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

GOOVER DAILY REPORT July 20, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU Overview
  3. Intel Arc A770M Laptop GPU Overview
  4. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU Overview
  5. Comparative Analysis
  6. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • The report titled 'Detailed Comparison and Analysis of Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Intel Arc A770M, and NVIDIA Quadro T500' aims to deliver a comprehensive comparison of three key laptop GPUs. This includes examining their architectural designs, core specifications, and performance in various tasks such as gaming and professional workloads. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, built on Ada Lovelace architecture, showcases high-end gaming capabilities, with advanced features like Ray Tracing and Tensor cores. The Intel Arc A770M, a mid-range GPU, relies on the ACM-G10 chip and provides solid performance for gaming and multimedia tasks. Lastly, the NVIDIA Quadro T500, based on the Turing architecture, aims at professional applications, offering power-efficient performance for compute-heavy tasks. By comparing architectural differences, core specifications, performance metrics, and energy efficiency, the report outlines the best use cases for each GPU.

2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU Overview

  • 2-1. Architecture and Design

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It is built on the AD104 chip using the Ada Lovelace architecture, which it shares with the desktop RTX 4070 Ti. The GPU features 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, clocked at either 16 or 20 Gbps. Additionally, it incorporates 232 Tensor Cores of the 4th generation for DLSS 3 and frame generation, and 58 Ray Tracing Cores of the 3rd generation. The AD104 chip is manufactured using TSMC's 5nm process (4N), housing 35.8 billion transistors within a die size of 379 mm².

  • 2-2. Core Specifications

  • The GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is designed with a power consumption range of 60 to 150 watts TGP (Total Graphics Power), with an additional 15 watts granted for Dynamic Boost from the CPU. The GPU clock speeds vary significantly depending on the TGP settings, from a boost clock of 1,350 MHz at 60 watts to 2,280 MHz at 150 watts. This variability makes the performance of the RTX 4080 closely tied to the laptop's power and cooling provisions.

  • 2-3. Performance Analysis

  • Benchmark results indicate that the GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is highly competitive in its category. Comparatively, it outperforms the previous generation's RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU and is only surpassed by the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. In synthetic benchmarks such as 3DMark's Time Spy, Fire Strike, and others, the RTX 4080 shows strong performance. In practical tasks, its 232 Tensor Cores significantly accelerate DLSS 3 operations, and its 58 Ray Tracing Cores enable robust Ray Tracing capabilities.

  • 2-4. Gaming Suitability

  • The RTX 4080 is particularly well-suited for high-end gaming. It can handle demanding titles like F1 23 with Ray Tracing enabled at QHD resolution fluidly. For games that are less demanding or when Ray Tracing is not enabled, the GPU supports up to 4K resolution gaming comfortably. This makes the RTX 4080 an excellent choice for gamers looking for top-tier performance on a portable platform.

3. Intel Arc A770M Laptop GPU Overview

  • 3-1. Architecture and Design

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a mid-range dedicated laptop GPU based on the ACM-G10 chip. The GPU features 32 Xe-cores (512 ALUs), 32 Ray-Tracing units, a 6 MB L1 cache, and a 16 MB L2 cache. It has a clock speed range of 300 MHz to 2050 MHz (Turbo) and uses a 256-bit memory interface with 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) for the A770M ranges between 120 to 150 watts. The ACM-G10 chip is produced using TSMC’s 6 nm process (N6), contains 21.7 billion transistors, and has a die size of 406 mm². Additionally, the A770M integrates two media engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR decoding, and 8k 10-Bit HDR encoding. It supports four display outputs with HDMI 2.0B and DP 2.0 10G interfaces and features Adaptive Sync technology.

  • 3-2. Core Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A770M includes the following core specifications: - Device ID: 5690 - 32 Xe-cores (512 ALUs) - 32 Ray-Tracing units - 6 MB L1 cache - 16 MB L2 cache - Clock speeds ranging from 300 MHz to 2050 MHz (Turbo) - 256-bit memory interface - 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM @ 16 Gbps - TGP: 120-150 watts - Manufactured using TSMC’s 6 nm N6 process - 21.7 billion transistors - Die size: 406 mm² - Integrated Media Engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR decoding and 8k 10-Bit HDR encoding - Four display outputs: HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0 10G, Adaptive Sync support.

