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NVIDIA vs Intel: GPU Showdown

General Report November 6, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU
  3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  4. Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU
  5. Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
  6. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU
  7. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • Exploring the contemporary landscape of laptop graphics units, this report delves into the comparative analysis of NVIDIA and Intel GPUs. The study primarily investigates models such as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4050, and Intel Arc A570M, focusing on their performance, architecture, and specifications. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 stands out in the high-end category, excelling in performance benchmarks and gaming scenarios, enabled by its advanced Ada Lovelace architecture and DLSS 3 technology. The more affordable RTX 4050 provides adequate mainstream gaming capabilities but is limited in ray tracing efficacy. On the other hand, Intel Arc A570M offers a mid-range alternative with its ACM-G12 chip, 16 Xe cores, and robust multi-display support, yet falls short in gaming executions against its NVIDIA counterparts. These analyses are fortified by data from extensive benchmarks, offering readers clear insights into high-performance laptop graphics solutions suitable for various gaming and professional applications.

2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU

  • 2-1. Overview of Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, also known by its codename GN21-X9, is a high-end laptop graphics card that was introduced in early 2023. It is reportedly based on the same AD104 chip (Ada Lovelace architecture) used in 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 can range from 16 to 20 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) can vary from 60 to 150 Watts, compared to the desktop RTX 4070 Ti's 285 Watts, allowing for a performance level expected to be below that of the desktop variant but surpassing the older RTX 3080 Laptop GPU.

  • 2-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • In synthetic benchmarks, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU has demonstrated a significant performance advantage over the older RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU while trailing only the higher-end RTX 4090. The GPU's clock speeds depend heavily on the TGP settings and cooling system of the laptop and can range from 1350 MHz (boost at 60 Watts) to 2280 MHz (150 Watts). The gaming performance allows for fluid gameplay in demanding titles such as F1 23 at QHD resolution with ray tracing enabled, while it can also support 4K gaming experiences in less demanding titles.

  • 2-3. Architectural Features

  • The RTX 4080 features 232 cores of the 4th generation Tensor cores that facilitate DLSS 3 and frame generation capabilities. Additionally, it includes 58 cores of the 3rd generation for ray tracing, enabling enhanced graphical fidelity in supported games. The chip is manufactured on a 5nm process at TSMC (4N), housing 35.8 billion transistors within a die size of 379 mm².

  • 2-4. Gaming Performance Insights

  • Benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU excels in high-performance gaming scenarios. It can deliver an average of 9 TFLOPS in floating-point operations (FP32), making it suitable for demanding applications. Performance ratings across popular benchmarks such as 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, and Time Spy illustrate its competitive edge over other models, positioning it as a preferred choice for gamers seeking high refresh rates and graphics quality.

3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU

  • 3-1. Overview of Specifications

  • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, codenamed GN21-X2, was introduced in early 2023. It features a 96-bit memory bus and is equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory operating at an effective clock speed of 16 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) can range from 35 to 115 watts, with an additional Dynamic Boost from the CPU of approximately 10-25 watts. The boost clock ranges from 1605 MHz (at 35 W) to 2370 MHz (at 115 W), making its performance highly dependent on the power distribution.

  • 3-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • Benchmarking results positioned the RTX 4050 between the RTX 3050 Ti and the RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs. This GPU is optimal for gaming at a resolution of 1920x1080 with high to maximum detail settings, depending on the specific game being played. The RTX 4050 boasts 80 Tensor Cores, which support DLSS 3 including Frame Generation, providing significant performance enhancements while maintaining minimal quality loss.

  • 3-3. Architectural Features

  • The RTX 4050 is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It integrates 20 Ray Tracing cores, although their effectiveness is limited due to the GPU's power constraints. Manufactured using TSMC's 5nm process (4N), the architecture is designed to offer efficient power consumption and performance management.

  • 3-4. Gaming Performance Insights

  • In gaming scenarios, the RTX 4050 delivers satisfactory results in demanding titles at 1080p resolution, allowing users to play with various detail settings. However, its ability to engage Ray Tracing effects is limited, which may hinder its performance in games designed to utilize this feature extensively. The integrated Tensor Cores enhance supported games' performance through advanced features such as DLSS.

4. Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU

  • 4-1. Overview of Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A570M is a dedicated mid-range GPU designed for laptops, built on the ACM-G12 chip. It features 16 Xe cores (256 ALUs), 16 Ray Tracing units, and 8 MB of L2 cache. The GPU operates with core frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 2.05+ GHz (turbo), and it supports a 128-bit memory interface with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory at 14 Gbps. The Total Graphics Power (TGP) ranges from 75 to 95 Watts, depending on the specific model.

