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Comparative Analysis of High-End and Mid-Range Laptop GPUs: Performance, Architecture, and Specifications

GOOVER DAILY REPORT July 14, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. High-End Laptop GPUs
  3. Mid-Range Laptop GPUs
  4. Professional Laptop GPUs
  5. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • This report provides a detailed comparison of high-end and mid-range laptop GPUs, focusing on architecture, performance, and specifications. The GPUs reviewed include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Intel Arc A570M, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, NVIDIA Quadro T500, and Intel Arc A770M, with additional insights into the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Key metrics such as shader count, memory, power consumption, and key features are explored to present a comprehensive understanding of each GPU's capabilities and applications. High-end GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are discussed in depth for their outstanding performance in demanding tasks, while mid-range options like the Intel Arc A570M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 are shown to offer balanced performance for less demanding applications. The professional GPU NVIDIA Quadro T500 is highlighted for its optimized performance in compute-heavy workloads.

2. High-End Laptop GPUs

  • 2-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end GPU for notebooks introduced in early 2023. It is based on the AD104 chip, utilizing the Ada Lovelace architecture, similar to the desktop RTX 4070 Ti. The RTX 4080 offers a maximum of 7,680 shaders and a 192-bit memory bus with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, clocked at either 16 or 20 Gbps. The total graphics power (TGP) ranges from 60 to 150 watts, with an additional 15 watts provided by Dynamic Boost from the CPU. Performance-wise, it is generally situated below the desktop RTX 4070 Ti but exceeds the previous generation RTX 3080 Laptop GPU. The GPU clock speed depends on the TGP setting and cooling capability of the laptop, ranging from 1350 MHz (boost at 60 watts) to 2280 MHz (150 watts). In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU significantly outperforms the RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU but falls short of the RTX 4090. This GPU supports advanced features like DLSS 3 with Frame Generation, utilizing its 232 Tensor cores (4th generation) and 58 Ray Tracing cores (3rd generation). It is built on the 5nm process at TSMC (4N), housing 35.8 billion transistors within a 379 mm2 die.

  • 2-2. Intel Arc A770M

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a dedicated mid-range GPU for notebooks, utilizing the ACM-G10 chip. It features 32 Xe-cores (512 ALUs), 32 Ray-Tracing units, and both 6 MB L1-cache and 16 MB L2-cache. The core clock speeds range from 300 MHz up to 1650 MHz for gaming, and up to 2050 MHz in Turbo mode. This GPU is equipped with a 256-bit memory interface supporting 16 GB GDDR6 memory at 16 Gbps, and its TGP varies from 120 to 150 watts depending on the model. Manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process, the chip encompasses 21.7 billion transistors in a 406 mm2 die. The Arc A770M supports advanced media capabilities such as VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR decoding and 8k 10-Bit HDR encoding, and it can drive up to four 4k120 HDR displays with HDMI 2.0B and DP 2.0 10G interfaces.

  • 2-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X11, represents the high-end segment introduced in early 2023. It employs the AD103 chip, sharing the Ada Lovelace architecture like the desktop RTX 4080. The GPU offers up to 10,752 shaders, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory at 20 Gbps. The total graphics power (TGP) ranges from 80 to 150 watts, with an additional 15 watts available via Dynamic Boost. While its performance stays below the desktop RTX 4080, it vastly outperforms the RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU. The RTX 4090's clock speeds vary with TGP settings, from 1455 MHz (80W) to 2040 MHz (150W). In synthetic benchmarks, it stands at the top, clearly surpassing the RTX 4080 and RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPUs. The AD103 chip is produced using TSMC's 5nm process (4N), containing 45.9 billion transistors within a 379 mm2 die. With support for DLSS and Ray Tracing technologies, the RTX 4090 ensures high performance in demanding 4K gaming scenarios.

3. Mid-Range Laptop GPUs

  • 3-1. Intel Arc A570M

  • The Intel Arc A570M is a dedicated mid-range graphics card for laptops, utilizing the ACM-G12 chip. It features 16 Xe cores (256 ALUs), 16 Ray-Tracing Units, and an 8 MB L2 Cache. The clock speeds range from 300 MHz to 2.05+ GHz in Turbo mode. It employs a 128-bit memory interface supporting 8 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory with a 14 Gbps effective bandwidth. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) ranges from 75 to 95 Watts. In terms of performance, the A570M ranks in the lower mid-range category, with an expected performance between the Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M. It's capable of handling demanding games at medium to high settings fluidly. Additionally, the A570M is manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process (N6) and employs a BGA2660 package. It includes two media engines for decoding VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR, and encoding 8k 10-Bit HDR. It supports up to 4 displays with HDMI 2.0B and DP 2.0 (10G), as well as Adaptive Sync and Dynamic Power Share with Alder Lake CPUs.

