Your browser does not support JavaScript!

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

GOOVER DAILY REPORT July 17, 2024
goover

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. Specification Overview of Selected Laptop GPUs
  3. Professional Use Case: NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU Specifications and Benchmarks
  4. High-End Gaming GPUs: Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090/4080
  5. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • The report titled 'Comparative Analysis of Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Intel Arc A770M, and NVIDIA Quadro T500' provides an in-depth comparison of several high-end laptop GPUs, focusing on their specifications, performance benchmarks, and targeted user applications. The study includes detailed examinations of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Intel Arc A770M, and NVIDIA Quadro T500. Key aspects such as core count, memory, power consumption, and advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS support are analyzed. These comparisons aim to inform readers about the strengths and weaknesses of each GPU, facilitating informed decisions based on individual needs, whether for high-end gaming or professional applications.

2. Specification Overview of Selected Laptop GPUs

  • 2-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU (Codename GN21-X9) is a high-end notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It is based on the AD104 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture), offering up to 7,680 shaders and a 192-bit memory bus with 12 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory clocked at effective speeds of 16 or 20 Gbps. The TGP (Total Graphics Power) ranges from 60 to 150 watts, plus an additional approximately 15 watts from Dynamic Boost (from the CPU). The boost clock ranges from 1350 MHz at 60 watts to 2280 MHz at 150 watts. The RTX 4080 features 232 4th generation Tensor Cores for DLSS 3 (including frame generation) and 58 3rd generation Ray Tracing Cores. The AD104 chip is manufactured using a 5nm process at TSMC and contains 35.8 billion transistors over a die size of 379 mm². With these specifications, the RTX 4080 outperforms older models like the RTX 3080 Laptop GPU and supports demanding games in QHD with Ray Tracing enabled and at 4K for less demanding titles without Ray Tracing.

  • 2-2. Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A570M (Device ID 5696) is a dedicated mid-range graphics card from Intel for laptops. It is based on the ACM-G12 chip, which utilizes 16 Xe-Cores (256 ALUs), 16 Ray-Tracing Units, and 8 MB L2-Cache. The GPU cores clock between 300 MHz to 2.05+ GHz in Turbo mode. It has a 128-bit wide memory interface supporting 8 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory at 14 Gbps. The TGP ranges from 75 to 95 watts. Positioned in the lower mid-range of dedicated notebook GPUs, the A570M performs between the Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M, suitable for playing demanding games at medium to high detail levels. The ACM-G12 chip is produced using a 6nm manufacturing process at TSMC in a BGA2660 package. It includes two Media Engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 8K60 12-Bit HDR decoding, and 8K 10-Bit HDR encoding. The integrated display pipes support up to four 4K120 HDR displays, HDMI 2.0b, DP 2.0 10G, and Adaptive Sync. Additionally, Deep Link Dynamic Power Share can be utilized with a 12th generation Alder Lake CPU.

  • 2-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (Codename GN21-X2) is a mid-range notebook graphics card launched in early 2023. It uses the AD107 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture) and provides a 96-bit memory bus with 6 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory clocked at an effective 16 Gbps. The TGP ranges from 35 to 115 watts, plus an additional 10-25 watts from Dynamic Boost (from the CPU). The GPU's boost clock ranges from 1605 MHz at 35 watts to 2370 MHz at 115 watts. Performance-wise, the RTX 4050 is situated between the RTX 3050 Ti and the RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs, making it best suited for 1080p gaming at high to maximum detail settings. It features 80 Tensor Cores for DLSS 3, providing a significant speed enhancement for supported games. However, its 20 Ray-Tracing Cores are less utilized due to insufficient power for effective Ray Tracing. The AD107 chip is produced using a 5nm process at TSMC.

3. Professional Use Case: NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU Specifications and Benchmarks

  • 3-1. Core Architecture and Memory Features of NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU is a professional graphics card designed for laptops, built on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip). It shares its architecture with the consumer-oriented GeForce MX450. The GPU features 896 CUDA cores and operates on a 64-bit memory bus. It is available with either 2 GB or 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 graphics RAM. The T500 supports PCIe 4.0 and is manufactured using a 12nm FinFET process at TSMC. The Turing architecture introduces concurrent execution of floating-point and integer operations, enhancing performance in compute-heavy workloads. Additionally, the T500 employs a new unified memory architecture, doubling the cache compared to its predecessor, Pascal, resulting in up to 50% more instructions per clock and a 40% improvement in power efficiency.

  • 3-2. Power Efficiency and Benchmark Performance

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) that ranges between 18 to 25 watts depending on the specific variant. Despite its lower power usage, the T500 delivers commendable performance, as evidenced by various benchmarks like 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, and Time Spy. It also performs well in tests like SPECviewperf 13 and SPECviewperf 2020, showcasing its capabilities in professional applications. Benchmark results indicate that the T500 handles a range of computational tasks efficiently, from CAD applications to rendering tasks, making it ideal for professional environments requiring sustained, reliable performance.

