Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics: Which is better for gaming?

Modified Jul 03, 2024 11:20 GMT

Which GPU series from Intel if better for gaming (Image via Intel) — Which GPU series from Intel is better for gaming (Image via Intel)

The Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics battle is somewhat puzzling, as they represent two product lines of discrete graphics processing units based on Intel's Xe microarchitecture. The former was launched in 2020 and included both discrete and integrated graphics card variations. Although the discrete line has been replaced by the Arc Alchemist series, Xe-based integrated graphics can be found in entry-level laptops.

Although the hardware configurations of different Iris Xe graphics processors differ, general specifications such as clock speeds, video RAM size, and input-output features are comparable to those of low-tier Arc graphics processors for desktop and mobile computers.

This article examines which one performs better for gaming.

Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics: Specifications

Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics: A detailed analysis (Image via Intel)

There are multiple options available in the Arc series. Let’s look at the core configuration of some cards:

Specifications	Arc A370M	Arc A530M	Arc A730M	Arc A770M
Architecture	Generation 12.7	Generation 12.7	Generation 12.7	Generation 12.7
Shading units	1024	1536	3072	4096
RT cores	8	12	24	32
Core clock	1550Mhz	900Mhz	1100MHz	1650MHz
Boost clock	2050Mhz	1300Mhz	2050Mhz	2050MHz
Manufacturing process	6nm	6nm	6nm	6nm
TDP	35W	65W	80W	120W
Memory	4GB	8GB	12GB	16GB

All the cards are built on the same architecture and process node. Moreover, there is not much difference in their clock speeds, except for the A530M variant, which has slightly slow clocks. However, the shading units, RT cores, TDP, and memory bandwidth increase as you go from the A370M to the A770M model.

Now, let’s move to the Xe graphics. Here are the technical specifications:

Specifications	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs	Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Architecture	Generation 12.1	Generation 12.1
Shading units	640	768
Execution units	80	96
Core speed	300MHz	300Mhz
Boost speed	1100MHz	1100MHz
Manufacturing process	10nm	10nm
TDP	15W	15W
Memory	Shared	Shared

They almost look identical to each other. The only difference is between the shading and execution units.

Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics: Performance comparison

Discrete GPU from Team Blue (Image via Intel)

Based on the technical specifications, the Arc graphics are more powerful than its counterpart. To get more insights, I have fetched some synthetic test results for these GPUs from the TechnicalCity and NotebookCheck websites.

Tests	Arc A370M	Arc A530M	Arc A730M	Arc A770M
Passmark	5115	6237	10487	11710
3DMark Cloud Gate	39098	NA	83396	124487
3DMark Fire Strike Graphics	8307	NA	21294	25563
3DM11 Performance GPU	12338	NA	29144	37375

I only found the Passmark for the Arc A530M. However, it would not be wrong to conclude that it will perform better on every test compared to the A370M. Nevertheless, the other results come out as expected, with significant performance gains when you move to a higher variant.

Tests	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs	Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
3DMark Cloud Gate GPU	21818	26930
3DMark Fire Strike Graphics	3987	5139
3DM11 Performance GPU	5310	6524

Based on the data presented above, it is clear that the Arc cards are more powerful than their Iris Xe-based graphics cards. Even the low-tier A370M has delivered better numbers than the G7 GPU.

Let’s see how they perform in gaming. Listed below is the best FPS you can get from both series’ cards:

Games	Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs	Arc A370M	Arc A770M
GTA V	30-35	50-55	130-140
Cyberpunk 2077	13	25	77
Red Dead Redemption 2	15	40-45	95-100
The Wicher 3: Wild Hunt	30	53	173
Fortnite	21	60-65	140-150
Far Cry 5	21-24	35-40	85-90
Minecraft	120-130	140-150	170-180

The data is sourced from the TechnicalCity website. These are the projected FPS in various games at 1080p high settings.

Except for Minecraft, the Iris Xe graphics fall significantly behind their competitors. On average, of all games, the Arc A370M delivers 61% better performance in gaming compared to the G7 96EUs. The performance gap between the Xe card and the A770M card is around 260%, combining all games' averages.

Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics: Final verdict

Based on the above analysis, Arc GPUs emerge as superior in the Intel Iris Xe vs Arc graphics battle. Even its entry-level card outperforms the Iris Xe graphics by a significant margin. Moreover, being discrete, they come with their own dedicated video memory, which significantly improves performance.

Meanwhile, the Iris Xe relies on the device’s memory and can handle some esports titles and older games at lower settings but struggles with demanding modern games.

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Edited by Dinesh Renthlei