Your browser does not support JavaScript!

Comparing Top Laptop GPUs: NVIDIA vs Intel

General Report November 5, 2024
goover

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. Overview of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU
  3. Overview of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  4. Overview of Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU
  5. Overview of Intel Arc A770M Laptop GPU
  6. Benchmark Performance Comparison
  7. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • A comprehensive analysis was conducted comparing the performance, specifications, and architecture of several laptop GPUs: NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, and Intel's Arc A570M and A770M. This assessment primarily focused on the capability of these GPUs for gaming and professional applications. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 emerged as a standout performer, excelling in high-demand gaming scenarios due to its robust architecture and performance capabilities, overshadowed only by the RTX 4090 in synthetic benchmarks. The mid-range NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 is positioned between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060, suitable for 1080p gaming with high settings. Intel's Arc A570M and A770M GPUs offer competitive performance in the mid-range segment with differentiating factors in terms of architecture and power efficiency, but vary widely depending on specific applications and games.

2. Overview of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU

  • 2-1. Introduction to RTX 4080 Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X9, is a high-end laptop graphic card introduced in early 2023. It is built on the AD104 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture) similar to the desktop RTX 4070 Ti, featuring up to 7,680 shaders and a 192-bit memory bus with 12 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory. The effective clock speeds range from 16 to 20 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) varies from 60 to 150 watts, which is considerably lower than the desktop variant's 285 watts.

  • 2-2. Performance Metrics in Gaming

  • The performance of the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is noteworthy. In synthetic benchmarks, it outperforms the older RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU and falls short only to the RTX 4090. It excels in demanding games such as F1 23 with ray tracing enabled in QHD resolution. Moreover, it can handle less demanding games at 4K resolution. The graphics card includes 232 Tensor cores (4th generation) facilitating DLSS 3 and frame generation, alongside 58 ray tracing cores (3rd generation) to enhance gaming performance.

  • 2-3. Architecture and Manufacturing Process

  • The RTX 4080 is built using TSMC's 5nm manufacturing process (4N) and houses 35.8 billion transistors within a die size of 379 mm². The clock speed can vary based on TGP; depending on the utilized power settings, it can range from 1350 MHz (boost at 60 watts) to 2280 MHz (150 watts). This variability depicts that the GPU's performance is significantly affected by the laptop's TDP settings and cooling system.

  • 2-4. Comparison with Previous Generations

  • In comparison to its predecessors, the RTX 4080 demonstrates a substantial improvement in performance, particularly against the RTX 3080 Laptop GPU. The new architecture and enhanced specifications enable it to manage higher resolutions and more demanding graphical settings effectively. The RTX 4080 outshines the previous generations, ensuring better performance in gaming and professional applications.

3. Overview of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU

  • 3-1. Introduction to RTX 4050 Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X2, is classified as a mid-range laptop graphics card introduced at the beginning of 2023. It is rumored to be based on the AD107 chip utilizing Ada Lovelace architecture and features a 96-bit memory bus with 6 GB of GDDR6 video memory operating at an effective rate of 16 Gbps. The Thermal Graphics Power (TGP) for the RTX 4050 ranges from 35 watts to 115 watts, plus an additional dynamic boost from the CPU of about 10-25 watts. The boost clock varies between 1605 MHz at a lower power consumption and up to a maximum of 2370 MHz at the higher end of TGP.

  • 3-2. Performance Metrics in Gaming

  • Benchmark testing has positioned the mobile RTX 4050 between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs. It is best suited for gaming at resolutions of 1920x1080 with high to maximum detail settings, depending on the specific game. Furthermore, the GPU comprises 80 Tensor cores which support DLSS 3, including Frame Generation, providing a significant performance boost in supported titles with minimal quality loss. However, due to performance limitations, the 20 ray tracing cores cannot be effectively utilized for advanced ray tracing effects.

