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Comparative Analysis of Modern Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA and Intel Competing in High-End, Mid-Range, and Budget Segments

GOOVER DAILY REPORT August 3, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

1. Summary

  • This report offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of modern laptop GPUs, specifically focusing on models from NVIDIA and Intel released in early 2023. It examines the technical specifications, performance benchmarks, and practical applications of diverse GPUs, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, RTX 4090, and Quadro T500, alongside Intel’s Arc A570M and A770M. The report elucidates the strengths and weaknesses of each model in contexts like gaming and professional use, providing readers with a detailed understanding of the current GPU landscape. Key findings highlight NVIDIA’s dominance in high-end and mid-range segments while presenting Intel's Arc series as a budget-friendly alternative.

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 notebook graphics card introduced in early 2023. It is based on the AD104 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, offering up to 7,680 shaders, a 192-bit memory bus, and 12 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory. The GPU’s clock speed varies significantly with the Thermal Design Power (TDP) settings, ranging from 1,350 MHz (boost at 60W) to 2,280 MHz (boost at 150W). The TGP (Total Graphics Power) ranges from 60 to 150 watts. The RTX 4080 uses 232 fourth-generation Tensor cores for DLSS 3 (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and 58 third-generation Raytracing cores, manufactured at TSMC’s 5nm process (4N) with 35.8 billion transistors and a die size of 379 mm². Performance benchmarks indicate the RTX 4080 laptop GPU surpasses the older RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU but falls short of the RTX 4090. This GPU supports demanding games like F1 23 with ray tracing in QHD smoothly and can handle less demanding games in 4K resolution.

  • 2-2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X11, represents a top-tier notebook graphics card, released in early 2023. It is built on the AD103 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, matching the desktop RTX 4080's architecture. This GPU includes up to 10,752 shaders, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Its clock speed is dependent on the TDP, ranging from 1,455 MHz (80W) to 2,040 MHz (150W). The total graphics power varies from 80 to 150 watts, with an additional 15-watt Dynamic Boost available from the CPU. Made via TSMC's 5nm process (4N) with 45.9 billion transistors housed in a die size of 379 mm², the RTX 4090 laptop GPU outperforms the RTX 4080 and the RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPUs in synthetic benchmarks. Notebooks with lower power limits (125W) might see up to a 20% performance reduction. Gaming benchmarks suggest that the RTX 4090 can efficiently handle 4K resolution gaming and ray tracing with DLSS enabled.

  • 2-3. Intel Arc A770M

  • The Intel Arc A770M, identified by Device ID 5690, is a dedicated middle-class graphics card for notebooks. 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. The GPU operates within clock speeds of 300 MHz, with gaming speeds up to 1,650 MHz and turbo speeds reaching up to 2,050 MHz. The card supports a 256-bit memory interface and includes 16 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory clocked at 16 Gbps. The total graphics power ranges between 120 to 150 watts, placing its performance near the NVIDIA RTX 3070 but slightly below. The chip is manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process (N6), enclosing 21.7 billion transistors. Despite operating at power levels similar to the RTX 3070, the performance benchmarks classify it in the upper mid-range segment of notebook GPUs. The Intel Arc A770M integrates advanced media engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 decoding at 8k60 12-bit HDR and encoding at 8k 10-bit HDR, with support for 4K HDR at 120Hz across four displays through HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0, and Adaptive Sync.

3. Mid-Range Laptop GPUs

  • 3-1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X2, was released in early 2023 and is a mid-range notebook graphics card. It is based on the AD107 chip utilizing the Ada Lovelace architecture. This GPU features a 96-bit memory bus with 6GB of GDDR6 graphics memory, clocked at an effective 16 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) of the RTX 4050 can range from 35 to 115 watts, with an additional Dynamic Boost from the CPU ranging between 10-25 watts. Its boost clock speed varies from 1605 MHz (at 35 watts) to 2370 MHz (at 115 watts), meaning the performance is significantly dependent on the TDP settings. According to benchmarks from various notebooks, the RTX 4050 ranks between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs, making it suitable for 1920x1080 (full HD) gaming with high to maximum detail settings. It houses 80 Tensor Cores for DLSS 3 with Frame Generation, enhancing performance in supported games with a minimal quality loss. However, the 20 Ray-Tracing Cores in the RTX 4050 may not be fully utilized due to insufficient power for effective ray-tracing effects. The AD107 chip is manufactured using TSMC's 5nm process (4N).

