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Comparison and Performance Analysis of Modern Mobile GPUs

GOOVER DAILY REPORT August 7, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. Overview of GPU Architectures and Specifications
  3. Performance Benchmarks and Analysis
  4. Power Consumption and Thermal Efficiency
  5. Use Cases and Suitability
  6. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • The report titled 'Comparison and Performance Analysis of Modern Mobile GPUs' provides an in-depth examination of several contemporary mobile GPUs, including the NVIDIA Quadro T500, RTX 4080, RTX 4050, Intel Arc A570M, and Arc A770M. It elaborates on their architectures, specifications, memory configurations, power consumption, and performance benchmarks aiming to discern the strengths and weaknesses of each GPU. By evaluating benchmarks, architectural designs such as Turing, Ada Lovelace, and Xe, and power efficiency metrics, the report identifies how each GPU performs across various applications and workloads. Key results indicate that NVIDIA's GPUs, particularly the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, excel in high-end gaming and rendering, whereas Intel's Arc A570M and A770M offer competitive mid-range solutions. The NVIDIA Quadro T500 demonstrates robust performance for professional tasks due to its efficient architecture.

2. Overview of GPU Architectures and Specifications

  • 2-1. Introduction to GPU architectures: Turing, Ada Lovelace, Xe

  • The Turing architecture, used in the NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, provides significant enhancements over its predecessors. Built on the TSMC 12nm FinFET process, the Turing architecture introduced concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations for increased performance in compute-heavy workloads. The architecture also features a unified memory architecture with doubled cache capacity, leading to up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% more power efficiency compared to the preceding Pascal generation. The Ada Lovelace architecture, utilized in GPUs such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4050 Laptop GPUs, is manufactured using TSMC’s 5nm process. This architecture boosts efficiency and performance with improvements in Tensor Cores (4th generation) and Ray Tracing Cores (3rd generation). The significant leap in ray tracing capabilities and the implementation of DLSS 3 with frame generation are standout features. The RTX 4080’s Ada Lovelace-based GPUs integrate as many as 7,680 shaders and a 192-bit memory bus. Intel's Xe architecture powers the Intel Arc A570M and A770M GPUs. The Xe architecture is split into various segments to cater to different performance tiers, with the A570M and A770M representing mid-to-high end offerings. These GPUs are built on TSMC’s 6nm process and feature notable capabilities such as AV1 decoding, multiple ray-tracing units, and a strong emphasis on AI-enhanced features via Xe cores. The Arc A770M’s complete setup includes 32 Xe cores (512 ALUs) and a 256-bit memory interface.

  • 2-2. Key specifications of each GPU model

  • 1. **NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU: (Turing Architecture) - Consumer GeForce MX450 derivative** - Shader Units: 896 - Memory: 2-4 GB GDDR5/GDDR6 - TDP: 18-25 W - Process: 12nm FinFET - Key Features: Unified memory architecture, concurrent floating point and integer operations, PCIe 4.0 support, no ray tracing or Tensor cores. 2. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU: (Ada Lovelace Architecture) - High-end performance** - Shader Units: Max 7,680 - Memory: 12 GB GDDR6 - TDP: 60-150 W (+ Dynamic Boost) - Process: 5nm - Key Features: 232 Tensor cores (4th Gen), 58 Ray Tracing cores (3rd Gen), Adaptive DLSS 3, high efficiency with up to 20 Gbps memory speed. 3. **Intel Arc A570M GPU: (Xe Architecture) - Mid-range solution** - Shader Units: 256 ALUs (16 Xe cores) - Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 - TDP: 75-95 W - Process: 6nm - Key Features: 16 Ray Tracing Units, 8MB L2 cache, AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR decoding & encoding, supports deep link and dynamic power share. 4. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU: (Ada Lovelace Architecture) - Mid-range performance** - Shader Units: 3,584 - Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 - TDP: 35-115 W - Process: 5nm - Key Features: 80 Tensor cores (4th Gen), 20 Ray Tracing cores (3rd Gen), enhanced DLSS 3, suitable for 1920x1080 gaming at high settings. 5. **Intel Arc A770M GPU: (Xe Architecture) - Upper mid-range/high performance** - Shader Units: 512 ALUs (32 Xe cores) - Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 - TDP: 120-150 W - Process: 6nm - Key Features: 32 Ray Tracing Units, 16MB L2 cache, supports advanced media operations such as AV1 decoding & encoding, equipped with Deep Link Technology.

