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Comparative Analysis of High-Performance Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA and Intel

GOOVER DAILY REPORT July 11, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU
  3. Intel Arc A570M
  4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  5. Intel Arc A770M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
  6. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU
  7. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • The report titled 'Comparative Analysis of High-Performance Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA and Intel' provides an extensive examination of various high-performance laptop GPUs, focusing on four NVIDIA models—the GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, and Quadro T500 Mobile GPU—and two Intel models—the Arc A570M and Arc A770M. The analysis covers their technical specifications, benchmark performance, and comparative strengths and weaknesses. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4050 are noted for their superior gaming and rendering performance, while the Quadro T500 is optimized for professional use. The Intel Arc A570M and A770M offer competitive mid-range performance, comparable to other mid-tier GPUs. The report's findings serve to inform users of each GPU's capabilities and performance potential in various scenarios, from gaming to professional applications.

2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU

  • 2-1. Technical Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It utilizes the AD104 chip based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. The GPU features up to 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory with an effective clock speed of either 16 or 20 Gbps. The total graphics power (TGP) is variable, ranging from 60 to 150 watts, with an additional 15 watts available through Dynamic Boost. The clock speeds vary depending on the TGP, with a boost range from 1350 MHz (60W) to 2280 MHz (150W). The GPU also includes 232 fourth-generation Tensor Cores for DLSS 3 and 58 third-generation Ray Tracing Cores. The AD104 chip is manufactured on TSMC's 5nm process (4N), consisting of 35.8 billion transistors and a die size of 379mm².

  • 2-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • The performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU has been thoroughly tested in synthetic benchmarks and real-world scenarios. It significantly outperforms its predecessor, the RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU, and is only surpassed by the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. In synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark Time Spy, the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU demonstrates exceptional performance, lagging only behind the RTX 4090 Mobile. High-demand games such as F1 23 are playable with Ray Tracing enabled in QHD resolution, and less demanding games can be enjoyed in 4K without Ray Tracing. The GPU's performance is highly dependent on the TGP and cooling solutions of the laptop in which it is integrated.

  • 2-3. Comparative Analysis with Competitors

  • When compared to other high-performance laptop GPUs such as the Intel Arc A570M and A770M, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, the RTX 4080 demonstrates superior performance. The Intel Arc A570M, a mid-range dedicated graphics card with 16 Xe cores and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, offers lower performance metrics in comparison to the RTX 4080. Similarly, the Arc A770M, with higher Ray Tracing capabilities and 16 GB GDDR6 memory, falls behind the RTX 4080 in benchmark tests and real-world gaming scenarios. The RTX 4050, positioned between Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 in terms of performance, is not suited for high-end gaming or rendering tasks when compared to the capabilities of the RTX 4080. The RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is well suited for high-resolution gaming and demanding rendering tasks, showcasing its strengths in performance-heavy applications.

3. Intel Arc A570M

  • 3-1. Technical Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A570M is classified as a mid-range dedicated graphics card for notebooks. This GPU is built on the ACM-G12 chip and includes 16 Xe-cores (containing 256 ALUs), 16 Ray-Tracing Units, and features an 8 MB L2 cache. The clock speeds range from 300 MHz in the base setting to 1300 MHz in gaming mode, with a turbo frequency exceeding 2.05 GHz. The memory interface is 128-bit wide, supporting 8 GB GDDR6 RAM with a transfer speed of 14 Gbps. Depending on the model, the Total Graphics Power (TGP) ranges between 75 to 95 watts. Furthermore, the ACM-G12 chip is manufactured using TSMC’s 6nm process (N6 process) and is housed in a BGA2660 package. This chip also integrates two media engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 8k60 12-bit HDR decoding and 8k 10-bit HDR encoding. Additionally, it supports four display pipes capable of handling up to 4 x 4k120 HDR displays, including HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0 10G, and Adaptive Sync. The Arc A570M can use Dynamic Power Share through Intel’s Deep Link technology when paired with a 12th Generation Alder Lake CPU.

