AMD’s Radeon 890M iGPU: Strix Point Battles Intel, Apple and Qualcomm

AMD’s latest Zen 5 Strix Point processors feature the new Radeon 890M integrated graphics, representing a significant upgrade over the previous generation.

But how does it compare to the competition from Intel, Apple and Qualcomm? In this in-depth analysis, we’ll examine the Radeon 890M’s architecture, benchmarks and capabilities to see how it stacks up against Intel Arc Graphics, the Apple M3 chip, and Qualcomm’s Adreno X1-85.

AMD Radeon 890M: Zen 5 Strix Point’s iGPU

What’s New in the Radeon 890M?

The Radeon 890M, built on RDNA 3.5 architecture, offers several enhancements over its predecessor:

• 16 Compute Units (1,024 cores) vs 12 CUs (768 cores) in Radeon 780M
• Higher 2,900 MHz clock speed (up from 2,200 MHz)
• Larger L2 cache and infinity cache for better performance

Radeon 890M Performance

Early benchmarks show the Radeon 890M delivers impressive results:

• 35.4% faster than Intel Arc A140V in Vulkan tests
• OpenCL score of 42,932 points, surpassing RX 580 and RX 5500
• Vulkan score of 46,298, nearly matching GTX 1070 laptop

However, the 890M’s performance advantage is more limited at lower power levels:

• 12% faster than 780M at 15W
• Needs higher 30W+ TDP to reach full potential

Intel Arc Graphics: Alchemist and Battlemage

Arc Alchemist iGPU

Intel’s current Arc Alchemist iGPUs, like the A140V, provide solid performance but trail the Radeon 890M in most benchmarks. The top A770M discrete GPU is more competitive but consumes significantly more power.

Arc Battlemage: The Next Generation

Intel’s upcoming Arc Battlemage GPUs, slated for 2024, aim to close the gap with AMD. Early rumors suggest a refined Xe-HPG architecture with performance and efficiency improvements. However, details are limited at this stage.

Apple M3: Raising the Bar

M3 Specifications and Architecture

The Apple M3, manufactured on TSMC’s 3nm process, features an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU. It supports LPDDR5-6400 RAM and boasts a unified memory architecture for seamless performance.

M3 Performance

Apple’s M3 showcases remarkable capabilities:

• Up to 50% faster GPU vs M1, 20% faster than M2
• 30% faster CPU vs M1, 15% faster than M2
• Excellent results in Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, Passmark

The M3’s 3nm process and architectural enhancements give it a notable efficiency advantage over the 4nm Radeon 890M and Intel Arc Graphics.

Qualcomm Adreno X1-85: A New Challenger

Adreno X1-85 Specifications

Qualcomm’s Adreno X1-85, featured in the Snapdragon X Elite, marks the company’s entry into PC graphics. It packs impressive specs:

• 6 shader processors with 1536 ALUs
• 4.6 TFLOPS peak performance
• 72 gigapixels per second rendering

Adreno X1-85 vs the Competition

Qualcomm claims the X1-85 matches or beats Intel Xe graphics in several games at 1080p. However, independent benchmarks are pending, and comparisons to the Radeon 890M are limited. The Adreno’s performance-per-watt also remains to be seen.

Performance Comparisons

The Radeon 890M and Apple M3 offer the best balance of performance and efficiency for thin-and-light laptops. The Intel Arc A770M is faster but requires much higher power, while the Adreno X1-85 needs more independent testing.

Conclusion

The AMD Radeon 890M iGPU in Zen 5 Strix Point processors delivers a solid generational leap, pulling ahead of Intel’s current Arc Graphics in both performance and efficiency. However, Apple’s M3 presents stiff competition with its cutting-edge 3nm process and custom architecture.

Qualcomm’s Adreno X1-85 is a promising newcomer, but it still has much to prove. Intel’s upcoming Arc Battlemage may also close the gap, setting the stage for an exciting GPU battle in the coming years.Ultimately, the Radeon 890M positions AMD strongly in the integrated graphics market, but it will need to keep innovating to fend off rivals and maintain its edge.

As more benchmarks emerge, we’ll have an even clearer picture of how these iGPUs stack up in real-world performance.