Intel Arc B580 review: a $249 Nvidia killer

Intel is again, child. Effectively, it simply delivered probably the greatest graphics playing cards you should purchase, not less than. Workforce Blue could be down on its luck general not too long ago, however its small discrete graphics enterprise is morphing right into a mighty pressure, and the Arc B580 is proof of that. Not solely is it a funds GPU that undercuts the competitors — in loads of video games, it’s simply sooner, too.

Carrying the helm of Intel’s Battlemage structure, the B580 is an enormous achievement for Intel’s younger discrete graphics group. There are nonetheless some minor points, significantly on the subject of oddly low efficiency in a number of choose titles. Total, although, it’s extraordinarily tough to argue with what the Arc B580 provides; higher efficiency and a lower cost. In 2024, that’s precisely what the GPU market has been severely missing.

Intel Arc B580 specs

For those who regarded on the Arc B580’s specs in a vacuum, you wouldn’t assume it’s a funds graphics card. It’s packing 12GB of reminiscence, a 192-bit reminiscence bus, clock speeds nearing 2.7GHz, and a rated energy draw of 190 watts. It seems to be extra like a decrease midrange graphics card, one thing that’s most comfy at 1080p however can scale as much as 1440p with some tweaks. And as will probably be come clear all through this overview, the specs already say quite a bit concerning the efficiency you possibly can count on.

Frankly, this GPU has no enterprise being $249. I’m not advocating for increased costs — I believe this phase is woefully underserved by AMD and Nvidia — however I wouldn’t have batted a watch if Intel priced this card at $300. That’s the going value for the primary competitors within the type of the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT, and as you’ll see in my testing under, the B580 gives some clear efficiency benefits.

I’m to see the place Intel goes with the Arc B570, nevertheless. We simply have the B580 at the moment, however the lower-end mannequin is about to launch in a matter of weeks with largely comparable specs — and a value of simply $219. If that card is ready to get even near the efficiency of the B580, it’ll be a pressure to be reckoned with within the (largely ignored) phase of funds GPUs.

1080p efficiency

At $249, the Arc B580 is a 1080p graphics card. Intel could wish to body it as a 1440p graphics card, and for lots of video games, that decision is honest sport. Most avid gamers on this value bracket are most likely packing a 1080p monitor, nevertheless. It is smart that Intel angled the B580 towards a better decision. Though the B580 is spectacular throughout resolutions, it’s the least spectacular at 1080p. The efficiency is best at increased resolutions.

Throughout all video games I examined, together with titles with ray tracing, the B580 was an enormous 44% higher than the Arc A750 and 9% sooner than the RTX 4060. That traces up with Intel’s declare of a ten% bounce over Nvidia, and utterly demolishes the gen-on-gen enchancment Intel quoted. The satan is absolutely within the particulars with the B580, nevertheless.

In some video games, the B580 matches and typically even outmatches the $400 RTX 4060 Ti. You may see that in motion in video games like Cyberpunk 2077, Returnal, and Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered. That’s insane contemplating this can be a $250 graphics card. Efficiency isn’t like this in each sport, however the truth that I’ve a number of examples of this degree of efficiency is spectacular alone. That is all contemporary knowledge, too — the benchmarks have been run inside days of one another.

What’s extra spectacular is that none of those video games present a bias towards Intel. You may see the Arc A770 and A750 towards the underside of the charts, showcasing the architectural enhancements Intel made. In Crimson Useless Redemption 2, you possibly can see the B580 additionally shoot forward of graphics playing cards which might be far more costly, however the efficiency of Intel’s last-gen choices exhibits that the sport runs oddly effectively with Intel’s {hardware}.

These are the hits, however there are many misses right here, as effectively. In Murderer’s Creed Mirage and Forza Motorsport, the B580 seems to be a bit much less spectacular. In each video games, the cardboard matches the efficiency of an RTX 4060, which is a GPU that also sells for $300. This can be a good efficiency contemplating the value of the B580, although it’s not the earth-shattering numbers showcased within the video games above.

Then there are video games the place the B580 straight-up loses, and typically by important margins. In Black Fable: Wukong, Dying Gentle 2, and Name of Responsibility Trendy Warfare 2, the B580 barely strikes the needle in comparison with the Arc A770 and A750, and falls considerably wanting the RTX 4060 and AMD’s RX 7600 XT.

Total, efficiency nonetheless swings in favor of Intel. Even matching the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT for $50 much less is spectacular, and in a number of video games I examined, the B580 exhibits a big lead. Video games like Black Fable and Dying Gentle 2 present that Intel nonetheless has some work to do, nevertheless. The efficiency in these titles is suitable however largely offset by the massive wins in video games like Cyberpunk 2077 when wanting on the efficiency general.

1440p efficiency

All of Intel’s efficiency claims concerning the B580 have been centered round 1440p, and the chart above exhibits why. The Arc B580 jumps to a 50% lead over the Arc A750 at 1440p, and manages an 18% lead over the RTX 4060. These numbers are near double what Intel claimed. Extra spectacular, the B580 is just 6% behind the RTX 4060 Ti, due in no small half to the 12GB of VRAM that Intel is providing on this card.

The B580 scales significantly better to this decision. In video games the place the B580 beforehand matched the RTX 4060 Ti, it now provides a efficiency enchancment. You may see that in motion as soon as once more in Cyberpunk 2077, Returnal, and Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered. I re-ran these exams a number of occasions to verify the efficiency was correct, and the numbers frequently got here up the identical. In sure titles, the B580 is far sooner than its value would recommend.

