mapping Units (TMUs) serve as components of the GPU, which are capable of rotating, scaling, and distorting binary images, and then placing them as textures onto any plane of a given 3D model. This process is called texture mapping.

Foundry

Intel

Process Size

14 nm+

Architecture

Generation 9.0

Memory Specifications

Memory Size

System Shared

Memory Type

System Shared

Memory Bus

The memory bus width refers to the number of bits of data that the video memory can transfer within a single clock cycle. The larger the bus width, the greater the amount of data that can be transmitted instantaneously, making it one of the crucial parameters of video memory. The memory bandwidth is calculated as: Memory Bandwidth = Memory Frequency x Memory Bus Width / 8. Therefore, when the memory frequencies are similar, the memory bus width will determine the size of the memory bandwidth.

System Shared

Memory Clock

SystemShared

Bandwidth

Memory bandwidth refers to the data transfer rate between the graphics chip and the video memory. It is measured in bytes per second, and the formula to calculate it is: memory bandwidth = working frequency × memory bus width / 8 bits.

System Dependent

Theoretical Performance

Pixel Rate

Pixel fill rate refers to the number of pixels a graphics processing unit (GPU) can render per second, measured in MPixels/s (million pixels per second) or GPixels/s (billion pixels per second). It is the most commonly used metric to evaluate the pixel processing performance of a graphics card.

9.000 GPixel/s

Texture Rate

Texture fill rate refers to the number of texture map elements (texels) that a GPU can map to pixels in a single second.

72.00 GTexel/s

FP16 (half)

An important metric for measuring GPU performance is floating-point computing capability. Half-precision floating-point numbers (16-bit) are used for applications like machine learning, where lower precision is acceptable. Single-precision floating-point numbers (32-bit) are used for common multimedia and graphics processing tasks, while double-precision floating-point numbers (64-bit) are required for scientific computing that demands a wide numeric range and high accuracy.

2.304 TFLOPS

FP64 (double)

An important metric for measuring GPU performance is floating-point computing capability. Double-precision floating-point numbers (64-bit) are required for scientific computing that demands a wide numeric range and high accuracy, while single-precision floating-point numbers (32-bit) are used for common multimedia and graphics processing tasks. Half-precision floating-point numbers (16-bit) are used for applications like machine learning, where lower precision is acceptable.

288.0 GFLOPS

FP32 (float)

An important metric for measuring GPU performance is floating-point computing capability. Single-precision floating-point numbers (32-bit) are used for common multimedia and graphics processing tasks, while double-precision floating-point numbers (64-bit) are required for scientific computing that demands a wide numeric range and high accuracy. Half-precision floating-point numbers (16-bit) are used for applications like machine learning, where lower precision is acceptable.

1.129 TFLOPS

Miscellaneous

Shading Units

The most fundamental processing unit is the Streaming Processor (SP), where specific instructions and tasks are executed. GPUs perform parallel computing, which means multiple SPs work simultaneously to process tasks.

576

TDP

15W

Vulkan Version

Vulkan is a cross-platform graphics and compute API by Khronos Group, offering high performance and low CPU overhead. It lets developers control the GPU directly, reduces rendering overhead, and supports multi-threading and multi-core processors.

1.3

OpenCL Version

3.0

OpenGL

4.6

DirectX

12 (12_1)

Shader Model

6.4

ROPs

The Raster Operations Pipeline (ROPs) is primarily responsible for handling lighting and reflection calculations in games, as well as managing effects like anti-aliasing (AA), high resolution, smoke, and fire. The more demanding the anti-aliasing and lighting effects in a game, the higher the performance requirements for the ROPs; otherwise, it may result in a sharp drop in frame rate.

Benchmarks

FP32 (float)

Score

1.129 TFLOPS

Compared to Other GPU

FP32 (float) / TFLOPS

Radeon HD 4870 X2

1.176 +4.2%

Radeon R9 M275X

1.16 +2.7%

Iris Pro Graphics P580

1.129

Radeon HD 6850M

1.102 -2.4%

GeForce GTX 470

1.067 -5.5%