  • 3-3. Architecture and Manufacturing Process

  • The AD107 chip used in the RTX 4050 is manufactured utilizing a 5nm process by TSMC (4N technology). This reduces power consumption and enhances efficiency. The architecture enhances general performance in demanding applications and gaming scenarios, benefitting from NVIDIA's advancements in power efficiency.

  • 3-4. Comparison with Previous Generations

  • The RTX 4050 has been compared against its predecessors, notably the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs. Its performance benchmarks illustrate that it provides notable improvements over the RTX 3050 Ti while being positioned as a more economical option compared to the RTX 3060, efficiently catering to mid-range gaming demands. The advancements in architecture and clock speeds result in a significant uplift in graphics performance enabling fluid gameplay in contemporary titles.

4. Overview of Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU

  • 4-1. Introduction to Intel Arc A570M Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A570M is a dedicated mid-range graphics card designed for laptops. It is based on the ACM-G12 chip and features 16 Xe cores (256 ALUs) along with 16 Ray-Tracing Units and 8 MB of L2 cache. The cores operate at clock speeds ranging from 300 MHz to over 2.05 GHz (Turbo). The memory interface is 128 bits wide and supports 8 GB of GDDR6 memory clocked at 14 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) of the A570M varies between 75 and 95 watts, depending on the specific model.

  • 4-2. Performance Metrics in Gaming

  • The performance of the Intel Arc A570M positions it within the lower mid-range of dedicated laptop graphics cards. This indicates that its performance likely falls between the Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M classifications. The A570M can handle demanding games with medium to high settings smoothly, showcasing competitive capabilities especially in popular gaming titles.

  • 4-3. Architecture and Manufacturing Process

  • The ACM-G12 chip used in the A570M is manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process (N6 technology) and comes in a BGA2660 package. It integrates two media engines capable of 8k60 12-bit HDR decoding and 8k 10-bit HDR encoding, supporting multiple high-resolution displays with advanced features.

  • 4-4. Comparison with NVIDIA GPUs

  • When compared to NVIDIA's offerings, specifically the RTX 4080 and RTX 4050, the Intel Arc A570M presents a competitive albeit lower performance level. The NVIDIA GPUs leverage more advanced architectures and higher specifications. For instance, while the A570M supports 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, the RTX 4080 boasts up to 12 GB, with a performance significantly exceeding that of the A570M, particularly in high-demand gaming environments.

5. Overview of Intel Arc A770M Laptop GPU

  • 5-1. Introduction to Intel Arc A770M Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a dedicated mid-range graphics card for laptops, equipped with the ACM-G10 chip. It features a total of 32 Xe cores (512 ALUs) and 32 ray tracing units. The memory configuration includes 6 MB of L1 cache and 16 MB of L2 cache, with a memory interface width of 256 bits supporting 16 GB of GDDR6 memory at 16 Gbps. The clock speeds range from 300 MHz up to 1650 MHz for gaming and can reach 2050 MHz in Turbo mode. The total graphics power (TGP) ranges between 120 to 150 Watts depending on the model.

  • 5-2. Performance Metrics in Gaming

  • The gaming performance of the Intel Arc A770M is categorized in the upper mid-range segment among dedicated laptop GPUs. While detailed performance metrics are still being finalized, it is estimated to be slightly below the performance level of the NVIDIA RTX 3070 based on power consumption.

  • 5-3. Architecture and Manufacturing Process

  • The ACM-G10 chip of the Intel Arc A770M is manufactured using a 6 nm process at TSMC. It hosts approximately 21.7 billion transistors on a die size of 406 mm². The architecture integrates two media engines for VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 8k60 12-Bit HDR decoding and encoding. Additionally, it supports four display pipes capable of outputting 4x 4k120 HDR, HDMI 2.0B, DP 2.0 10G, and Adaptive Sync. Dynamic Power Share with a 12th generation Alder Lake CPU can be enabled via Deep Link.

