Intel or AMD iGPU: Arc vs Radeon for mini PCs

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Sesera editorial account organizes laptop, mini PC, smartphone, and gadget buying guides so readers can check the important points before buying.

When you shop mini PCs, Intel vs AMD iGPU is hard to read from the brand name alone.

The brand does not decide it. Games depend on the generation. Video encode depends on the feature set.

This piece sorts the gap by use, then names two PCs you can buy now.

Intel and AMD iGPUs

Intel iGPUs are called Arc. AMD iGPUs are called Radeon. Same family name, different generation, different speed.

The two PCs here are a Core Ultra 5 125H Arc box and a Radeon 780M box, both with 32GB RAM.

Rows marked “either” assume 32GB RAM. For web and documents, the vendor name will not get you stuck.

If you want more game headroom, Radeon 780M is the pick. If the job names Quick Sync, you need Intel.

Where AMD iGPU is stronger

Against Intel UHD or Iris Xe, take Radeon 780M.

• Radeon 780M inside
• 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD
• USB4, three displays, two extra SSD slots

UM870 Slim can handle light 1080p games.

It has no OCuLink for an eGPU. Before you order, check that the 32GB kit is two sticks.

Where Intel iGPU is stronger

If you need Quick Sync encode or four displays, take the Intel Arc M1 Pro.

• OCuLink for an eGPU
• Two USB4 ports
• Four displays and Wi-Fi 7

The M1 Pro has OCuLink and USB4, so you can add an eGPU later.

The port alone is not enough. OCuLink still needs a separate adapter to attach a GPU.

A 32GB listing is not always two sticks. iGPU speed wants dual-channel, so check the kit on the order page.

iGPU game speed

Both boxes are 1080p low to medium. Drop settings and older or lighter titles can run with no discrete GPU.

• Light or older games: either
• New AAA at high settings: discrete GPU PC
• M1 Pro: Street Fighter 6 low about 58 fps; FF14 high quality 49.73 fps
• UM870 Slim: Anno 1800 average 33 fps; Cities: Skylines II average 23 fps

Those numbers come from separate reviews. Test setups differ, so do not rank the two PCs from this list alone.

When you read other benches, compare only the same resolution and the same quality preset.

iGPU video work

4K playback is fine on Intel Arc and Radeon 780M. You do not need to pick a brand for watching video.

• Both: H.264, H.265, AV1 playback and export
• Intel: encode that names Quick Sync

Photos and short 1080p edits are fine on either. Long 4K or heavy effects need a discrete GPU PC.

iGPU generations

Generation is the messy part. Arc or Radeon as a name does not tell you the speed. You need the CPU line too.

• Intel: Series 3 (B370, B390) then Series 2 T (130T, 140T) then V (130V, 140V) then Series 1 (plain Arc)
• AMD: Ryzen 6000 (680M) then 7040 / 8040 (740M, 760M, 780M) then AI 300 (880M, 890M) then AI 400 (840M, 860M, 890M)
• T and V are different CPU lines. The number order is not a speed rank
• Radeon 890M exists on both Ryzen AI 300 and AI 400

This Core Ultra 5 125H is Series 1 Arc. The Ryzen 7 8745H is Ryzen 8040 780M.

Same iGPU, different chassis

The same GPU name does not mean the same game speed. RAM layout and cooling change fps and fan noise.

• Core Ultra H Arc: 16GB or more in two channels
• RAM slots: two on both PCs
• Long load: power limit and cooling change clocks
• Display count: not a game-speed spec

A 32GB label is not enough. 32GB is not always two sticks, so check the kit before you buy.

See how to raise iGPU memory if you need the shared-memory path.

Q&A

Is every Intel CPU Arc?

No. Some Core Ultra SKUs still say Intel Graphics.

Check the GPU name for the CPU you will buy in Intel’s CPU-to-GPU list.

How much GPU memory on a 32GB PC?

On Intel and AMD, the iGPU borrows part of the 32GB as needed.

Intel’s shared-memory note says Windows assigns what it needs.

AMD’s shared-memory FAQ also prefers auto. Raising a fixed size does not guarantee more fps.

Wrap-up

The split is not games alone. Name the feature you need and the PC is clearer.

New games at high settings, or long 4K edit, need a discrete GPU PC, not these two.

For daily use and light games, check price and the ports you need. Then pick on these two lines.

• More game speed than Intel UHD or Iris Xe: Radeon 780M MINISFORUM UM870 Slim
• Quick Sync, OCuLink, or four displays: Intel Arc MINISFORUM AI M1 Pro