Intel HD and Iris Graphics

HD Graphics is used by Intel as an umbrella term for a number of built- in CPU GPUs. This HD Graphics is the successor to the Intel GMA, which was integrated into chipsets. While the graphics units of the Core i - series is distinguished by different model numbers, only "HD Graphics" used in Pentium and Celeron models as names.

Models

With each generation of processors, a new generation of graphics is integrated into the processor.

With Sandy Bridge Intel integrated for the first time the GPU to the CPU on the same semiconductor chip. The GPU supports DirectX 10.1. When fully configured, the integrated GPU was sold under the name HD3000 and had 12 shader units. With only 6 active shader units, the integrated GPU was called HD2000. In addition, the clock rate of the integrated GPU will vary depending on the processor model, which varies the power of the GPU, but this does not change the designation of the integrated GPU.

Other functions of the integrated GPU were disabled, the integrated GPU is declared only as HD Graphics with no model number, in this way, scaled-down GPU is located in Pentium and Celeron models. For the disabled functions include Intel's Quick Sync, which can be used for faster encoding of videos with certain codecs. Also, the decoding functions were limited, so the Clear Video HD and InTru 3D technology is not available.

With Ivy Bridge, Intel introduced the first time an integrated GPU that supports DirectX 11 and OpenCL next and the latest drivers and OpenGL 4.0. When fully configured, the integrated GPU " HD4000 " sold under the designation and has 16 shader units. Due to their variable Geschwindigskeitsaufnahme compared to graphics systems of the same type, the Intel series is characterized by a high power consumption since it is capable of, especially in high-clocked processors more power extract. The onboard graphics system can thus partially faster than a dedicated mobile graphics card be what show current benchmarks. The integrated GPU with six active shader units is called HD2500.

Like all Intel ( System on a Chip ) variants can also be the Intel HD 4000 directly communicate with the cache of the main processor; Another novelty is that from version 4000 GPU brings its own cache with it. Also, the internal video decoder (also called Multi-Format Codec Engine ( MFX ) ) was vigorously revised so that now he even can decode three parallel 4K video.