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The Intel Arc B580 12 GB was launched to replace the last-gen A580 8 GB earlier this month. The new Battlemage GPU has shaken up the market with its impressive performance and an affordable price tag of $249. Despite this, it offers performance comparable to the costlier RX 7600 and RTX 4060 graphics cards. For budget gamers, the B580 has become the new champion.
Still, how does it compare to the last generation, and how has the 580 lineup progressed? Let's pitch the two cards against each other in this comparison and find out.
The Intel Arc B580 12 GB and A580 8 GB are entry-level gaming GPUs
The Arc A580 and the Arc B580 have quite a few differences. For starters, the cards are based on different architectures. While the older A580 is powered by the Alchemist architecture, Intel's first iteration of desktop GPUs, the newer B580 packs the refined Battlemage technology. The new Xe2 hardware cores bring improved performance, efficiency, and stability to the lineup.
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Specs comparison
Coming to specs on paper, the A580 and the B580 are pretty different. While the Alchemist offering came with the 6nm DG2-512 graphics chip, the newer offering is powered by the 5nm BMG-G21.
The new chip brings a much smaller die area: 272 mm² as compared to the A580's large 406 mm² processor. Moreover, thanks to gen-on-gen improvements, the B580 can now deliver extra performance with lower core counts, making it more efficient as well.
The total VRAM has also gone up with the latest iteration. While the A580 boasted 8 GB of memory, the B580 now has 12 GB. This makes it the first sub-$300 card to come with a double-digit memory capacity.
However, power efficiency numbers have deteriorated this generation. While the A580 was rated at 175W, the B580 can draw up to 190W. This is primarily because Intel has moved the 580 lineup one step up in terms of its market position. Instead of competing with the RTX 3050 and the RX 6500 XT, the card now competes with the RX 7600 and the RTX 4060.
Below is a look at the specs of the two GPUs:
Naturally, this has made the Arc B580 more expensive than its Alchemist sibling. While the A580 targeted the sub-$200 market with an affordable $179 price tag, the B580 has been pegged at $249. This has been done keeping the competition in mind.
Read more: Intel Arc B580 vs Arc A750
Performance comparison
Performance is the main deal when it comes to choosing GPUs. The B580 brings significant performance improvements over the last generation in both 1080p and 1440p gaming. Ray-tracing capabilities have also gone up with this card. However, you'll have to keep the increased price of the card in mind as well while looking at the framerate gains.
Below is a look at the new B580 and the Arc A580's performance capabilities in some demanding titles. We have also added the cheaper Arc A380 to the mix for you to get a better idea. These numbers were sourced from the YouTube channel TheSpyHood.
Overall, the new B580 packs quite an impressive rendering prowess overhaul than its last-gen sibling. The newer card delivers significant gains in 1080p, where it is perfect for high-framerate experiences. At 1440p, the B580 comfortably delivers playable experiences across the board irrespective of the game being tested. This makes it a formidable force in the $250 range.
While the A580 also delivers good framerates in most titles, it isn't suited for QHD gaming. The Intel Arc B580 is the clear winner in this comparison, at least in terms of performance in the latest video games. Therefore, we recommend choosing the new Battlemage-based Arc B580 for a well-rounded experience. Its extra VRAM, affordable price tag and rasterization capabilities will set you up for quite some time to come.