3. Performance Benchmarks and Analysis

  • 3-1. Benchmark data for NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip), features 896 CUDA cores and operates on a 64-bit memory bus with 2 or 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 graphics memory. The thermal design power (TDP) ranges between 18-25 watts based on the configuration. This GPU supports PCIe 4.0 and lacks raytracing and Tensor cores. Despite its professional application design, benchmarks indicate that it offers a performance rating of up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% more power efficiency compared to previous Pascal architecture GPUs. Benchmarks from 3DMark, SPECviewperf 13, SPECviewperf 2020, and Cinebench show that the T500 excels in compute-heavy workloads but falls short in high-end gaming due to its limited core capabilities.

  • 3-2. Comparison of gaming and rendering performance: RTX 4080, RTX 4050, Arc A570M

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, using the AD104 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture), features up to 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. Its TDP ranges from 60 to 150 watts. Performance benchmarks reveal its superior capabilities in demanding games and rendering tasks, outperforming older models such as the RTX 3080. The Intel Arc A570M, relying on the ACM-G12 chip, comes with 16 Xe cores, 16 Ray-Tracing Units, and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. It operates with a TDP range of 75-95 watts. The Arc A570M achieves mid-range performance, suitable for games at medium to high settings. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, employing the AD107 chip, includes 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and operates on a 96-bit memory bus, with TDP ranging from 35-115 watts. Benchmarks position the RTX 4050 between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060, highlighting its efficiency in 1080p gaming with high settings. The 4080 surpasses both the Arc A570M and the 4050 in both gaming and rendering benchmarks.

  • 3-3. High-end gaming capabilities: RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 vs Arc A770M

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, based on the AD103 chip, offers up to 10,752 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus with 16 GB of GDDR6. Its TDP ranges from 80-150 watts, and performance benchmarks demonstrate its dominance in high-end gaming, outperforming the RTX 4080 and the Arc A770M. The RTX 4080, as previously discussed, lags behind the RTX 4090 in demanding 4K gaming scenarios. The Intel Arc A770M, using the ACM-G10 chip, features 32 Xe cores, 32 Ray-Tracing Units, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, with TDP ranging from 120-150 watts. Benchmarks indicate that while the Arc A770M performs well in mid to high-end games, it cannot match the RTX 4090 in raw power and efficiency. The RTX 4090 is particularly capable in rendering tasks and games with raytracing using DLSS, whereas the Arc A770M offers a more budget-friendly option for upper-mid-range gaming.

4. Power Consumption and Thermal Efficiency

  • 4-1. Thermal Design Power (TDP) comparison

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU features a Thermal Design Power (TDP) ranging between 18 to 25 watts depending on the variant as mentioned in the reference document 'NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU - Benchmarks and Specs'. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU has a TDP that can range from 60 to 150 watts, as noted in both 'NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU vs Intel Arc A570M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU' and 'Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU'. The Intel Arc A570M has a TDP between 75 and 95 watts, while the Intel Arc A770M ranges from 120 to 150 watts. The RTX 4050 displays a TDP range of 35 to 115 watts. Similarly, the TDP for the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU spans from 80 to 150 watts.

  • 4-2. Efficiency improvements and cooling solutions

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, based on Turing architecture, offers approximately 40% more power-efficient usage compared to the Pascal architecture as presented in 'NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU - Benchmarks and Specs'. The RTX 4080 Laptop GPU uses the Ada Lovelace architecture which is built on TSMC's 5nm process, leading to significant power efficiency. The architecture supports advanced features like DLSS 3 and ray tracing, making it an efficient choice for high-performance computing. The Intel Arc series, including the A570M and the A770M, leverages TSMC's 6nm process and includes dynamic power share capabilities with 12th Gen Intel CPUs for optimized power consumption. Each GPU model features its unique cooling solutions to handle thermal efficiency, reflecting the latest advancements in CPU and GPU manufacturing technologies.

5. Use Cases and Suitability

  • 5-1. Suitability for professional workloads: Quadro T500

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, also known as the Nvidia T500 Mobile, is based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip). This professional mobile graphics card features 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus, with available configurations of 2 or 4 GB GDDR5 or GDDR6 graphics RAM. The TDP varies between 18 - 25 watts, depending on the variant. It supports PCIe 4.0 and is manufactured using the 12nm FinFET process at TSMC. Comparing its performance, the T500 has optimized core and cache architecture, providing up to 50% more instructions per clock and 40% more power efficiency compared to Pascal. While it lacks raytracing and Tensor cores available in faster Quadro RTX cards, its efficient design makes it suitable for compute-heavy workloads in modern games and professional applications. Benchmarks such as 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, Time Spy, and SPECviewperf 13/2020 indicate its performance reliability for professional usage.

