Intel Iris Pro 5200 Graphics Review: Core i7-4950HQ Tested
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 1, 2013 10:01 AM ESTPricing
Intel's launch lineup with Haswell is pretty spartan, but we do have enough information to get a general idea of what Crystalwell will cost as an addition.
| Peak Theoretical GPU Performance | |||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Cores/Threads | CPU Clock (Base/4C/2C/1C Turbo) | Graphics | GPU Clock (Base/Max Turbo) | TDP | Price | ||||||||||||||
| Intel Core i7-4950HQ | 4/8 | 2.4/3.4/3.5/3.6GHz | Intel Iris Pro 5200 | 200/1300MHz | 47W | $657 | |||||||||||||
| Intel Core i7-4850HQ | 4/8 | 2.3/3.3/3.4/3.5GHz | Intel Iris Pro 5200 | 200/1300MHz | 47W | $468 | |||||||||||||
| Intel Core i7-4800MQ | 4/8 | 2.7/3.5/3.6/3.7GHz | Intel HD 4600 | 400/1300MHz | 47W | $378 | |||||||||||||
The i7-4950HQ and i7-4850HQ are the only two Iris Pro 5200 parts launching today. A slower 2GHz i7-4750HQ will follow sometime in Q3. CPU clocks are a bit lower when you go to GT3, likely to preserve yield. Compared to the i7-4800MQ the 4850HQ carries a $90 premium. That $90 gives you twice the number of graphics EUs as well as the 128MB of eDRAM. Both adders are likely similar in terms of die area, putting the value of both at $45 a piece. Now you are giving up a bit on the CPU frequency side, so the actual cost could be closer to $50 or so for each. Either way, Iris Pro 5200 doesn't come cheap - especially compared to Intel's HD 4600.
From talking to OEMs, NVIDIA seems to offer better performance at equivalent pricing with their GT 740M/750M solutions, which is why many PC OEMs have decided to go that route for their Haswell launch platforms. What Intel hopes however is that the power savings by going to a single 47W part will win over OEMs in the long run, after all, we are talking about notebooks here.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
177 Comments
View All Comments
tipoo - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
It still seems to me that this misses where it would benefit most: 13 inch laptops, which currently mostly use dual core processors. GT3e would make something like the Retina MBP 13" much more appealing for instance, but it's paired with processors such that the wattage would be too high.tipoo - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
Oh and I wanted to ask, if the integrated graphics are disabled can the CPU still tap into the eDRAM?Ryan Smith - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
Yes, it's a dedicated cache for both the CPU and the GPU. However it's very unlikely you're going to run into any scenario that uses a Crystalwell-equipped part in such a manner. It's not being sold in socket form, so it will go to OEMs, who in turn would only use it if they didn't include a dGPU.jeffkibuule - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
So pretty much, unless you've got some huge beefy GPU that would absolutely suck up power compared to just using Iris Pro graphics, no one would opt for that SKU?shiznit - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
Right on. A dual core model for the 13" rMPB would have me selling my 2012 immediately. Now I need to decide if I can live with the 15" or even bother.moep - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
If i interpreted the results of this article correctly, I suspect that the 15" MBP is probably going to get a new and even thinner form factor with this refresh. (one chip less, fewer VRM related parts, lower combined TDP)A 15" rMBP approaching the weight of a 15" Macbook Air would be very interesting, although a part of me hoped that Apple would wait until Broadwell to ditch the dGPU in the 15".
Such a step back in GPU performance with the Retina display is surely not going to be very pleasant in 3D applications.
Galatian - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
I actually hope/suspect, that Apple will go the other road: use a discrete graphic solution on the 15" rMBP until Broadwell comes out, but have a cTDPdown version of the 4850HQ on the 13" rMBP. Maybe they can even get the normal TDP version in there; after all it has the same (good) cooling the 15" rMBP has and I have never heard the fans on mine. I think Apple really designed it with Haswell in mind, so let's see what they'll bring on during the next few weeks.tipoo - Saturday, June 1, 2013 - link
That's certainly the best case, I really hope they go down that road. The rMBP as a quad with Iris Pro would really make it worth the Pro name.vFunct - Sunday, June 2, 2013 - link
They'll probably stick with the built in GPU for the 13" model and a discrete GPU for the 15" model, which is what they do right now.Apple's top-end MacBook Pro has always had the highest end discrete GPU available.
Spunjji - Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - link
I'm guessing you mean "for a given power usage", as there are definitely faster GPUs out there than the 650M.