GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 590

2011Core: 607 MHz
VS
Intel

Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

2020Core: 400 MHzBoost: 1350 MHz

GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 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 Xe Graphics G7 96EUs: 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

2011

Why 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 Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 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.
  • 1203.6% higher power demand at 365W vs 28W.

Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

2020

Why buy it

  • Draws 28W instead of 365W, a 337W reduction.
  • More future proof: Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2020 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).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 590 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.9% in PassMark G3D (3,341 vs 3,311), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 590 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 3 GB 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 590 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 590 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

Intel

Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs is manufactured by Intel. It was released in August 15 2020. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. The core clock ranges from 400 MHz to 1350 MHz. It has 96 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 28W. 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 96EUs 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 96EUs 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 96EUs).

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
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 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
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 Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 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 Xe Graphics G7 96EUs.

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
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 96EUs). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
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 96EUs).

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
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 96EUs's 28W — a 171.5% difference. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 700W (GeForce GTX 590) vs 1W (Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs Integrated. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
TDP
365W
28W-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
118.3+1186%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 590 came in at $699, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs launched at $0. On MSRP, Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs was 100+% cheaper ($699 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 4.8 (GeForce GTX 590) vs Infinity (Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs) — the Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (2020 vs 2011).

FeatureGeForce GTX 590Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
MSRP
$699
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
4.8
Infinity
Codename
GF110
Tiger Lake Xe
Release
March 24 2011
August 15 2020
Ranking
#555
#536

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