RTX A500 Mobile vs Iris Xe MAX Graphics

Place in the ranking	624	311
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Power efficiency	14.01	20.05
Architecture	Generation 12.1 (2020−2021)	Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code name	DG1	GA107S
Market segment	Laptop	Mobile workstation
Release date	31 October 2020 (4 years ago)	22 March 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	768	2048
Core clock speed	300 MHz	832 MHz
Boost clock speed	1650 MHz	1537 MHz
Manufacturing process technology	10 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	25 Watt	60 Watt (20 - 60 Watt TGP)
Texture fill rate	79.20	98.37
Floating-point processing power	2.534 TFLOPS	6.296 TFLOPS
ROPs	24	48
TMUs	48	64
Tensor Cores	no data	64
Ray Tracing Cores	no data	16

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Interface

PCIe 4.0 x4

PCIe 4.0 x16

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	LPDDR4X	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	4 GB
Memory bus width	128 Bit	64 Bit
Memory clock speed	2133 MHz	1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth	68.26 GB/s	96 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors

No outputs

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.4	6.6
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	3.0	3.0
Vulkan	1.2	1.3
CUDA	-	8.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 5.11

RTX A500 Mobile 17.55
+243%

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 1971

RTX A500 Mobile 6764
+243%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 8214

RTX A500 Mobile 10818
+31.7%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 6333

RTX A500 Mobile 7598
+20%

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 36993

RTX A500 Mobile 48496
+31.1%

3DMark Time Spy Graphics

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 1743

RTX A500 Mobile 2995
+71.8%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	27 −59.3%	43 +59.3%
1440p	17 −47.1%	25 +47.1%
4K	15 −233%	50−55 +233%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

18−20

−33.3%

24−27
+33.3%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	27−30 −29.6%	35−40 +29.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	19 −31.6%	24−27 +31.6%
Battlefield 5	35−40 −41.7%	50−55 +41.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	21−24 −34.8%	30−35 +34.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	18−20 −33.3%	24−27 +33.3%
Far Cry 5	27−30 −33.3%	35−40 +33.3%
Far Cry New Dawn	30−35 −31.3%	40−45 +31.3%
Forza Horizon 4	75−80 −31.6%	100−105 +31.6%
Hitman 3	24 −25%	30−33 +25%
Horizon Zero Dawn	60−65 −27.9%	75−80 +27.9%
Metro Exodus	57 +7.5%	50−55 −7.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2	33 −30.3%	40−45 +30.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	35−40 −37.8%	50−55 +37.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	65−70 −17.6%	80−85 +17.6%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	27−30 −29.6%	35−40 +29.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	6 −317%	24−27 +317%
Battlefield 5	35−40 −41.7%	50−55 +41.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	21−24 −34.8%	30−35 +34.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	18−20 −33.3%	24−27 +33.3%
Far Cry 5	27−30 −33.3%	35−40 +33.3%
Far Cry New Dawn	30−35 −31.3%	40−45 +31.3%
Forza Horizon 4	75−80 −31.6%	100−105 +31.6%
Hitman 3	23 −30.4%	30−33 +30.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	60−65 −27.9%	75−80 +27.9%
Metro Exodus	43 −23.3%	50−55 +23.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2	30−35 −34.4%	40−45 +34.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	33 −87.9%	62 +87.9%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	27−30 −27.6%	35−40 +27.6%
Watch Dogs: Legion	65−70 −17.6%	80−85 +17.6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	27−30 −29.6%	35−40 +29.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	18−20 −38.9%	24−27 +38.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	21−24 −34.8%	30−35 +34.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	18−20 −33.3%	24−27 +33.3%
Far Cry 5	27−30 −33.3%	35−40 +33.3%
Forza Horizon 4	75−80 −31.6%	100−105 +31.6%
Hitman 3	21 −42.9%	30−33 +42.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn	26 −200%	75−80 +200%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	29 −86.2%	54 +86.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	18 −61.1%	29 +61.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion	65−70 −17.6%	80−85 +17.6%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−72%

40−45
+72%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	21−24 −36.4%	30−33 +36.4%
Far Cry New Dawn	16−18 −41.2%	24−27 +41.2%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	10−12 −45.5%	16−18 +45.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	8−9 −62.5%	12−14 +62.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	12−14 −41.7%	16−18 +41.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	6−7 −33.3%	8−9 +33.3%
Far Cry 5	12−14 −38.5%	18−20 +38.5%
Forza Horizon 4	50−55 −51.9%	80−85 +51.9%
Hitman 3	14−16 −28.6%	18−20 +28.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	21−24 −39.1%	30−35 +39.1%
Metro Exodus	18−20 −50%	27−30 +50%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	20 −95%	39 +95%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	10−12 −54.5%	16−18 +54.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 −31.9%	95−100 +31.9%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

18−20

−31.6%

24−27
+31.6%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	10−12 −36.4%	14−16 +36.4%
Far Cry New Dawn	8−9 −37.5%	10−12 +37.5%
Hitman 3	7−8 −57.1%	10−12 +57.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn	50−55 −50%	75−80 +50%
Metro Exodus	10−11 −50%	14−16 +50%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	11 −36.4%	14−16 +36.4%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	7−8 −28.6%	9−10 +28.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	5−6 −40%	7−8 +40%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	5−6 −60%	8−9 +60%
Cyberpunk 2077	1−2 −200%	3−4 +200%
Far Cry 5	6−7 −33.3%	8−9 +33.3%
Forza Horizon 4	14−16 −40%	21−24 +40%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	11 −36.4%	14−16 +36.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion	4−5 −50%	6−7 +50%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

10−12

−27.3%

14−16
+27.3%

This is how Iris Xe MAX Graphics and RTX A500 Mobile compete in popular games:

RTX A500 Mobile is 59% faster in 1080p
RTX A500 Mobile is 47% faster in 1440p
RTX A500 Mobile is 233% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Metro Exodus, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the Iris Xe MAX Graphics is 8% faster.
in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the RTX A500 Mobile is 317% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

Iris Xe MAX Graphics is ahead in 1 test (1%)
RTX A500 Mobile is ahead in 71 test (99%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	5.11	17.55
Recency	31 October 2020	22 March 2022
Chip lithography	10 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	25 Watt	60 Watt

Iris Xe MAX Graphics has 140% lower power consumption.

RTX A500 Mobile, on the other hand, has a 243.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and a 25% more advanced lithography process.

The RTX A500 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the Iris Xe MAX Graphics in performance tests.

Be aware that Iris Xe MAX Graphics is a notebook graphics card while RTX A500 Mobile is a mobile workstation one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.