Comparative Analysis of High-End Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4090, Intel Arc A770M, and Quadro T500

1. Summary

• This report provides a comparative analysis of high-end laptop GPUs including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4090, Intel Arc A770M, and Quadro T500. The key focus is on their specifications, architectures, performances, and power consumption. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and excels in gaming performance with 7,680 shaders and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. The Intel Arc A770M, although competitive with NVIDIA’s RTX 3070, does not match the performance of the RTX 4080. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, with 10,752 shaders and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, surpasses both the RTX 4080 and previous generations in benchmark tests. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA Quadro T500, tailored for professional use with a focus on performance efficiency, lacks advanced gaming capabilities. Through various benchmarks and performance reviews, the report offers a comprehensive understanding of these GPUs’ standings in the market.

2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU

• 2-1. Architecture and Specifications

• The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It is based on the same AD104 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture) as the desktop RTX 4070 Ti, featuring 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory. The effective memory clock speeds range from 16 to 20 Gbps. The TGP (Total Graphics Power) of the RTX 4080 varies from 60 to 150 watts, with an additional 15 watts available from Dynamic Boost provided by the CPU. The GPU's clock speed depends heavily on the TGP configuration and the cooling capabilities of the laptop, with boost clocks ranging from 1350 MHz at 60 watts to 2280 MHz at 150 watts.

• 2-2. Performance and Power Consumption

• The performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is significant under various power settings, outperforming the older RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU and only trailing behind the RTX 4090. In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4080 shows superior performance, allowing it to handle demanding games like F1 23 with ray tracing in QHD smoothly. For less demanding games or those not utilizing ray tracing, it supports fluid gameplay even in 4K resolutions. The GPU features 232 fourth-generation Tensor Cores for DLSS 3, including Frame Generation, and 58 third-generation Ray Tracing Cores. The power consumption of the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is adjustable depending on the configuration and can range from 60 to 150 watts, plus an additional 15 watts from Dynamic Boost.

• 2-3. Benchmark Results

• Benchmark tests for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU reveal its strong performance credentials. According to various synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4080 consistently outperforms the previous generation RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU. For instance, in 3DMark Time Spy and Fire Strike tests, the RTX 4080 demonstrates a notable performance improvement. It is capable of sustaining smooth frame rates in high-resolution gaming scenarios, such as 4K gaming, and those involving significant ray tracing effects when paired with DLSS 3 technology. These benchmarks illustrate the RTX 4080's robust capabilities in both gaming and professional workloads.

3. Intel Arc A770M GPU

• 3-1. Architecture and Specifications

• The Intel Arc A770M is a mid-range dedicated graphics card for notebooks, based on the ACM-G10 chip. It comprises 32 Xe cores (512 ALUs), 32 ray-tracing units, 6 MB of L1 cache, and 16 MB of L2 cache. The GPU supports 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit interface running at 16 Gbps. The clock speeds range from 300 MHz to 2050 MHz with a TGP between 120 and 150 Watts. The chip is fabricated at TSMC using the 6nm process, features 21.7 billion transistors, and has a die size of 406 mm². It includes media engines supporting VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 decoding, as well as AVC, HEVC, and AV1 encoding in HDR 8k60 and 8k 10-bit formats. Additionally, the architecture supports four display outputs with HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0 10G, and Adaptive Sync.

• 3-2. Performance and Features

• The performance of the Intel Arc A770M is positioned in the upper mid-range for notebook graphics cards, roughly comparable to the Nvidia RTX 3070 series. However, the exact performance metrics are still not fully clear. In synthetic benchmarks, especially targeting professional applications, it delivers mid-tier performance levels while balancing power consumption comparable to competitors in its class. The GPU supports technologies such as Dynamic Power Share when paired with 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs, allowing for shared power dynamics between the CPU and GPU. It also provides multiple display support with up to four 4k120 HDR outputs.

• 3-3. Comparative Benchmarks

• Compared to its primary competitors, the Intel Arc A770M underperforms relative to the high-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 laptop GPUs, especially in 3DMark benchmarks and gaming performance. However, it provides competitive performance in various SPECviewperf benchmarks, particularly in professional applications. SPECviewperf 13 tests such as '3dsmax-06', 'catia-05', and 'maya-05' indicate that the Intel Arc A770M caters well to design and simulation software. Meanwhile, in performance benchmarks like Cinebench R15 OpenGL, the Intel Arc A770M shows mid-range capabilities, falling short of the high benchmarks set by Nvidia's top-tier laptop GPUs.

4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

• 4-1. Key Features and Specifications

• The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X11, is a high-end notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It utilizes the AD103 chip from the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring up to 10,752 shaders and a 256-bit memory interface supporting 16 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory with an effective clock rate of 20 Gbps. The manufacturing process is 5nm at TSMC, and the chip houses 45.9 billion transistors with a die size of 379 mm².

