GeForce GTX 590
Iris Graphics 550
GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Graphics 550 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 590 vs Iris Graphics 550 FPS Benchmarks
Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Graphics 550: 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 590
2011Why buy it
- ✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 4.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
- ✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs Unknown).
- ✅Iris Graphics 550 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 590 is the less risky modern option long term.
Trade-offs
- ❌2011 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌2333.3% higher power demand at 365W vs 15W.
Iris Graphics 550
2015Why buy it
- ✅Draws 15W instead of 365W, a 350W reduction.
- ✅More future proof: Generation 9.0 (2015−2016) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
Trade-offs
- ❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌2015 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 4.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
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GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Graphics 550 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
GeForce GTX 590
The GeForce GTX 590 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,341 points. Launch price was $699.
Iris Graphics 550
The Iris Graphics 550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in September 1 2015. It features the Generation 9.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 590 scores 3,341 and the Iris Graphics 550 reaches 3,311 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 590 is built on Fermi 2.0 while the Iris Graphics 550 uses Generation 9.0, both on 40 nm vs 14 nm+. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 384 (Iris Graphics 550). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 0.768 TFLOPS (Iris Graphics 550).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,341 | 3,311 |
| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Generation 9.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 14 nm+ |
| Shading Units | 1024 ×2+167% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.244 TFLOPS ×2+62% | 0.768 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 48 ×2+700% | 6 |
| TMUs | 64 ×2+33% | 48 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce GTX 590 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Graphics 550 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 590 has 3 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Graphics 550 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 590 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 590 and System on the Iris Graphics 550.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB | Shared System RAM |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | System |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | System |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 590) vs 12 (12_1) (Iris Graphics 550). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (12_1) |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4+33% | 3 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP5) vs Quick Sync Video. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs H.264,H.265,VP8,VP9,JPEG (Iris Graphics 550).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | Quick Sync Video |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD (VP5) | Quick Sync Video |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,H.265,VP8,VP9,JPEG |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 590 draws 365W versus the Iris Graphics 550's 15W — a 184.2% difference. The Iris Graphics 550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 700W (GeForce GTX 590) vs 1W (Iris Graphics 550). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs Integrated.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 365W | 15W-96% |
| Recommended PSU | 700W | 1W-100% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | Integrated |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 90°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 9.2 | 220.7+2299% |
Value Analysis
At launch, the GeForce GTX 590 came in at $699, while the Iris Graphics 550 launched at $0. On MSRP, Iris Graphics 550 was 100+% cheaper ($699 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 4.8 (GeForce GTX 590) vs Infinity (Iris Graphics 550) — the Iris Graphics 550 offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Iris Graphics 550 (2015 vs 2011).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Iris Graphics 550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $699 | $0-100% |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.8 | Infinity |
| Codename | GF110 | Skylake GT3e |
| Release | March 24 2011 | September 1 2015 |
| Ranking | #555 | #775 |
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