4. Budget-Friendly Laptop GPUs

  • 4-1. Intel Arc A570M

  • The Intel Arc A570M is a dedicated mid-range graphics card for laptops, based on the ACM-G12 chip. It features 16 Xe cores (256 ALUs), 16 Ray-Tracing units, and 8MB L2 cache. The clock speeds range from 300 MHz (base), to 1300 MHz (gaming), up to 2.05+ GHz (Turbo). This GPU uses a 128-bit wide memory interface, supporting 8GB of GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gbps. The power consumption (TGP) varies between 75 to 95 watts, depending on the model. Performance-wise, the Arc A570M is positioned in the lower mid-range category for dedicated laptop GPUs, with performance likely between the Radeon RX 6500M and RX 6600M. This should allow for smooth gameplay in demanding titles at medium to high settings. Manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process, the ACM-G12 chip uses a BGA2660 package and integrates dual Media Engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, AV1 8k60 12-bit HDR decoding, and 8k 10-bit HDR encoding. Furthermore, the GPU supports four Display Pipes and can drive up to 4 displays at 4k120 HDR, HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0 10G, and Adaptive Sync. The GPU also includes Dynamic Power Share when paired with a 12th Gen Intel CPU (Alder Lake) via Deep Link technology.

5. Professional Laptop GPUs

  • 5-1. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU

  • The Nvidia Quadro T500 Mobile, also known as T500, is a professional mobile graphics card based on the Turing architecture (TU117 chip). This GPU shares similarities with the consumer GeForce MX450, utilizing the same 896 cores and a 64-bit memory bus. It is available with either 2 or 4 GB of graphics RAM in GDDR5 or GDDR6 variants. The Total Design Power (TDP) ranges between 18 and 25 watts, depending on the specific version. Fabricated using the 12nm FinFET process by TSMC, the T500 supports PCIe 4.0 like the MX450. The Turing generation brought significant enhancements, such as the concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations by CUDA cores, boosting performance in compute-heavy workloads and modern games. The architecture also features a unified memory design with increased cache size, offering up to 50% more instructions per clock cycle and 40% better power efficiency compared to the previous Pascal generation. However, unlike its faster Quadro RTX counterparts, the T500 does not include ray tracing and Tensor cores. For benchmarking, the performance of the T500 has been evaluated using tests like 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, Time Spy, SPECviewperf, Cinebench, and GFXBench. It is found to be suitable for professional applications and moderate gaming scenarios, providing essential features for professional laptop users without advanced capabilities like ray tracing. In terms of practical use, benchmarks indicate varying levels of performance across different resolutions and settings. At lower settings like 1280x720, the T500 can run most modern games relatively smoothly, whereas higher resolutions and settings (such as 1920x1080 and above) may see reduced performance, making it less ideal for intense gaming but well-matched for professional tasks that do not require advanced graphical capabilities.

6. Conclusion

  • The comparative analysis reveals that NVIDIA continues to be a frontrunner in both high-end and mid-range laptop GPU markets, with models like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, and RTX 4090 showcasing superior performance benchmarks and gaming capabilities. Conversely, Intel’s Arc series, including the Intel Arc A770M and A570M, offer affordable alternatives but fall short in raw performance metrics compared to NVIDIA’s offerings. Additionally, the NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU caters to professional users, although it lacks cutting-edge features like ray tracing. However, the report underscores some limitations, such as inconsistent performance across various models due to differing TDP settings. Future developments in GPU technology, notably in areas like ray tracing and power efficiency, are anticipated to further enhance performance and user experience. These findings provide valuable insights for users making informed choices based on their specific needs, whether for gaming, professional applications, or budget considerations.

7. Glossary

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

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end laptop GPU based on Ada Lovelace architecture, notable for its 7,680 shaders and 12 GB GDDR6 memory. Ideal for high-quality graphics in gaming and creative applications, it surpasses the RTX 3080 Ti in performance.

  • 7-2. Intel Arc A770M [Product]

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a high-performance laptop GPU featuring the ACM-G10 chip, 32 Xe cores, and 16GB GDDR6 memory. It matches lower-tier NVIDIA RTX 3070 models but offers competitive features for users seeking an affordable high-end GPU.

  • 7-3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 [Product]

  • A top-tier laptop GPU from NVIDIA, the RTX 4090, utilizes Ada Lovelace architecture to support 4K gaming and ray tracing with exceptional performance metrics. It is designed for power users seeking the best graphical output.

  • 7-4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 [Product]

  • Marketed as a mid-range GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 offers 6 GB GDDR6 memory, optimized for 1080p gaming. It caters to users looking for a balance between cost and performance.

  • 7-5. Intel Arc A570M [Product]

  • The Intel Arc A570M is a budget-friendly laptop GPU featuring 8 GB GDDR6 memory. While it offers lower overall performance, it caters to cost-conscious consumers who need basic gaming capabilities.

  • 7-6. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Product]

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU is a professional-grade graphics card based on the Turing architecture, geared towards laptop use. Supporting 2 or 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 RAM, it lacks ray tracing and Tensor cores but offers optimized performance for professional applications.

8. Source Documents