CPU
GPU
Radeon R9 255
Popular choices:
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) uses modern memory architecture. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon R9 255 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 255 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.1% higher G3D Mark score and 100+% more VRAM (2 GB vs 0 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU).
| Insight | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.1%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) (10nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100+%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon R9 255 remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 255 and Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)
Radeon R9 255
The Radeon R9 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $249.
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)
The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in May 28 2019. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1100 MHz. It has 48 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 12W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,500 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 255 scores 1,501 and the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) reaches 1,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 255 is built on GCN 3.0 while the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) uses Gen. 11 Ice Lake, both on 28 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 255) vs 48 (Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)).
| Feature | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,501 | 1,500 |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | Gen. 11 Ice Lake |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 10 nm |
| Shading Units | 1792+3633% | 48 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon R9 255 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) has 0 MB. The Radeon R9 255 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs System.
| Feature | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | Shared System RAM |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | System |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | System |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 255 draws 190W versus the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)'s 12W — a 176.2% difference. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (Radeon R9 255) vs 1W (Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated.
| Feature | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 190W | 12W-94% |
| Recommended PSU | 400W | 1W-100% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Integrated |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 85 |
| Perf/Watt | 7.9 | 125.0+1482% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 255 launched at $139 MSRP and currently averages $30, while the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) launched at $0 and now averages $0. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) costs 100+% less ($30 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 50.0 (Radeon R9 255) vs Infinity (Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)) — the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) offers Infinity% better value. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is the newer GPU (2019 vs 2014).
| Feature | Radeon R9 255 | Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $139 | $0-100% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $0-100% |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.0 | Infinity |
| Codename | Tonga | Ice Lake G4 Gen. 11 |
| Release | September 2 2014 | May 28 2019 |
| Ranking | #365 | #760 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon R9 255 and Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)