  • 3-3. Performance Analysis

  • The Intel Arc A770M performs well in the upper mid-range class for dedicated laptop GPUs. Clock speeds for the A770M vary between 300 MHz and up to 2050 MHz (Turbo). The power consumption is comparable to that of an RTX 3070, placing the A770M's estimated performance slightly below the RTX 3070. It integrates multiple media engines and supports high-definition media encoding and decoding, making it suitable for both gaming and multimedia tasks. The GPU’s performance can vary based on the device model and power configuration.

  • 3-4. Comparative Performance with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090

  • When compared with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, the Intel Arc A770M is positioned as a mid-range performer. The RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are both high-end GPUs that boast superior core counts and memory interfaces. Specifically, the RTX 4080 features a 192-bit memory bus, 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, and 7680 shader cores, while the RTX 4090 benefits from a 256-bit memory bus, 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, and up to 10752 shader cores. Performance benchmarks consistently place the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 at higher tiers compared to the A770M, with the RTX 4090 excelling in synthetic benchmarks and the RTX 4080 outperforming the A770M by a notable margin in overall gaming and rendering tasks.

4. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU Overview

  • 4-1. Architecture and Design

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, previously known as the Quadro T500, is a professional mobile graphics card built on the Turing architecture, specifically utilizing the TU117 chip. It is essentially a professional adaptation of the consumer GeForce MX450, sharing the same 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus. The T500 GPU supports both GDDR5 and GDDR6 memory, available in configurations of 2 or 4 GB. The chip, manufactured using a 12nm FinFET process at TSMC, is optimized for efficiency with a TDP ranging between 18 to 25 Watts depending on the variant. Enhancements introduced in the Turing generation include a unified memory architecture with double the cache compared to the previous Pascal generation, resulting in up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% better power efficiency. Notably, the T500 does not include raytracing or Tensor cores, features present in the higher-end Quadro RTX series.

  • 4-2. Core Specifications

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU features 896 CUDA cores, the same as the GeForce MX450. It operates on a 64-bit memory bus and is compatible with both GDDR5 and GDDR6 memory types, available in 2 or 4 GB configurations. The GPU clock speeds range from 1365 MHz to 1695 MHz when boosted. It supports a number of APIs including DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.6, and PCIe 4.0. Manufactured on a 12nm FinFET process by TSMC, the Quadro T500 is designed for optimized performance and power efficiency, with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) that ranges from 18 to 25 watts depending on specific variants.

  • 4-3. Performance in Professional Workloads

  • The Quadro T500 is tailored towards professional workloads, excelling in tasks that demand significant computing power. Optimized CUDA cores facilitate the concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, enhancing performance in compute-heavy applications. Professional applications that benefit from its capabilities include SPECviewperf 13 and 2020 benchmarks, which assess performance in a range of tasks such as 3D modeling and simulation. The device shows favorable results in these benchmarks, making it suitable for use in scenarios requiring robust graphics computations without the necessity for the raytracing capabilities of higher-end cards like the Quadro RTX series.

  • 4-4. Comparison with Modern Gaming GPU Capabilities

  • Though the Quadro T500 is optimized for professional workloads, it shares characteristics with gaming GPUs. Specifically, its architecture and core design are built on the same foundation as the GeForce MX450, indicating inherent capabilities in gaming as well. However, NVIDIA's focus with the T500 is professional use; it lacks advanced features such as raytracing that are prevalent in gaming-focused cards. The performance of the T500 in gaming scenarios includes reasonable FPS (frames per second) results at lower setting benchmarks, but it is not intended for high-performance gaming compared to other GPUs like the GeForce RTX series. Therefore, while it can handle gaming at low to mid settings, its primary strengths lie in professional, compute-intensive tasks.

5. Comparative Analysis

  • 5-1. Architectural Differences

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture using the AD104 chip, with a maximum of 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB GDDR6 memory. The Intel Arc A770M GPU utilizes the ACM-G12 chip with 32 Xe cores and 32 Ray-Tracing Units, supported by a 256-bit memory interface and 16 GB GDDR6 memory. The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU is built on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip), similar to the GeForce MX450, with 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus, available with 2 or 4 GB GDDR5/GDDR6 memory.