  • 3-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • The Intel Arc A570M performs in the lower mid-range bracket of dedicated notebook graphics cards. Its performance is estimated to sit between AMD’s Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M. This positioning suggests that the GPU can handle demanding games with medium to high detail settings smoothly. Compared to its slower counterpart, the Arc A550M, the Arc A570M stands out due to its higher clock speeds and TDP values. Despite these specs, specific synthetic benchmark scores and game test results were not provided for a detailed comparative analysis, but the general classification suggests favorable performance in everyday gaming scenarios and some professional uses.

  • 3-3. Market Positioning

  • Intel’s Arc A570M is positioned as a competitive mid-range option within the notebook graphics card market. Its technical capabilities allow it to compete directly with similar mid-range offerings from AMD. It serves as an attractive alternative for users seeking a balance between performance and power consumption, particularly in gaming laptops and mobile workstations. With Intel targeting a segment where performance-per-watt is critical, the Arc A570M provides substantial value under the right conditions, especially when paired with Intel’s Alder Lake CPUs, maximizing dynamic power sharing potential.

4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU

  • 4-1. Technical Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X2, was introduced in early 2023. It is a mid-range notebook GPU based on the AD107 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture) and features a 96-bit memory interface with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory running at an effective speed of 16 Gbps. The TGP (total graphics power) ranges from 35 to 115 watts, with an additional dynamic boost of 10 to 25 watts from the CPU. The boost clock speeds range from 1605 MHz at 35 watts to 2370 MHz at 115 watts, making performance highly dependent on TDP settings. The GPU also includes 80 Tensor Cores for DLSS 3 and 20 Ray-Tracing Cores.

  • 4-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • According to benchmark data from various notebooks, the performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU is positioned between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs. It is ideal for gaming at 1920x1080 resolution with high to maximum details, depending on the game. The GPU can significantly benefit from DLSS 3, offering a noticeable speed boost with minimal quality loss. However, its 20 Ray-Tracing Cores are underutilized due to insufficient performance for effective Ray-Tracing. Benchmarks such as 3DMark Time Spy, 3DMark Fire Strike, and SPECviewperf 13 show that it is a competitive option in the mid-range segment.

  • 4-3. Comparative Analysis with Previous Generation GPUs

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU outperforms its predecessor, the RTX 3050 Ti, and competes closely with the RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. In synthetic benchmarks, it consistently exceeds the performance of the RTX 3050 Ti, offering better gaming performance and superior support for new technologies like DLSS 3. However, its performance is still below higher-tier GPUs such as the RTX 4080. The increased clock speeds, higher TGP, and improved memory configuration contribute to its enhanced performance over previous generations.

5. Intel Arc A770M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

  • 5-1. Technical Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a mid-range dedicated GPU for notebooks, based on the ACM-G10 chip manufactured with a 6nm process by TSMC. It features 32 Xe-Cores (512 ALUs), 32 Ray-Tracing Units, 6MB L1 Cache, and 16MB L2 Cache. The clock speeds range from 300MHz to 2050MHz, with a gaming clock of 1650MHz. It supports up to 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 256-bit memory interface at 16Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) varies between 120-150W. The GPU also includes hardware support for VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 decoding and encoding, along with four display interfaces supporting up to 4k120 HDR output. Deep Link technology allows dynamic power sharing with 12th Gen Intel CPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU is a high-end GPU based on the AD103 chip with the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features up to 10,752 shader units, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 20Gbps. The TGP ranges from 80-150W with an additional 15W Dynamic Boost from the CPU. Manufactured with a 5nm process by TSMC, the chip includes 45.9 billion transistors and has a die size of 379mm². This GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Shader Model 6.7, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3.0, and Vulkan 1.3.

  • 5-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • In synthetic benchmarks, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU consistently ranks at the top, significantly outperforming the RTX 4080M and RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU. Notebooks with a lower power limit (125W) may experience performance reductions of up to 20%. In gaming scenarios, the RTX 4090 can smoothly handle demanding games at 4k resolution. However, for titles using Ray-Tracing (e.g., F1 23), it is recommended to employ DLSS or reduce the resolution. The Intel Arc A770M, positioned in the upper mid-range for dedicated laptop GPUs, exhibits performance roughly around the level of the NVIDIA RTX 3070. Specific benchmark scores are less clear due to its varying power consumption and associated performance ranges.