• 4-2. Performance Metrics

• The performance of the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU is designed to surpass the older RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU while being slightly lower than the desktop RTX 4080. The GPU can achieve clock speeds ranging from 1455 MHz (80W TGP) to 2040 MHz (150W TGP). Under synthetic benchmarks, it consistently ranks higher than the RTX 4080M and previous generation 3080 Ti Laptop GPUs, highlighting its superior performance.

• 4-3. Power Efficiency and Consumption

• The Total Graphics Power (TGP) for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU ranges from 80W to 150W, with an additional 15W available from Dynamic Boost which reallocates power from the CPU. Compared to the desktop version’s 320W, the laptop variant is significantly more power-efficient, making it suitable for gaming and other high-demand applications on mobile platforms.

• 4-4. Benchmark Comparisons

• In various benchmarks such as 3DMark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and SPECviewperf, the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU stands out as a top performer. For example, in 3DMark Time Spy, it leads over the RTX 4080M and RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPUs. In gaming benchmarks, the RTX 4090 maintains high frame rates in 4K with demanding titles and enables smooth performance, even with ray tracing enabled, by utilizing technologies like DLSS.

5. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU

• 5-1. Specifications and Architectural Details

• The Nvidia T500 Mobile, formerly known as Quadro T500, is a professional mobile graphics card based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip). It is derived from the consumer GeForce MX450 and has the same 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus. The GPU is available with either 2 GB or 4 GB graphics RAM (GDDR5 or GDDR6). The thermal design power (TDP) ranges between 18-25 watts, depending on the variant. The T500 also supports PCIe 4.0. The chip is manufactured using a 12nm FinFET process by TSMC. Turing generation improvements include concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations for increased performance and a unified memory architecture with double the cache compared to Pascal, resulting in up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% more power-efficient usage.

• 5-2. Performance Benchmarks

• The Quadro T500 does not feature raytracing and Tensor cores unlike the faster Quadro RTX cards. It has been evaluated using several benchmark suites: 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, Time Spy, SPECviewperf 13, SPECviewperf 2020, Cinebench R11.5, Cinebench R15, and GFXBench versions 3.0 and 3.1. These benchmarks are based on various test scenarios, including gaming benchmarks which indicate the performance is not suitable for most high-end gaming settings. The benchmark results vary based on the graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems used.

• 5-3. Intended Use and Applications

• The NVIDIA Quadro T500 is designed particularly for professional applications rather than for gaming. Its performance in compute-heavy workloads, supported by CUDA core optimizations for concurrent execution of operations, is about efficiency and reliability in professional settings. Typical applications involve design, rendering tasks, and other professional graphics-intensive workloads where raytracing and Tensor cores are not critical.

6. Comparison of GPU Performances

• 6-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 vs Intel Arc A770M

• The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end graphics card introduced in early 2023. It features the AD104 chip with 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, and a TGP range of 60-150 watts. The GPU's performance varies with TGP settings, showing superior performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU but lagging behind the RTX 4090. On synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4080 handles demanding games like F1 23 with ray tracing in QHD smoothly and can even support 4K gaming without ray tracing in less demanding games. The Intel Arc A770M, another 2023 release, is a mid-range GPU based on the ACM-G10 chip and offers 32 Xe cores, 32 ray-tracing units, 16 GB GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit bus, and a TGP of 120-150 watts. The A770M strives to match the performance of the NVIDIA RTX 3070 but falls slightly short. It is manufactured using TSMC’s 6nm process. While it performs well, the A770M does not surpass the RTX 4080's capabilities, especially in benchmark comparisons and high-demand gaming scenarios.

• 6-2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 vs RTX 4090

• The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 laptop GPU, utilizing the AD104 chip, provides high-end performance with 7,680 shaders and a variable TGP of 60-150 watts. This GPU, while outperforming the older RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU, still remains a step below the RTX 4090. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU, on the other hand, is built on the AD103 chip with a maximum of 10,752 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory. It has a TGP range of 80-150 watts. Even at lower power settings, the RTX 4090 surpasses the RTX 4080 significantly. In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4090 leads, providing unparalleled performance for demanding applications including seamless 4K gaming with ray tracing, especially when DLSS is applied. The RTX 4090 benefits from a higher number of transistors (45.9 billion) and a larger die size (379 mm²) compared to the RTX 4080's 35.8 billion transistors.

• 6-3. Comprehensive Benchmark Analysis

• The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 laptop GPUs, along with Intel’s Arc A770M, underwent numerous synthetic benchmark tests. The RTX 4080 demonstrated a robust performance boost over its predecessors and managed to stay just behind the RTX 4090 in terms of capability. Benchmarks like 3DMark Fire Strike and Time Spy show the RTX 4090 taking the lead with its higher shader count and more efficient architecture. For the Intel Arc A770M, despite introducing competitive features and performance metrics that place it above AMD's Radeon RX 6500M but below NVIDIA's RTX 3060, it could not outperform the RTX 4080 in most gaming and professional applications benchmarks. The power efficiency of the RTX 4090 also adds a strategic advantage over its competitors, especially significant in maintaining high performance under various TDP settings. Overall, the RTX 4090's performance in SPECviewperf benchmarks and its superior ray tracing support establish it as the top choice for high-end gaming and professional content creation workloads. The RTX 4080, while slightly lesser in performance compared to the RTX 4090, still offers substantial capabilities suitable for demanding applications and gaming at high resolutions. The Intel Arc A770M, although a solid performer, remains best suited for mid-range gaming and less intensive professional applications.

