Iris Plus Graphics 650 vs Radeon HD 7870M

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.

Iris Plus Graphics 650 vs Radeon HD 7870M 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.

Iris Plus Graphics 650 vs Radeon HD 7870M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Iris Plus Graphics 650

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W 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 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2017 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Radeon HD 7870M

2012

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
✅Iris Plus Graphics 650 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD 7870M is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD 7870M is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.5% in PassMark G3D (1,507 vs 1,500), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon HD 7870M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 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 HD 7870M makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

Iris Plus Graphics 650 vs Radeon HD 7870M Technical Specifications

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

Iris Plus Graphics 650

The Iris Plus Graphics 650 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in January 3 2017. It features the Generation 9.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1150 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm++ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,500 points.

Radeon HD 7870M

The Radeon HD 7870M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,507 points.

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Graphics Performance

The Iris Plus Graphics 650 scores 1,500 and the Radeon HD 7870M reaches 1,507 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Iris Plus Graphics 650 is built on Generation 9.5 while the Radeon HD 7870M uses GCN 1.0, both on 14 nm++ vs 28 nm. Shader units: 384 (Iris Plus Graphics 650) vs 640 (Radeon HD 7870M). Raw compute: 0.8832 TFLOPS (Iris Plus Graphics 650) vs 1.024 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870M).

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics 650	Radeon HD 7870M
G3D Mark Score	1,500	1,507
Architecture	Generation 9.5	GCN 1.0
Process Node	14 nm++	28 nm
Shading Units	384	640+67%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.8832 TFLOPS	1.024 TFLOPS+16%
ROPs	6	16+167%
TMUs	48+20%	40

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics 650	Radeon HD 7870M
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Iris Plus Graphics 650 has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7870M carries 2 GB. Radeon HD 7870M 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 Iris Plus Graphics 650 and System on the Radeon HD 7870M.

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics 650	Radeon HD 7870M
VRAM Capacity	Shared System RAM	2 GB
Memory Type	Shared	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	System	System
Bus Width	System	System

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Power & Dimensions

The Iris Plus Graphics 650 draws 15W versus the Radeon HD 7870M's 45W — a 100% difference. The Iris Plus Graphics 650 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Iris Plus Graphics 650) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7870M). Power connectors: Integrated vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics 650	Radeon HD 7870M
TDP	15W-67%	45W
Recommended PSU	1W-100%	350W
Power Connector	Integrated	1x 6-pin
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	85	—
Perf/Watt	100.0+199%	33.5

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is Iris Plus Graphics 650 (2017 vs 2012).

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics 650	Radeon HD 7870M
MSRP	$0	—
Codename	Kaby Lake GT3e	Heathrow
Release	January 3 2017	April 24 2012
Ranking	#718	#765

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