  • 3-3. Comparison with Quadro RTX Series

  • While the NVIDIA Quadro T500 belongs to the Turing generation and benefits from its advanced architectural enhancements, it does not feature ray tracing or Tensor cores, which are present in the more powerful Quadro RTX cards. This omission makes the T500 less suited for workloads that require real-time ray tracing or deep learning capabilities. However, when it comes to handling compute-heavy and workstation-grade applications, the T500 performs efficiently with lower power consumption compared to the Quadro RTX series. This trade-off highlights the T500's role as a cost-effective solution for professional use cases where ray tracing is not critical.

4. High-End Gaming GPUs: Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090/4080

  • 4-1. Detailed Specifications of Intel Arc A770M

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a mid-range dedicated GPU for laptops, based on the ACM-G10 chip. It features 32 Xe-Cores (512 ALUs), 32 Ray-Tracing units, 6 MB L1 cache, and 16 MB L2 cache. Clock speeds range from 300 MHz to a turbo boost of 2050 MHz. The memory interface is 256-bit wide, supporting 16 GB GDDR6 memory at 16 Gbps. The TGP (Total Graphics Power) is between 120 and 150 watts. The ACM-G10 chip, manufactured by TSMC using the 6 nm process, incorporates 21.7 billion transistors in a 406 mm² die. It also integrates dual media engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 decoding and encoding up to 8k60 12-bit HDR. Display support includes 4x 4K120 HDR, HDMI 2.0B, and DP 2.0 10G, with Adaptive Sync.

  • 4-2. Comparative Analysis of RTX 4090 and RTX 4080

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 laptop GPUs were introduced in early 2023 as high-end graphics solutions. The RTX 4090, based on the AD103 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture), features up to 10,752 shaders, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB GDDR6 memory at effective speeds of 20 Gbps, with TGP ranging from 80 to 150 watts. Its sibling, the RTX 4080, based on the AD104 chip, has 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB GDDR6 memory, with TGP between 60 and 150 watts. The AD103 chip contains 45.9 billion transistors in a 379 mm² die, while the AD104 chip contains 35.8 billion transistors.

  • 4-3. Performance Benchmarks and Power Consumption

  • Performance of the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 varies significantly based on TGP settings. The RTX 4090, with higher power settings, outperforms the RTX 4080 and older models like the RTX 3080 Ti significantly in synthetic benchmarks. For example, games running with ray tracing and DLSS support on the RTX 4090 run smoothly even at 4K resolutions. On the other hand, the RTX 4080 is sufficient for demanding games at QHD resolutions with ray tracing, and 4K for less demanding games. The Intel Arc A770M's performance is estimated to be slightly below the RTX 3070's, making it a robust option for mid-range gaming.

  • 4-4. Additional Features: Ray Tracing and DLSS Support

  • Both NVIDIA GPUs support advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). The RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 include 3rd generation Ray-Tracing cores and 4th generation Tensor cores, enabling real-time ray tracing and DLSS 3 including frame generation. This enhances visual fidelity and performance in supported games. Conversely, the Intel Arc A770M features 32 Ray-Tracing Units but does not include proprietary acceleration technologies like DLSS, relying instead on Intel's XeSS (Xe Super Sampling).

5. Conclusion

  • This report highlights the diverse strengths and applications of high-end laptop GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU emerge as powerful options for high-performance gaming, particularly for their advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS support. Although positioned in the mid-range, the Intel Arc A770M demonstrates substantial capabilities with its 32 Xe Cores and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, making it suitable for both gamers and content creators. The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, while lacking ray tracing, excels in professional environments due to its efficient power usage and strong performance in compute-heavy tasks. The significance of these findings lies in the tailored suitability of each GPU for distinct user needs. However, the report also reveals some limitations, such as the lack of ray tracing in the Quadro T500 and relatively lower gaming performance of the Intel Arc A770M when compared to NVIDIA's top models. Future developments in GPU technology may focus on improving these aspects and further optimizing power efficiency. For practical application, gamers and content creators can rely on the advanced features of the RTX series, while professionals may find the T500's power efficiency and reliable performance valuable in their work environments.

6. Glossary

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

  • A high-end notebook graphics card based on the AD104 chip, featuring 7,680 Shader cores, 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, and a TGP ranging from 60 to 150 watts. Known for high performance in gaming and synthetic benchmarks, enhanced by ray tracing and DLSS support.

  • 6-2. Intel Arc A770M [Technology]

  • A high-end laptop GPU with 32 Xe Cores, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, and considerable performance capabilities. Positioned as a competitor to NVIDIA’s higher-end GPUs, suited for gamers and content creators.

  • 6-3. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Technology]

  • A professional graphics card based on Turing architecture, offering 2 or 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 RAM, 896 cores, and efficient power consumption (18-25 watts). Ideal for compute-heavy workloads and professional applications but lacking in ray tracing support.

  • 6-4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU [Technology]

  • The top-tier graphics card featuring 10,752 Shaders, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, and clock speeds ranging from 1455 to 2040 MHz. Excels in high-performance gaming, equipped with advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS.

7. Source Documents