Can an iGPU Outperform an Nvidia RTX Card? AMD’s Ryzen Strix Halo Breathes New Life into Integrated Graphics

Integrated GPUs, embedded within computer processors, have traditionally been viewed as the least powerful gaming hardware. They were often associated with low performance, suitable only for basic gaming experiences. In contrast, discrete graphics cards, which have their own memory and processing units, are favoured by gamers for their superior performance in gaming and video editing.

AMD's Ryzen Strix Halo has recently challenged this perception. It was awarded the best-in-show at CES 2025 due to its impressive capabilities. With up to 128GB of memory that can be allocated between CPU, iGPU, or NPU as needed, this chipset has shown remarkable performance. Recent leaked benchmarks suggest these capabilities are indeed impressive.

AMD Ryzen Strix Halo Performance

Benchmark results from Hardware Canucks reveal that AMD's Ryzen Strix Halo iGPU surpasses Nvidia's RTX 4070 mobile GPU in several gaming tests. Notably, the Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 APU ran Cyberpunk 2077 at 1600p resolution with high settings at an average of 39.4 fps. In comparison, the RTX 4070 mobile GPU paired with a Ryzen 9 8945HS processor averaged 37.3 fps.

The Strix Halo APU also excelled in running Bethesda's Starfield at the same resolution and settings, achieving an average of 36.8 fps compared to the RTX 4070's 34.7 fps. However, the RTX 4070 maintained a lead in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Doom Eternal, albeit by a small margin.

The Revival of Integrated GPUs

Integrated GPUs are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. AMD has demonstrated impressive gaming capabilities with its latest offerings. Intel is also making strides with its Arc 140T iGPUs found in Arrow Lake chips, which performed well during Elden Ring tests on the Asus Zenbook Duo. The Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 not only excels in gaming but also approaches Apple M4 Pro levels in Cinebench multi-core benchmarks with a score of 1,669 compared to M4 Pro's score of 1,715.

This shows integrated GPUs can compete closely with more powerful discrete GPUs. Despite these advancements, integrated GPUs still have some way to go before they can rival high-end discrete GPUs in laptops or mid-level ones when it comes to Nvidia's ray-tracing capabilities. However, the Ryzen AI MAX+ 395's performance and efficiency suggest a promising future for integrated graphics.

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