  • 5-3. Comparative Analysis

  • Comparing the Intel Arc A770M with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU highlights significant differences in their intended market and performance offerings. The Arc A770M caters more towards mid-range performance with its Xe-cores and power efficiency, making it suitable for notebooks requiring balanced power and performance. Conversely, the RTX 4090 offers unparalleled high-end performance with substantial shader counts and advanced features for gaming and professional applications. Additionally, the RTX 4090's support for DLSS 3 and advanced Ray-Tracing cores provides a considerable advantage in demanding gaming and rendering tasks, while the A770M's efficiency and media engine capabilities cater well to multimedia and productivity workloads.

6. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU

  • 6-1. Technical Specifications

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, formerly known as the Quadro T500, is a professional mobile graphics card based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip). It is comparable to the consumer GeForce MX450, featuring the same 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus. The GPU is available with either 2 or 4 GB of graphics RAM (GDDR5 or GDDR6), with a TDP range of 18-25 Watts depending on the variant. It supports PCIe 4.0 and is manufactured using the 12nm FinFET process at TSMC. Improvements in the Turing generation include optimized core and cache architecture, allowing concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations for increased performance in compute-heavy workloads. Additionally, the unified memory architecture provides twice the cache compared to its predecessor, Pascal, resulting in up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% greater power efficiency.

  • 6-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • Performance benchmarks for the NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU encompass a range of tests, including 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, and Time Spy, among others. SPECviewperf 13 and 2020 benchmarks reveal its capabilities in professional applications like 3ds Max, Maya, and SolidWorks at various TDP configurations ranging from 18W to 25W. Cinebench R11.5 and R15 OpenGL tests provide further insights into its graphical performance. The GPU exhibits a variety of performance levels across different game settings, including 1080p and 4K resolutions, demonstrating its suitability for professional tasks rather than high-end gaming.

  • 6-3. Use Cases in Professional Applications

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU is designed with professional applications in mind. Its architecture and memory configurations make it particularly suitable for tasks that require significant compute power and advanced graphical capabilities, such as CAD, 3D modeling, and visual effects. The GPU's concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations enhances its performance in modern games, although it lacks the ray tracing and Tensor cores found in higher-end RTX cards. As evidenced by benchmarks in applications like Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, and SolidWorks, the T500 delivers reliable performance for professionals in fields like engineering, architecture, and media production.

7. Conclusion

  • The analysis of high-performance laptop GPUs reveals distinct benefits for both NVIDIA's and Intel's offerings. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 excels with top-tier gaming and rendering capabilities, making it suitable for high-resolution and resource-heavy applications. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 offers a strong mid-range option with efficient performance for standard gaming and moderate computing tasks. In the professional domain, the NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU provides reliable performance for tasks like CAD and 3D modeling. On the other hand, Intel’s Arc A570M and A770M GPUs emerge as viable mid-range competitors, striking a balance between performance and power consumption. Although NVIDIA's GPUs show superior performance in gaming and rendering, Intel's Arc series delivers respectable efficiency for gaming and professional use, particularly when paired with Intel CPUs. Future advancements may further distinguish these GPUs, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right model based on specific needs. Further research into real-world applications and evolving user requirements could offer more targeted recommendations, enhancing the practical applicability of these GPUs.

8. Glossary

  • 8-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • A high-end notebook GPU featuring 12GB GDDR6 memory, noted for surpassing the RTX 4070 Ti and falling slightly behind the RTX 4090. It excels in gaming and rendering tasks requiring high compute performance.

  • 8-2. Intel Arc A570M [Product]

  • A mid-range GPU with 8GB GDDR6 memory, developed by Intel. It competes with the Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency.

  • 8-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • A mid-range GPU with 6GB GDDR6 memory, positioned between the RTX 3050 Ti and 3060. Intended for users seeking moderate gaming and compute capabilities.

  • 8-4. Intel Arc A770M [Product]

  • A high-performance GPU by Intel, compared against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 and 4080. Features higher memory bandwidth and enhanced gaming capabilities.

  • 8-5. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Product]

  • A professional mobile GPU based on the Turing architecture, available with 2 or 4 GB graphics RAM. It is designed for compute-heavy workloads but does not support raytracing and Tensor cores.

9. Source Documents