iGPU Performance

Onboard performance isn’t something that you think about when it comes to high-end CPUs because I think the expectation is that you will be adding a dedicated GPU but there are situations where a dedicated GPU isn’t needed or you may need to run the integrated graphics while waiting on your video card to come in or be replaced. So I do still want to check out the performance of both the 7950X and the 7900X when it comes to integrated GPU performance. For that, I have run a few basic tests with a mix of older and newer games and benchmarks. Integrated GPUs aren’t anywhere near the performance of even the lowest-end GPUs but it is still interesting to see what they can do. To start that I went with the older Cinebench R15 which has an OpenGL benchmark showing basic rendering performance. All four of the 7000 series CPUs are sitting at the top on this one with fractions of an FPS setting them apart.

Next, I defaulted to the always consistent 3DMark with both the older Fire Strike benchmark and the newer Time Spy which is DX12. I only used the graphics score, not the total score to take the CPU performance out of the equation as much as possible. In both tests all four Zen 4 CPUs came in the middle of the pack with the older G series Ryzen CPUs with their upgraded integrated graphics out in front then the 12^th gen Intel CPUs and in Fire Strike the 11^th gen as well out ahead of the 7000 series CPUs.

In Unigine Superposition I ran the 1080p medium detail and 720p low detail tests and the results here weren’t much different than the previous tests. The 7700X and 7600X were slightly ahead of the 7950X and 7900X here, most likely due to the extra heat the two Ryzen 9 CPUs create. They were ahead of the Intel 11^th gen CPUs but behind the 12^th gen Intel CPUs and both the 2400G and 2200G.

Then from there on, I jumped into game tests. Some of our tests are older games but I did also add in a few newer games as well to get an idea of newer games when tested at 1080p and low or medium settings. I was surprised that in TF2 the 7950X came in at the bottom of the pack compared to the other 7000 series CPUs and the 7900X was at the top. They were all significantly faster than anything else tested but I suspect the 7950X was hit with more thermal throttling. In Wildlands the 12^th gen Intel CPUs were still out in front with the Zen 4 CPUs behind that but all of the results there were still not what I would consider playable at 1080 even on the low detail level. The old Tomb Raider had playable FPS with all four CPUs right at the same FPS but the Intel 11^th and 12th gen were out ahead as well as CPUs like the 5775C, 2400G, and 2200G with their improved GPUs which showed that you can even get into the 60+ FPS range. Hitman Absolution was right on the edge of the “playable” 30 FPS range with the 7950X and 7900X sitting at the top and all four 7000 Series CPUs at the top. In Borderlands 3 all four had nearly the same FPS and at 17 FPS it wasn’t playable at 1080p. Far Cry 5 was at a similar FPS which means 720p would be the best chance, the 12900K did edge things out by 1 FPS in that test. Then in the latest Tomb Raider (Shadow of the Tomb Raider) all four Zen 4 CPUs are at the top with the same 23 FPS. 720p would again be the best chance here.