Intel UHD Graphics 617 vs Radeon R9 M280X

Intel

Intel UHD Graphics 617

2018Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1050 MHz
VS
AMD

Radeon R9 M280X

2013Boost: 1000 MHz

Intel UHD Graphics 617 vs Radeon R9 M280X 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.

Intel UHD Graphics 617 vs Radeon R9 M280X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Intel UHD Graphics 617

2018

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 15W instead of 200W, a 185W reduction.
  • βœ…More future proof: Generation 9.5 (2016βˆ’2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB 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.
  • ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 3.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $250 MSRP).

Radeon R9 M280X

2013

Why buy it

  • βœ…Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 3.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • βœ…100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).
  • βœ…Intel UHD Graphics 617 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon R9 M280X is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • ❌2013 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • ❌1233.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Intel UHD Graphics 617 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.6% in PassMark G3D (819 vs 814), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Radeon R9 M280X is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon R9 M280X makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. Intel UHD Graphics 617 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

Intel UHD Graphics 617 vs Radeon R9 M280X Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Intel UHD Graphics 617

The Intel UHD Graphics 617 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in November 7 2018. It features the Generation 9.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1050 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 819 points.

AMD

Radeon R9 M280X

The Radeon R9 M280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 814 points. Launch price was $299.

⚑

Graphics Performance

The Intel UHD Graphics 617 scores 819 and the Radeon R9 M280X reaches 814 in the G3D Mark benchmark β€” just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Intel UHD Graphics 617 is built on Generation 9.5 while the Radeon R9 M280X uses GCN 1.0, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 192 (Intel UHD Graphics 617) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 M280X). Raw compute: 0.4032 TFLOPS (Intel UHD Graphics 617) vs 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M280X). Boost clocks: 1050 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

FeatureIntel UHD Graphics 617Radeon R9 M280X
G3D Mark Score
819
814
Architecture
Generation 9.5
GCN 1.0
Process Node
14 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
192
2048+967%
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.4032 TFLOPS
4.096 TFLOPS+916%
Boost Clock
1050 MHz+5%
1000 MHz
ROPs
3
32+967%
TMUs
24
128+433%
✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureIntel UHD Graphics 617Radeon R9 M280X
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
Standard
AMD Anti-Lag
πŸ’Ύ

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Intel UHD Graphics 617 has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M280X carries 4 GB. Radeon R9 M280X gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the Intel UHD Graphics 617 and 128-bit on the Radeon R9 M280X.

FeatureIntel UHD Graphics 617Radeon R9 M280X
VRAM Capacity
Shared System RAM
4 GB
Memory Type
Shared
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
System
80 GB/s
Bus Width
System
128-bit
πŸ”Œ

Power & Dimensions

The Intel UHD Graphics 617 draws 15W versus the Radeon R9 M280X's 200W β€” a 172.1% difference. The Intel UHD Graphics 617 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Intel UHD Graphics 617) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M280X). Power connectors: Integrated vs Mobile.

FeatureIntel UHD Graphics 617Radeon R9 M280X
TDP
15W-93%
200W
Recommended PSU
1W-100%
350W
Power Connector
Integrated
Mobile
Length
1mm
β€”
Slots
0
β€”
Perf/Watt
54.6+1232%
4.1
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Intel UHD Graphics 617 came in at $0, while the Radeon R9 M280X launched at $250. On MSRP, Intel UHD Graphics 617 was 100+% cheaper ($250 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (Intel UHD Graphics 617) vs 3.3 (Radeon R9 M280X) β€” the Intel UHD Graphics 617 offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Intel UHD Graphics 617 (2018 vs 2013).

FeatureIntel UHD Graphics 617Radeon R9 M280X
MSRP
$0-100%
$250
Performance per Dollar
Infinity
3.3
Codename
Amber Lake GT2
Tahiti
Release
November 7 2018
October 8 2013
Ranking
#921
#404

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.