  • 5-4. Comparison with NVIDIA GPUs

  • Compared to NVIDIA's offerings, the Intel Arc A770M is positioned as a competitive option, albeit with varying performance levels and power efficiency. Notably, it faces competition from NVIDIA's RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, which typically outperform it in synthetic benchmarks and gaming scenarios, especially in demanding titles.

6. Benchmark Performance Comparison

  • 6-1. Synthetic Benchmark Results

  • The report presents a comparison of synthetic benchmark results for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, Intel Arc A570M, and A770M GPUs. The synthetic benchmarks include tests from 3DMark, where the RTX 4080 shows superior performance with a score that significantly outstrips older models, remaining behind only the 4090. The RTX 4050 is positioned between the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060, indicating a moderate performance level suitable for 1080p gaming.

  • 6-2. Real-World Gaming Performance

  • Real-world gaming performance is evaluated through tests conducted on several demanding titles. The RTX 4080 excels in high-demand gaming scenarios, able to handle titles like F1 23 with ray tracing enabled at QHD resolutions smoothly. The RTX 4050 performs adequately for modern games at high settings, particularly at 1920x1080. Meanwhile, the Intel Arc GPUs, while competitive, are noted to have performance that varies greatly depending on the game and settings used.

  • 6-3. Power Consumption Analysis

  • Power consumption metrics are provided for each GPU, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 having a total graphics power (TGP) range from 60 to 150 watts, which significantly influences its performance capabilities based on the thermal settings of the laptop. The RTX 4050 displays a lower TGP, ranging from 35 to 115 watts, impacting its overall efficiency while playing games. The Intel Arc A570M has a TGP of 75 to 95 watts, placing it in a more energy-efficient category compared to its NVIDIA counterparts.

  • 6-4. Thermal Management and TDP Variations

  • Thermal management is critical in determining the sustained performance of these GPUs. The RTX 4080's performance substantially depends on the laptop's cooling system due to its higher power draw, which can reach up to 150 watts. The RTX 4050's lower TDP allows for flexibility in less demanding gaming environments; however, it still requires effective cooling to maximize performance without thermal throttling. Both Intel Arc models also rely on their thermal designs for maintaining optimal performance levels.

Conclusion

  • This analysis underscores the critical importance of carefully choosing a laptop GPU in line with specific user needs and applications. The findings indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 excels in high-performance scenarios, making it ideal for advanced gaming and demanding graphical tasks, thanks to its advanced Ada Lovelace architecture and capabilities in ray tracing and AI enhancements. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 provides a balanced option for users seeking efficient performance for 1080p gaming at a mid-range budget. The Intel Arc A570M and A770M offer viable alternatives with competitive power efficiency and dedicated ray tracing units, albeit with varying performance levels across different tasks. As laptop GPU technology continues to evolve rapidly, it is crucial for consumers to factor in these diverse offerings and their unique attributes when selecting a GPU to ensure optimal performance tailored to their requirements. Future improvements in thermal management and power efficiency will further enhance the viability of these components in compact laptop devices.

Glossary

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 [GPU]: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end laptop GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring advanced capabilities for gaming and professional workloads. Its architecture supports ray tracing and AI-based performance enhancements, making it suitable for high-resolution gaming and demanding applications.
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 [GPU]: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 is a mid-range laptop GPU that balances performance and power consumption, offering good capabilities for gaming at 1080p with high settings. It integrates tensor cores for AI-driven performance boosts, making it a versatile choice for users.
  • Intel Arc A570M [GPU]: The Intel Arc A570M is a dedicated mid-range GPU designed for laptops, providing competitive performance for gaming and content creation. Its architecture includes ray tracing capabilities, allowing for enhanced visual fidelity in supported titles.
  • Intel Arc A770M [GPU]: The Intel Arc A770M is a high-performance laptop GPU intended for gaming and professional applications. With advanced features such as ray tracing and high memory bandwidth, it aims to compete directly with NVIDIA's offerings in the laptop segment.

Source Documents