  • 5-2. Core Specification Comparison

  • The RTX 4080 features 232 Tensor Cores (4th Gen) and 58 Ray-Tracing Cores (3rd Gen), manufactured with TSMC's 5nm process. The Intel Arc A770M includes 32 Xe cores, 32 Ray-Tracing Units, 6 MB L1 cache, and 16 MB L2 cache manufactured with TSMC’s 6nm process. The Quadro T500 does not support Ray-Tracing or Tensor cores but includes CUDA cores with concurrent execution of floating-point and integer operations for optimized performance in compute-heavy workloads, manufactured using TSMC’s 12nm FinFET process.

  • 5-3. Performance Metrics Across Different Use Cases

  • The RTX 4080 performs well in high-end gaming, capable of running demanding games like F1 23 with Raytracing in QHD smoothly and even handling 4K games without Raytracing. The Intel Arc A770M serves the upper mid-range segment, with performance comparable to or slightly below the NVIDIA RTX 3070, handling most modern games on high settings. The Quadro T500 excels in professional workloads, evident from its optimized CUDA cores, making it suitable for tasks like 3D modeling, video rendering, and CAD applications.

  • 5-4. Energy Efficiency Analysis

  • The RTX 4080 shows a variable TGP range from 60 to 150 watts, influenced by the laptop’s cooling and TDP settings. The Intel Arc A770M has a TGP range of 120 to 150 watts. The Quadro T500 is highly energy-efficient, with a TDP of 18-25 watts, making it ideal for professional use on mobile workstations where power efficiency is crucial.

  • 5-5. Use Case Suitability (Gaming vs. Professional Workloads)

  • The RTX 4080 is highly suitable for gaming due to its high-performance capabilities and Ray-Tracing support, making it ideal for gamers and enthusiasts. The Intel Arc A770M targets mid-range gamers and those needing a blend of gaming and professional performance. The Quadro T500 is tailored for professional workloads, offering stability and reliability required in fields like digital content creation, design, and engineering.

6. Conclusion

  • In conclusion, the detailed comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Intel Arc A770M, and NVIDIA Quadro T500 reveals distinct strengths tailored to different market segments. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, with its Ada Lovelace architecture, stands out for its exceptional gaming performance and advanced features like Ray Tracing and Tensor cores, making it ideal for gamers and enthusiasts. The Intel Arc A770M, positioned in the mid-range market, combines Xe cores and Ray-Tracing Units to offer competitive performance in gaming and demanding applications, suitable for users seeking a balance between budget and performance. On the other hand, the NVIDIA Quadro T500, operating on the Turing architecture, excels in professional workloads with optimized CUDA cores and robust media engine support, making it perfect for tasks such as 3D modeling and video rendering. Limitations include the Quadro T500's lack of advanced gaming features and the A770M's lower performance compared to high-end GPUs. Future prospects indicate further advancements in architectural designs and performance capabilities, emphasizing the importance of selecting GPUs based on specific use cases, be it gaming or professional applications.

7. Glossary

  • 7-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU [Product]

  • High-end laptop GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, providing excellent gaming performance and equipped with advanced features like Ray Tracing and Tensor cores. It is positioned towards high-performance gaming laptops.

  • 7-2. Intel Arc A770M [Product]

  • Mid-range dedicated GPU for laptops featuring Xe cores and Ray Tracing Units. It provides notable performance for gaming and demanding tasks, serving as a competitive option in the upper mid-range segment.

  • 7-3. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Product]

  • Professional mobile GPU based on the Turing architecture, designed for professional applications rather than gaming. It offers power-efficient performance and supports modern professional workloads efficiently.

  • 7-4. Ada Lovelace architecture [Technology]

  • The underlying architecture for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, enhancing performance significantly in gaming and rendering scenarios through improved cores, Ray Tracing, and Tensor units.

  • 7-5. Turing architecture [Technology]

  • Architecture used in the NVIDIA Quadro T500, designed to optimize performance in professional workloads through improved cores and caching mechanisms. It does not support Ray Tracing and Tensor cores.

8. Source Documents