  • 3-2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 for laptops is a mid-range GPU based on the AD107 chip, part of the Ada Lovelace architecture. It includes a 96-bit memory interface with 6 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory running at 16 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) varies from 35 to 115 Watts, with an additional 10-25 Watts dynamic boost from the CPU. The GPU's boost clock speed ranges from 1605 MHz at 35 Watts to 2370 MHz at 115 Watts. Performance wise, the RTX 4050 slots between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 laptop GPUs, making it most suitable for 1920x1080 gaming at high to maximum settings. The RTX 4050 includes 80 Tensor Cores with DLSS 3 support for frame generation, offering significant speed boosts in supported games. However, due to its relatively lower performance, the 20 Raytracing Cores may see limited use. Like other GPUs in its series, the AD107 chip is fabricated using TSMC's 5nm process.

4. Professional Laptop GPUs

  • 4-1. NVIDIA Quadro T500

  • The Nvidia T500 Mobile, also known as the Quadro T500, is a professional mobile graphics card based on the Turing architecture using the TU117 chip. This GPU is derived from the consumer GeForce MX450, sharing the same 896 CUDA cores and a 64-bit memory bus. It is available in configurations with either 2 GB or 4 GB of graphics RAM, using GDDR5 or GDDR6 memory types. The TDP (Thermal Design Power) for the Quadro T500 ranges from 18 to 25 watts, depending on the specific variant. The T500 supports PCIe 4.0 and is manufactured using 12nm FinFET technology by TSMC. Although the Turing generation introduced ray tracing capabilities for the RTX cards, the T500 does not include ray tracing or Tensor cores. Instead, it focuses on optimized core and cache architecture, which provides increased performance for compute-heavy workloads. According to Nvidia, its CUDA cores can execute floating point and integer operations concurrently, enhancing performance. The revamped unified memory architecture offers twice the cache size compared to the Pascal architecture, resulting in up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% more power efficiency than Pascal. Performance benchmarks for the Quadro T500 include various tools and settings. For example, in synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark, the TDP options observed were 18W, 22W, and 25W. Other performance metrics are available from SPECviewperf 13 and 2020, covering different professional applications like Maya, Solidworks, and CATIA. In gaming benchmarks, the T500 demonstrates sufficient performance for lower and medium settings across various resolutions, highlighting its versatility for both professional and moderate gaming use cases. Application-specific benchmarks such as Cinebench R11.5 and R15 also reflect the consistent performance across different workloads.

5. Conclusion

  • This report underscores the critical differences and unique strengths of various laptop GPUs across performance tiers. High-end GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 set a high standard with exceptional capabilities in gaming and computational tasks, leveraging advanced features such as ray tracing and DLSS to provide unparalleled performance. Mid-range GPUs, including the Intel Arc A570M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, strike a balance between performance and power consumption, making them suitable for moderate gaming and professional use. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA Quadro T500 excels in professional applications due to its tailored architecture for compute-intensive workloads. While the report provides thorough insights, its limitations include a lack of long-term performance data and real-world testing across varied use cases. Future studies could delve deeper into comparative real-world application performance and efficiency benchmarks. Understanding these differences helps guide users in selecting the appropriate GPU based on specific needs and usage scenarios, ensuring optimal performance and value.

6. Glossary

  • 6-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • A high-end notebook graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 7,680 shader cores, 12 GB GDDR6 memory, and a TGP ranging from 60 to 150 Watts. Ideal for demanding games and tasks with DLSS 3 support.

  • 6-2. Intel Arc A570M [Product]

  • A mid-range notebook GPU with 16 Xe cores and 8 GB GDDR6 memory, positioned between Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M in terms of performance.

  • 6-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • A mid-range card designed for laptops, featuring 6 GB GDDR6 memory. Positioned between the RTX 3050 Ti and 3060 Laptop GPUs.

  • 6-4. NVIDIA Quadro T500 [Product]

  • A professional graphics card based on the Turing architecture, with optimized cores and cache architecture, supporting compute-heavy workloads. Available with 2 or 4 GB graphics RAM, 896 cores, and 64 Bit memory bus.

  • 6-5. Intel Arc A770M [Product]

  • A high-end laptop GPU with notable features in architecture, shader count, and memory interface. Known for its balanced performance, including ray tracing capabilities.

  • 6-6. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • The most powerful of the compared GPUs, leading in benchmarks for various tests with advanced features including extensive ray tracing and the highest performance metrics among its peers.

7. Source Documents