  • 5-2. Mid-range gaming suitability: RTX 4050 vs Arc A570M

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU and the Intel Arc A570M fall into the mid-range category for gaming. The RTX 4050 is based on the AD107 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture offering a 96-bit memory bus, 6 GB GDDR6 graphics memory, and a TDP ranging from 35 to 115 watts. Boost clock speeds can vary from 1605 MHz to 2370 MHz depending on the TDP settings. With 80 Tensor cores for DLSS 3, the RTX 4050 performs well in 1920x1080 gaming at high to maximum detail settings. Meanwhile, the Intel Arc A570M, based on the ACM-G12 chip, provides 16 Xe cores (256 ALUs) with 16 Ray-Tracing Units and an 8 MB L2 cache. Its TDP ranges between 75 to 95 watts. Manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process, the A570M includes features such as 4K120 HDR support and Dynamic Power Share with 12th Generation Alder Lake CPUs. Both GPUs can handle mid-range gaming effectively, though benchmark comparisons indicate that the RTX 4050 sits between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 in performance, making it marginally better suited for gaming applications.

  • 5-3. High-performance gaming: RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 vs Arc A770M

  • For high-performance gaming, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, and Intel Arc A770M are prominent competitors. The RTX 4090 utilizes the AD103 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 10,752 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus with 16 GB GDDR6 graphics memory. Its TDP ranges from 80 to 150 watts, drastically outperforming the previous RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU and handling 4K gameplay smoothly with raytracing effects supported by DLSS. The RTX 4080, based on the AD104 chip and similar architecture, offers 7,680 shaders with a 192-bit memory bus and 12 GB GDDR6 memory. With TDP adjustable from 60 to 150 watts, it excels in synthetic benchmarks, providing fluid QHD gaming performance. The Intel Arc A770M, on the other hand, features the ACM-G10 chip with 32 Xe cores (512 ALUs) and 32 Ray-Tracing Units. Its 256-bit memory bus supports 16 GB GDDR6 memory with a TDP of 120 to 150 watts. Manufactured using TSMC’s 6nm process, the A770M falls into the upper mid-range but still lags behind the RTX 4080 and 4090 in synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming performance, making it a less preferable choice for high-end gaming applications.

6. Conclusion

  • The findings from the comparison of modern mobile GPUs reveal several key insights. The NVIDIA Quadro T500 is highly efficient and well-suited for professional workloads with its Turing architecture optimizing power usage and performance. On the other hand, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, deliver exceptional performance in gaming and rendering applications, showcasing advancements such as DLSS 3 and improved ray tracing cores. Although Intel's GPUs, specifically the Arc A570M and Arc A770M, do not surpass NVIDIA's high-end models, they provide strong mid-range performance for gaming and complex rendering tasks, with notable features like AV1 decoding and energy-efficient design. Acknowledging these findings, it's essential to consider the specific use case scenarios when selecting a GPU. However, the report does have limitations; it focuses on existing benchmarks and may not cover emerging software optimizations or new architectural innovations comprehensively. Future investigations should explore the integration of these GPUs in different environments, and potential upcoming advancements in GPU technologies. The practical applicability of this research underscores the importance of choosing the right GPU based on workload requirements, ensuring optimized performance and efficiency in both professional and gaming contexts.

7. Glossary

  • 7-1. NVIDIA Quadro T500 [Product]

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 is a professional mobile GPU based on the Turing architecture, featuring 896 cores and up to 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 RAM. It's designed for efficiency with a TDP of 18-25 Watts and supports PCIe 4.0.

  • 7-2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 [Product]

  • A high-performance laptop GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, with up to 7,680 shaders, 12GB GDDR6 memory, and a TGP of 60-150W. It offers excellent gaming and ray tracing performance.

  • 7-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 [Product]

  • A mid-range mobile GPU designed for 1080p gaming, featuring 6GB memory and a TDP of 35-115W. It balances cost and performance for mainstream users.

  • 7-4. Intel Arc A570M [Product]

  • Intel's dedicated mid-tier mobile GPU with 8GB memory, aimed at complex gaming and rendering tasks but positioned below NVIDIA's high-performance offerings.

  • 7-5. Intel Arc A770M [Product]

  • A mid-range mobile GPU by Intel, featuring 32 Xe cores, 16 GB GDDR6 memory, and a TGP of 120-150W, suited for both gaming and professional applications.

  • 7-6. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 [Product]

  • A top-tier mobile GPU designed for 4K gaming and demanding tasks, featuring adaptive TGP ranging from 80 to 150 watts and leveraging advanced TSMC manufacturing.

8. Source Documents