GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 590

2011Core: 607 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 590

3 GB 365

3,341

+0.9%

GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

GeForce RTX 5060

Iris Xe Graphics G7

Shared System RAM 30

3,311

0.0%

Arc A530M

Arc A580

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 590

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Iris Xe Graphics G7: it remains the more sensible modern option while Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2011-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
249.5% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.8 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌1116.7% higher power demand at 365W vs 30W.

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $499 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 246.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 16.6 vs 4.8 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 365W, a 335W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

GeForce GTX 590

2011

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Iris Xe Graphics G7: it remains the more sensible modern option while Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Costs $499 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 246.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 16.6 vs 4.8 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 365W, a 335W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2011-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
249.5% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.8 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌1116.7% higher power demand at 365W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 590 better than Iris Xe Graphics G7?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 3,341 vs 3,311 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce GTX 590 is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 590 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more VRAM at 3 GB instead of Unknown. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 590 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 590 is about 249.5% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and you are getting 0.9% higher G3D Mark. Iris Xe Graphics G7 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

When does Iris Xe Graphics G7 make more sense than GeForce GTX 590?

Yes. Iris Xe Graphics G7 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still fine for 1080p, but 1440p and especially 4K require more compromise. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (30W vs 365W), and staying closer to $200 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 590. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 590 currently gives you 0.9% higher G3D Mark. Iris Xe Graphics G7 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 590 Benchmark Check

Iris Xe Graphics G7 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	102 FPS	80 FPS
medium	83 FPS	70 FPS
high	65 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	32 FPS
1440p
low	85 FPS	66 FPS
medium	70 FPS	58 FPS
high	50 FPS	37 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	23 FPS
4K
low	28 FPS	24 FPS
medium	26 FPS	23 FPS
high	17 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	12 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 590 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	137 FPS	122 FPS
medium	107 FPS	85 FPS
high	86 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	39 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	80 FPS
medium	70 FPS	48 FPS
high	57 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	26 FPS
4K
low	44 FPS	38 FPS
medium	34 FPS	25 FPS
high	31 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	25 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 590 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	150 FPS	149 FPS
medium	120 FPS	119 FPS
high	100 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	113 FPS	112 FPS
medium	90 FPS	89 FPS
high	75 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	74 FPS
medium	60 FPS	60 FPS
high	50 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 590 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	150 FPS	139 FPS
medium	120 FPS	109 FPS
high	100 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	113 FPS	104 FPS
medium	90 FPS	82 FPS
high	75 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	52 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	63 FPS
medium	60 FPS	49 FPS
high	50 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 590 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 590 and Iris Xe Graphics G7

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 Xe Graphics G7

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in August 15 2020. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. It has 96 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 590 scores 3,341 and the Iris Xe Graphics G7 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 Xe Graphics G7 uses Gen. 11 Ice Lake, both on 40 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 96 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
G3D Mark Score	3,341	3,311
Architecture	Fermi 2.0	Gen. 11 Ice Lake
Process Node	40 nm	10 nm
Shading Units	1024 ×2+967%	96

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 590 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
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 comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 has 0 MB. The GeForce GTX 590 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs System.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
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 12.1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP5) vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
Encoder	—	QuickSync
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP5)	QuickSync
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 590 draws 365W versus the Iris Xe Graphics G7's 30W — a 169.6% difference. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 700W (GeForce GTX 590) vs 1W (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs Integrated. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	Iris Xe Graphics G7
TDP	365W	30W-92%
Recommended PSU	700W	1W-100%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	Integrated
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	90°C	85°C-6%
Perf/Watt	9.2	110.4+1100%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 590 launched at $699 MSRP, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 launched at $200. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 costs 71.4% less ($499 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 4.8 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 16.6 (Iris Xe Graphics G7) — the Iris Xe Graphics G7 offers 245.8% better value. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2011).