GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs Iris Plus Graphics 655

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 580M SLI

2011Core: 620 MHz
VS
Intel

Iris Plus Graphics 655

2018Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1050 MHz

GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs Iris Plus Graphics 655 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs Iris Plus Graphics 655: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 580M SLI

2011

Why buy it

  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs Unknown).
  • Iris Plus Graphics 655 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 580M SLI is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • 2011 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 566.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 15W.

Iris Plus Graphics 655

2018

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 100W, a 85W reduction.
  • More future proof: Generation 9.5 (2016−2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2018 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 580M SLI is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 2.4% in PassMark G3D (1,771 vs 1,729), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 580M SLI is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce GTX 580M SLI makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs Iris Plus Graphics 655 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 580M SLI

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 6 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 620 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,771 points.

Intel

Iris Plus Graphics 655

The Iris Plus Graphics 655 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in April 3 2018. It features the Generation 9.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1050 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+++ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,729 points.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI scores 1,771 and the Iris Plus Graphics 655 reaches 1,729 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 580M SLI is built on Fermi while the Iris Plus Graphics 655 uses Generation 9.5, both on 40 nm vs 14 nm+++. Shader units: 768 (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 384 (Iris Plus Graphics 655).

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
G3D Mark Score
1,771+2%
1,729
Architecture
Fermi
Generation 9.5
Process Node
40 nm
14 nm+++
Shading Units
768+100%
384

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Plus Graphics 655 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI has 512 MB of VRAM, while the Iris Plus Graphics 655 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 580M SLI gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 580M SLI and System on the Iris Plus Graphics 655.

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
VRAM Capacity
0.5 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
System
Bus Width
128-bit
System
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 12 (12_1) (Iris Plus Graphics 655). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.0 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 3.

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
DirectX
12 (11_0)
12 (12_1)
Vulkan
1.2
1.2
OpenGL
4.0
4.6+15%
Max Displays
2
3+50%
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs QuickSync (Iris Plus Graphics 655). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs H.264,H.265,VP9 (Iris Plus Graphics 655).

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
Encoder
PureVideo HD VP4
QuickSync
Decoder
PureVideo HD VP4
QuickSync
Codecs
H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP
H.264,H.265,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI draws 100W versus the Iris Plus Graphics 655's 15W — a 147.8% difference. The Iris Plus Graphics 655 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 1W (Iris Plus Graphics 655). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 85.

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
TDP
100W
15W-85%
Recommended PSU
350W
1W-100%
Power Connector
1x 6-pin
Integrated
Length
0mm
Height
0mm
Slots
0
0
Temp (Load)
90°C
85-6%
Perf/Watt
17.7
115.3+551%
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Iris Plus Graphics 655 (2018 vs 2011).

FeatureGeForce GTX 580M SLIIris Plus Graphics 655
MSRP
$0
Codename
N12E-GTX2
Coffee Lake GT3e
Release
January 6 2011
April 3 2018
Ranking
#509
#723

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