These video games aren’t what’s most spectacular at 1440p, nevertheless. At this decision, the weaknesses I noticed at 1080p are a lot much less pronounced. In Forza Motorsport and Murderer’s Creed Mirage, for instance, the B580 now claims a small lead over the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT the place it beforehand fell brief.

Even video games like Crimson Useless Redemption 2 profit. This title clearly favors Intel and AMD over Nvidia, there’s little doubt about that, however the efficiency is tough to argue with. Even on this demanding sport with maxed-out settings and no upscaling, you’re getting above 80 frames per second (fps) with a $250 graphics card. That’s exceptional in 2024.

Nonetheless, there are video games the place the Arc B580 struggles, corresponding to Black Fable: Wukong. This sport leans towards Nvidia, which ought to be clear from my chart. The B580 falls behind the RTX 4060, but when nothing else, it’s in a position to outclass the RX 7600 XT.

Lastly, we’ve got Name of Responsibility Trendy Warfare 2, the place the Arc B580 couldn’t handle 60 fps and even fell wanting last-gen’s Arc A770. I re-ran this take a look at half a dozen occasions with the identical outcomes. Clearly Intel GPUs aren’t nice on this sport — a reality Intel itself reiterated to me over electronic mail throughout my overview interval — however this degree of efficiency isn’t what I’d count on.

Regardless of a few misses, it’s clear that the Arc B580 seems to be its greatest at 1440p. My solely situation is that the GPU typically isn’t highly effective sufficient to hit that fated 60 fps, making this decision a lot much less sensible than 1080p. It’s potential to get good efficiency at 1440p, and in lots of video games, you possibly can hit 60 fps with out even enthusiastic about it. However for prime refresh price customers and people in search of triple-digit body charges, you’ll both must bump down your decision or decrease graphics settings.

4K efficiency

The Arc B580 isn’t highly effective sufficient for 4K gaming, and that shouldn’t come as a shock provided that it’s a $249 graphics card. I nonetheless ran all of my exams at this decision, nevertheless, and you may see how highly effective the B580 is in comparison with the competitors. I received’t undergo all the video games I examined once more at 4K. This can be a good showcase merely for the 12GB of VRAM accessible on the graphics card.

For those who take a look at a sport like Forza Motorsport, you possibly can see this extraordinarily apparent wall that GPUs with 8GB of VRAM run into, and the Arc B580 is free from these issues. You received’t run into VRAM limitations in each sport, and even the vast majority of them, particularly at decrease resolutions. However in titles the place 8GB of VRAM isn’t sufficient, the Arc B580 completely crushes playing cards just like the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600.

You don’t should be taking part in at 4K, both. As latest releases like Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle show, 8GB will be too little even down at 1080p. The already strong efficiency of the Arc B580 is the massive draw, however you’ll definitely admire accessing 12GB of VRAM in video games that may make the most of it.

Ray tracing efficiency

Ray tracing is a shocking sturdy level for Intel’s GPUs, and I’m pleased to report that the B580 carries that development ahead. The Arc B580 can’t match Nvidia’s ray tracing prowess, but it surely’s in a position to shoot previous what AMD is at the moment providing.

The comparability to AMD is a giant deal right here, with the B580 usually leaping up a full class of GPU efficiency merely on the again of its ray tracing energy. You may see that in motion in Cyberpunk 2077 above, the place the B580 is ready to match the RX 7700 XT. Much more spectacular, the B580 was in a position to prime the chart at 4K on this benchmark. You wouldn’t play this fashion, in fact, however the last-gen A750 couldn’t even end a single benchmark go.

This dynamic exhibits up even in video games that use lighter types of ray tracing, corresponding to Returnal. On this title, the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7700 XT are aggressive with one another, besides, the B580 blazes forward. The GPUs that the B580 is meant to be competing with just like the RTX 4060 aren’t even within the dialog.

Dying Gentle 2 continues the development, with the B580 falling simply wanting the RTX 4060 Ti. This degree of efficiency is absolutely exceptional for this class of graphics card, and it exhibits off simply how massive of a task ray tracing performs in general efficiency. With AMD’s funds alternate options, it’s important to sacrifice ray tracing. Right here, you’re getting the total bundle, and at a reduction in comparison with the competitors from Nvidia.

Do you have to purchase the Intel Arc B580?

I had low expectations for the Arc B580. I didn’t suppose it could be dangerous, but it surely’s exhausting to imagine the most effective for a graphics card that’s so aggressively priced. I figured it could be shut in efficiency to the RTX 4060, only for $50 much less. That’s not what I discovered all through my testing.

Intel has delivered a GPU that blows previous graphics playing cards which might be far more costly. It’s not even that the B580 is an efficient worth in comparison with the RX 7600 XT or RTX 4060. In lots of titles, Intel’s graphics card is straight-up sooner, value be damned. Maybe most spectacular is that the B580 can often close to the extent of efficiency of an RTX 4060 Ti or RX 7700, punching massively above its weight class.

There are nonetheless points. Intel’s drivers aren’t completely rock strong, and that exhibits up in video games like Black Fable: Wukong and Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare 2. These are affordable compromises based mostly on my testing, nevertheless. Intel has delivered quite a bit of driver updates — over 70 because the A770 launch — and a few minor efficiency bumps in these weaker video games would remodel the Arc B580. Even now, nevertheless, the GPU may be very straightforward to advocate.