7. Technological Advancements in Modern Laptop GPUs

• 7-1. Advances in GPU Architectures

• Laptop GPUs, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, as well as the Intel Arc A770M and Quadro T500, have seen significant architectural advancements. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 utilize the Ada Lovelace architecture (AD104 and AD103 chips respectively), offering improvements in shader numbers, memory bandwidth, and efficiency compared to previous generations. For instance, the RTX 4080 features 7,680 shaders with a 192-bit memory interface, while the RTX 4090 boasts 10,752 shaders and a 256-bit interface. The Intel Arc A770M is based on the ACM-G10 chip with 32 Xe cores and a 256-bit memory interface, maximizing memory and cache efficiency. Meanwhile, the Quadro T500, based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip), features concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations and an optimized cache, leading to improved performance and power efficiency.

• 7-2. Ray Tracing and DLSS Support

• Modern GPUs have embraced advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS to enhance graphics quality and performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 both support ray tracing and are equipped with third-generation Ray Tracing (RT) cores and fourth-generation Tensor cores. These advancements allow for real-time ray tracing in games and applications, along with support for DLSS 3, which leverages AI to boost frame rates while maintaining visual quality. The Intel Arc A770M, with 32 Ray-Tracing Units, also supports ray tracing, making it competitive in graphics rendering tasks. The Quadro T500, aimed at professional tasks, does not include ray tracing and Tensor cores but still benefits from the architectural enhancements of the Turing generation.

• 7-3. Power Efficiency Improvements

• The power efficiency of high-end laptop GPUs has improved significantly due to newer architectural designs and manufacturing processes. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are built on a 5nm process at TSMC, allowing for more transistors and better power management. The TDP for RTX 4080 ranges from 60 to 150 watts, while the RTX 4090 ranges from 80 to 150 watts, with additional power drawn via Dynamic Boost from the CPU. The Intel Arc A770M, manufactured on a 6nm process, has a TDP range of 120 to 150 watts, showing competitiveness in power-efficient gaming and graphic tasks. The Quadro T500, built on a 12nm Turing architecture, features a TDP of 18 to 25 watts, highlighting its focus on professional applications that require sustained performance with minimal power consumption.

8. Conclusion

• The high-end laptop GPUs analyzed in this report—NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4090, Intel Arc A770M, and Quadro T500—demonstrate substantial advancements in performance, architecture, and power efficiency. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU emerges as the leader in terms of performance and efficiency, suitable for the most demanding applications, including 4K gaming and professional content creation. The RTX 4080 provides slightly lower but still exceptional performance, offering significant improvements over previous models. The Intel Arc A770M, while introducing competitive features and solid performance, lags behind the NVIDIA GPUs in high-demand scenarios. The NVIDIA Quadro T500, focused on professional applications, excels in specific compute-heavy tasks but lacks advanced gaming capabilities. Limitations include the Intel Arc A770M’s performance gap with NVIDIA’s top-tier models and the Quadro T500’s omission of raytracing and Tensor cores. Future prospects indicate continued innovations in GPU technology, pushing the boundaries of graphics performance and efficiency. Practical applicability of these findings includes informed decisions for gaming enthusiasts, professionals in design and rendering, and manufacturers aiming to integrate top-performing GPUs in laptop designs.

9. Glossary

• 9-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU [Technology]

• A high-end notebook graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 7,680 shaders and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. It is designed for demanding gaming applications and offers improvements in performance and power efficiency over previous models.

• 9-2. Intel Arc A770M GPU [Technology]

• A high-end GPU competing with NVIDIA's offerings, built on advanced processes, featuring ray tracing and DLSS support. However, it falls short in performance compared to NVIDIA's RTX 4090 and 4080.

• 9-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU [Technology]

• A top-tier laptop GPU by NVIDIA, known for its exceptional performance and efficiency. It features advanced architectural improvements and leads in performance metrics among high-end GPUs.

• 9-4. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Technology]

• A professional mobile graphics card based on the Turing architecture, lacking advanced features like ray tracing. It is optimized for professional applications with a focus on performance and efficiency at lower power consumption levels.

10. Source Documents

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU vs Intel Arc A570M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPUhttps://www.notebookcheck.com/NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4080-Laptop-GPU-vs-A570M-vs-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4050-Laptop-GPU_11438_11610_11457.247532.0.html
• NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU - Benchmarks and Specshttps://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Quadro-T500-Mobile-GPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.513926.0.html
• Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPUhttps://www.notebookcheck.com/A770M-vs-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4090-Laptop-GPU-vs-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4080-Laptop-GPU_11313_11437_11438.247532.0.html