Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU Mobile
Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU Mobile: Compact Graphics for Mobile Tasks
April 2025
Introduction
Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU Mobile is an integrated graphics solution that continues to be popular in budget and mid-range laptops. This graphics card combines energy efficiency with sufficient performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. In this article, we will analyze its features, strengths and weaknesses, and determine who it is suitable for in 2025.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The graphics are built on the Xe-LP (Low Power) microarchitecture, optimized for mobile devices. In 2025, Intel maintained production on a 7nm process, ensuring a balance between performance and energy consumption.
Unique Features:
- XeSS (Xe Super Sampling): Upscaling technology similar to NVIDIA's DLSS. It allows for increased FPS in games that support AI rendering. By 2025, the list of games featuring XeSS surpassed 150 titles.
- Support for DirectX 12 Ultimate: Including shader models 6.7 and partial support for ray tracing (through software methods rather than dedicated hardware RT cores).
- AV1 Codec: Hardware decoding and encoding of AV1, which is important for streaming and video editing.
Lack of 'Hardware' Ray Tracing: Unlike discrete GPUs, the Iris Xe 96EU does not have dedicated RT cores, meaning ray tracing significantly burdens the CPU and GPU, reducing FPS.
2. Memory: Type, Capacity, and Impact on Performance
Memory Type: Integrated graphics use system RAM (DDR5/LPDDR5 in high-end laptops of 2025). The amount of allocated VRAM is dynamically adjustable (up to 8 GB), but it depends on BIOS and OS settings.
Bandwidth:
- Using LPDDR5-6400 (in ultrabooks) achieves a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.
- In models with DDR5-5200 — up to 83.2 GB/s.
Impact on Performance:
- Dual-channel mode is mandatory. A single-channel configuration can reduce FPS by 30-40%.
- For gaming, at least 16 GB of RAM is recommended to avoid bottlenecking.
3. Gaming Performance
The Iris Xe 96EU is designed for 1080p/30-60 FPS in less demanding titles and 720p in modern AAA games. Examples (settings Medium):
- CS2 (Counter-Strike 2): 90-110 FPS (1080p, low settings).
- Fortnite: 45-55 FPS (1080p, Performance Mode + XeSS).
- Cyberpunk 2077: 22-28 FPS (720p, Low), with XeSS — up to 35 FPS.
- Hogwarts Legacy: 25-30 FPS (720p, Low).
Resolution Support:
- 1080p: Comfortable for indie games and esports titles.
- 1440p/4K: Only for office tasks and video playback.
Ray Tracing: Activating RT reduces FPS by 2-3 times, making it impractical. For example, in Minecraft RTX, the frame rate drops to 10-15 frames.
4. Professional Tasks
Video Editing:
- Premiere Pro: Rendering 1080p video in H.264 is at near real-time (1:1). With AV1, export speeds increase by 20% thanks to hardware support.
- DaVinci Resolve: Color grading is feasible, but for 4K projects, proxy file optimization is required.
3D Modeling:
- Blender: Using Cycles via OpenCL shows modest results (3-4 times slower than NVIDIA RTX 3050 Mobile).
Scientific Calculations:
- Support for OpenCL 3.0 and oneAPI allows the GPU to be utilized in machine learning and simulations, but for serious tasks, discrete graphics is a better choice.
5. Power Consumption and Thermal Output
- TDP: 15-28 W (depends on the processor model, e.g., in Core i7-1360P — 28 W).
- Thermal Output: Laptops with Iris Xe 96EU require only passive or compact active cooling. However, under prolonged loads, throttling may occur.
- Recommendations:
- Choose devices with copper heat sinks and dual fans.
- Avoid ultra-thin chassis less than 14 mm thick for gaming.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon 780M (Ryzen 5 7640U):
- 15-25% faster in games due to RDNA3 architecture.
- Better optimized for ray tracing.
NVIDIA GeForce MX570:
- Offers better performance (up to 30% in DX12 games) but requires more power (TDP 25 W).
Apple M3 GPU (MacBook Air):
- Advantages in energy efficiency and compatibility with professional applications (e.g., Final Cut Pro), but weaker in games due to limited compatibility.
Conclusion: The Iris Xe 96EU is a choice for those who value price and versatility but are willing to compromise in AAA gaming.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: A standard 65 W adapter is sufficient. For hybrid devices (2-in-1), look for models with PD charging.
- Compatibility: Only available in laptops with Intel Core P/U series processors (e.g., Core i5-1340P).
- Drivers: Regularly update software via Intel Arc Control. Avoid "clean" Windows installations without pre-installed drivers from the laptop manufacturer.
- Optimization: In games, use XeSS and lower shadow and texture settings.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Energy efficiency.
- Support for AV1 and modern APIs.
- Sufficient for office tasks, study, and light gaming.
- Laptop prices starting from $600 (e.g., Acer Swift 3).
Cons:
- Weak performance in AAA games.
- Dependence on RAM speed.
- No hardware ray tracing.
9. Final Verdict: Who is Iris Xe 96EU Suitable For?
This graphics card is an ideal choice for:
- Students — enough power for studying, Zoom conferences, and gaming during breaks.
- Office Users — working with documents, browsing, and light video editing.
- Travelers — thanks to low power consumption, laptops can run 8-10 hours on battery.
- Casual Gamers — if you are satisfied with indie projects and minimum graphics settings.
In 2025, the Iris Xe 96EU remains relevant for the budget segment, but for professionals and hardcore gamers, it’s better to look at discrete GPUs.