Intel Arc A580 8 GB vs A380 6 GB: Which is the better gaming GPU?

The Intel Arc A580 and the Arc A380 are some of the best options for entry-level gamers looking for impressive performance in the sub-$200 range. These cards were designed to bring competitive 1080p gaming to the masses while keeping the cost low. After the launch of the first wave of Battlemage pixel pushers, the last-gen cards are available for discounted prices in multiple stores, making them a prime choice for those on a tight budget.

However, which GPU is the better choice: the A5 or the A3? In this article, we will take a detailed look at the cards and try to answer this question.

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The Intel Arc A580 and the A380 continue to be decent entry-level gaming GPUs

The Intel Arc A580 8 GB packs enough rendering prowess for 1080p gaming (Image via Amazon || Sparkle)

Let's look at the specs before diving into the performance differences. Both GPUs are based on the Alchemist architecture, with the main difference being in the graphics chips powering them. Here is a breakdown of what each GPU brings to the table.

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Specs comparison

The Intel Arc A580 and the A380 are based on the Alchemist architecture. However, while the A580 is based on the larger 406 mm² DG2-512 graphics chip, the cheaper A380 comes equipped with the much smaller 157 mm² graphics chip.

In terms of graphics hardware, the A380 has about a third of the transistors as its A5 sibling. The shading unit count has also been slashed massively to just 1,024 from the 3,073 on the A580.

Moving on, you get 8 ray tracing units and 127 tensor cores with the cheaper card, compared to the A580's 24 and 384, respectively. In terms of video memory, the $139 card packs 6 GB of GDDR6 VRAM while the costlier A580 comes with 8 GB of memory buffer.

Here is a detailed look at the specs sheets of the two pixel pushers:

Specification	Intel Arc A580	Intel Arc A380
Architecture	Xe HPG (Alchemist)	Xe HPG (Alchemist)
GPU Codename	DG2-512	DG2-128
Manufacturing Process	6 nm	6 nm
Transistor Count	21.7 billion	7.2 billion
Die Size	406 mm²	157 mm²
Shading Units	3,072	1,024
Ray Tracing Units	24	8
Tensor Cores	384	128
Base Clock	1,700 MHz	2,000 MHz
Boost Clock	2,000 MHz	2,050 MHz
Memory Capacity	8 GB GDDR6	6 GB GDDR6
Memory Bus Width	256-bit	96-bit
Memory Speed	16 Gbps	15.5 Gbps
Memory Bandwidth	512 GB/s	186 GB/s
Total Board Power (TBP)	175 W	75 W
PCIe Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x8
Launch Date	October 10, 2023	June 14, 2022
Launch Price	$179	$139

The GPUs both target the sub-$200 entry-level market. The Arc A580 launched at $179 while the A380 will set you back by $139. The cheaper card is extremely power efficient and is readily available in low-profile variants, making it perfect for media consumption and office use PCs.

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Performance comparison

Performance is the main delimiter for gaming GPU performance. While none of the two Alchemist-based cards deliver jaw-dropping FPS in the latest titles, they pack enough rendering prowess to play the latest titles at FHD resolutions.

Below is a comparison of the framerates achieved by the cards in some latest games. We have also added the new B580 12 GB to the list for you to get a better idea. These numbers are sourced from the YouTube channel TheSpyHood.

Game	Intel Arc B580 12 GB (FPS)	Intel Arc A580 8 GB (FPS)	Intel Arc A380 6 GB (FPS)
God of War: Ragnarök (1080p Ultra)	54	40	26
God of War: Ragnarök (1440p Ultra)	39	27	N/A
Ghost of Tsushima (1080p Ultra)	72	59	37
Ghost of Tsushima (1440p Ultra)	52	40	19
Horizon: Forbidden West (1080p Ultra)	59	46	29
Horizon: Forbidden West (1440p Ultra)	38	21	N/A
Resident Evil 4 (1080p Ultra)	93	74	49
Resident Evil 4 (1440p Ultra)	71	57	35
The Last of Us Part I (1080p Ultra)	53	39	20
The Last of Us Part I (1440p Ultra)	34	22	N/A
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (1080p Ultra)	91	69	41
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (1440p Ultra)	71	51	28
Dying Light 2 (1080p Ultra)	80	58	33
Dying Light 2 (1440p Ultra)	56	35	19

It is evident that the A380's primary weak point is 1440p gaming, while the extra VRAM and Xe cores aboard the Arc A580 translate to much better performance.

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Hence, in a nutshell, the A580 is the better choice if you want to play the latest titles. It has been designed for gaming workloads while the A380 is a low-profile GPU primarily built for media consumption and some light gaming.