A little over two years ago, Intel released processors with integrated Iris Xe graphics. These were 11th-generation chips called Tiger Lake. It was claimed that it would deliver approximately double the gaming performance of the previous generation (Intel Iris Plus). We checked this during the review of the then current model of the laptop with Intel Iris Xe. Yes, the new integrated graphics really allowed playing almost all modern games with a Full HD resolution with a decent number of frames. We were curious to see how the capabilities of integrated graphics have changed over the years. We also compared benchmark results for 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors.

 

 

Features of the Intel Raptor Lake family

 

As part of the new 13th generation of CPU Core, Intel Corporation has introduced several families of mobile chips at once. They differ in the number of cores, clock speeds and TDP levels, while the flagship solutions are close in characteristics to desktop models.

 

The HX series of the 13th generation Core includes models for the most productive laptops and mobile workstations. One step below are processors with the H suffix. In these chips, the maximum number of cores is limited to 14 pieces: 6 high-performance and 8 energy-efficient. The lineup of Intel Core 13th generation processors for thin and light laptops includes two lines at once: with the suffixes “P” and “U”. The N-series of processors for entry-level computers deserves special attention. We recently tested their capabilities in a test of a laptop for educational institutions.

 

In this article, we will compare the capabilities of several chips that we encountered in laptop tests. In particular, these will be Intel Core i3-N305, Intel Core i3-1315U, Intel Core i5-13500H, Intel Core i7-13700H and Intel Core i9-13900H. These models were chosen because they were the ones that we encountered most often in test devices.

 

 

 

 

Let us recall that in addition to the frequency, the number of computing pipelines plays an important role in performance. In the models we named, there are 32, 64, 80, 96 and 96 of them, respectively. The frequencies at which their graphic parts operate are 1.25, 1.25, 1.45 and 1.5 GHz, respectively.

 

All of them support DirectX, OpenGL, 4K device screens, and all of them, except for the youngest one, can output a signal to 4 monitors simultaneously, N305 can only output to 3. Below is a generalized table of specifications:

 

 

From the specifications we see that Intel has taken care of differentiation in the graphics part. The processors with the same number of blocks have different frequencies. That is, we will not get identical results for Core i7 and Core i9.

 

We were rightly told at the time that RAM also plays a significant role. It was worth considering then, because the manufacturer could save money by installing slow RAM in a seemingly powerful system. Now, when most modern laptops have switched to the new DDR5, performance should increase even more. As for cases when a modern laptop may have slow memory installed, this is not so acute now. The minimum frequency we encountered was 4800 MHz in a training laptop. Usually, we saw modules installed at 5200 or 5600 MHz. For reference, this is almost one and a half times more than the typical DDR4 frequency.

 

 

It is also worth noting that we selected models with the maximum processor TDP. However, if you look at the results database on the UL Benchmarks website, you will see that the same processors, at the same frequencies, could give figures with a large discrepancy. That is, sometimes you can see how the graphics of the Core i7-th overtakes the graphics of the Core i-9-th, for example. This may be due to different factors, because laptops are entire systems of components and their interrelations. Thus, sometimes slightly average results should be taken into account.

 

Test results

 

We combined the test results of different laptops that had each of these processors, while selecting models that had the same amount of RAM, display sizes. The measurements were taken in the maximum performance mode of the laptops.

 

In the histograms for comparison, we provide the results of tests in gaming programs not only for the latest Raptor Lake processors, but also for the model that started our idea of ​​testing integrated graphics – the Intel Core i7-1165G7 from 2021.

 

 

Also, for even greater clarity, compare the results of the integrated graphics with discrete video cards. For comparison, we took the “weakest” option from the current accelerators, which turned out to be Intel’s own solution. It was interesting to once again make sure that Intel’s own discrete graphics would be stillborn.

 

Laptops with discrete Intel Arc cost the same as models with NVIDIA graphics cards, but their performance is noticeably lower. Comparing them with RTX 3000 or RTX 4000 series graphics cards, even the youngest ones, makes no sense, because the gap is orders of magnitude.

 

 

Conclusions

Previous experience remains relevant. If the difference between Core i7 and i9 is minimal, and between i7 and Core i5 is not too significant, then Core i3 is still inferior to the models above the hierarchy by a significant amount. Moreover, it is worth noting that senior processors can have a pair of both a discrete graphics accelerator and work independently. We have seen such setups in professional models of laptops for work/programming, for example. At the same time, we have not come across official models of laptops on the Ukrainian market that would have anything younger than Core i5 and discrete graphics. Everything that gets energy-efficient processors usually does not have separate video cards.

 

Read reviews of some of the laptops that were taken into account when interpreting the measurement results:

• Testing the integrated Intel Iris. Xe graphics in games. It pulls well
• ASUS Vivobook S15 OLED (K5504VA) laptop test: hidden features (with Core -i9)
• Acer Swift Go 14 SFG14-71 laptop test: easy, not simple solution (Core i5)
• ASUS BR1402C laptop test: wide range of knowledge (with Core-i3)
• Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop test: stratosphere