Iris Pro

Iris Pro
Name	Iris Pro
Developer	Intel Corporation
Type	Integrated graphics
Introduced	2013
Architecture	Intel Graphics Technology
Process	22 nm
Preceded by	HD Graphics
Succeeded by	Iris Plus

Iris Pro

Iris Pro is a family of integrated graphics processors introduced by Intel Corporation in 2013 as part of the company's push to increase on-die multimedia and compute capabilities for Ultrabooks and mobile workstations. The product line aimed to bridge the gap between discrete graphics solutions such as those from NVIDIA and AMD and earlier integrated offerings like Intel HD Graphics by adding features intended for content creators, gamers, and enterprise users. Iris Pro appeared in Haswell (microarchitecture)-based central processing units and was positioned alongside Intel's Core i7 and Core i5 processors in OEM platforms.

Overview

Iris Pro combined Intel's integrated graphics execution units with a dedicated on-package eDRAM cache to improve bandwidth-sensitive tasks, reflecting collaborations across Intel design groups and supply chain partners such as Micron Technology for memory technologies. The launch coincided with industry trends exemplified by devices from Apple Inc. and Dell that emphasized thin form factors and sustained graphics performance, and it competed against discrete GPUs from NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon. Iris Pro's introduction was documented in product announcements alongside roadmaps presented at events like International CES and Intel Developer Forum.

Architecture and Features

The architecture built on Intel's Gen7 graphics architecture from the Haswell (microarchitecture) era, integrating multiple execution units (EUs) with features like hardware video decode and encode blocks supporting codecs used by Adobe Systems applications and streaming services tied to companies such as Netflix. A key feature was the inclusion of 128 MB or 64 MB of on-package embedded DRAM (eDRAM), marketed as a "Crystal Well" cache, which acted as a high-bandwidth last-level cache to alleviate limitations of external DDR3/DDR4 memory used on platforms from HP Inc. and Lenovo. Iris Pro incorporated support for APIs and standards maintained by organizations like the Khronos Group (including OpenCL and OpenGL), and worked with operating systems from Microsoft and Google to enable features in Windows 8 and later versions as well as projects tied to Chromium OS.

Models and Generations

Initial Iris Pro models appeared with fourth-generation Intel Core processors (codenamed Haswell (microarchitecture)), for example integrated parts in processors marketed under the Intel Core brand. Subsequent iterations and naming adjustments occurred as Intel progressed to later microarchitectures such as Broadwell (microarchitecture) and the 6th-generation Skylake (microarchitecture), where variants like Iris Pro and Iris Plus reflected shifting product segmentation. OEMs including Apple Inc. used Iris Pro variants in certain MacBook Pro models, while PC manufacturers such as Asus and Acer deployed Iris Pro in consumer and professional laptop lines. Specific SKUs were part of chipset pairings with platform controllers from vendors like Intel Chipset families and appeared in notebooks alongside storage solutions from Samsung Electronics and Western Digital.

Performance and Benchmarks

Benchmarks from independent laboratories and technology outlets compared Iris Pro against integrated and discrete competitors including NVIDIA GeForce GTX mobile parts and AMD Radeon RX series in synthetic tests such as those used by media outlets like AnandTech, Tom's Hardware, and PCMark. Iris Pro's eDRAM provided measurable gains in memory-bound scenarios, improving frame rates in titles referenced by gaming communities around publishers like Valve Corporation and Electronic Arts while reducing CPU-GPU contention in workloads targeted by applications from Autodesk and Adobe Systems. Thermal and power envelopes made Iris Pro attractive for thin-and-light designs evaluated at events like Mobile World Congress, though discrete GPUs remained preferable in high-end gaming laptops from OEMs such as Razer and MSI.

Drivers and Software Support

Driver development and software support were managed by Intel's software teams and coordinated with ecosystem partners including Microsoft, Canonical (for Ubuntu), and independent graphics driver communities. Intel provided Windows Display Drivers and open-source drivers for Linux kernel integration, contributing to projects affiliated with the Mesa (computer graphics) library and collaborating with maintainers of the X.Org Server. Official driver releases were often referenced during platform launch announcements, and third-party ISVs such as Blender Foundation and Unity Technologies cited specific driver updates to certify performance for content creation and game development workflows.

Applications and Use Cases

Iris Pro targeted multimedia creators, professionals running CAD applications from vendors like Autodesk, and casual gamers using titles distributed by Steam (software) and publishers like Bethesda Softworks. The eDRAM-enhanced architecture suited video editing, photo processing in Adobe Photoshop, and accelerated compute tasks using OpenCL for workloads seen in scientific visualization projects at institutions such as NASA and corporate research labs. Enterprise use in thin clients and mobile workstations emerged in systems sold to companies like HP Inc. and enterprises deploying remote desktop environments orchestrated with solutions from Citrix Systems.

Market Reception and Legacy

Market reception acknowledged Iris Pro as a meaningful step for integrated graphics, earning coverage in technology press outlets including CNET and The Verge. While discrete GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD continued to dominate enthusiast and workstation segments, Iris Pro influenced subsequent Intel graphics roadmaps and contributed architectural learnings that informed later products such as Intel's integrated and discrete attempts in the Xe (GPU) family. The use of on-package eDRAM and the positioning in mobile platforms left a legacy visible in design choices by OEMs like Apple Inc. and Dell for balancing performance with power and thermals.

Category:Intel graphics