  • 4-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • In performance benchmarks, the Intel Arc A570M is positioned in the lower mid-range among dedicated laptop graphics cards. Its performance is expected to be between the Radeon RX 6500M and 6600M, enabling it to handle demanding games at medium to high detail settings. Compared to the slower Arc A550M, the A570M distinguishes itself mainly through higher clock speeds and TDP values.

  • 4-3. Architectural Features

  • The ACM-G12 chip is manufactured using a 6nm process at TSMC and utilizes a BGA2660 package. It incorporates two media engines supporting VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 decoding, allowing for 8K 60Hz 12-bit HDR playback and 8K 10-bit HDR encoding. The chip supports four display pipes, allowing for outputs of four 4K 120Hz displays, with HDMI 2.0B and DisplayPort 2.0 connectivity.

  • 4-4. Gaming Performance Insights

  • The Intel Arc A570M is capable of smooth gameplay in demanding titles, thanks to its specifications and features. However, its performance will heavily rely on the laptop's cooling solutions and power settings. Insights from testing indicate that while capable, the GPU may struggle in extremely demanding gaming scenarios compared to higher-tier alternatives.

5. Intel Arc A770M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

  • 5-1. Comparison of Specifications

  • The Intel Arc A770M is a dedicated mid-range 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 clock speeds span from 300 MHz up to 2050 MHz in Turbo mode, with a 256-bit memory interface supporting 16 GB of GDDR6 memory at 16 Gbps. Its Total Graphics Power (TGP) ranges from 120 to 150 watts depending on the model. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, launched in early 2023, is a high-end GPU based on the AD103 chip, utilizing Ada Lovelace architecture. It supports up to 10,752 shaders and comes with a 256-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with effective speeds of 20 Gbps. The TGP can range from 80 to 150 watts, with an additional 15 watts from Dynamic Boost.

  • 5-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • Performance benchmarks indicate that the Intel Arc A770M is positioned in the upper mid-range of dedicated notebook graphics cards, with performance estimated slightly below the RTX 3070 class. The RTX 4090 Mobile is expected to outperform the older RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU by a significant margin in synthetic benchmarks. However, it may experience performance decreases of up to 20% when used in notebooks with lower power limits. In gaming scenarios at 4K resolution, the RTX 4090 can smoothly render demanding titles, while ray tracing performance benefits from the use of DLSS technology.

  • 5-3. Architectural Features

  • The Intel Arc A770M includes two Media Engines for handling video decoding and encoding, specifically supporting VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1 formats. The AD103 chip of the RTX 4090 features a significant transistor count of 45.9 billion transistors, allowing it to efficiently manage high-performance gaming workloads and advanced rendering tasks. In terms of output capabilities, the A770M supports 4 displays, including HDMI 2.0B and DisplayPort 2.0, while the RTX 4090 features similar display outputs but with enhanced support for higher refresh rates and resolutions.

6. NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU

  • 6-1. Overview of Specifications

  • The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU, based on the Turing architecture utilizing the TU117 chip, is available in configurations with either 2 or 4 GB of GDDR5 or GDDR6 graphics RAM. It maintains the same core configuration (896 cores) as the consumer-oriented GeForce MX450 and features a 64-bit memory bus. The thermal design power (TDP) of the GPU ranges from 18 to 25 watts depending on the variant. Additionally, it supports PCIe 4.0 and is manufactured using a 12nm FinFET process by TSMC.

  • 6-2. Performance Benchmarks

  • Benchmarks for the NVIDIA Quadro T500 highlight its performance metrics in various tests including 3DMark 11, Fire Strike, and Time Spy. The GPU achieves a performance rating that varies based on its operating TDP settings of 18 W, 22 W, and 25 W. Its game benchmarks indicate playable settings primarily at low to medium detail levels depending on resolution, with notable performance reported across various titles and configurations.

  • 6-3. Architectural Features

  • The Turing architecture of the NVIDIA Quadro T500 introduces enhancements not seen in previous generations. While the T500 does not feature dedicated ray tracing or Tensor cores like the higher-tier RTX cards, it does provide optimized core and cache architecture allowing for up to 50% more instructions per clock and a 40% improvement in power efficiency compared to Pascal generation GPUs. Furthermore, NVIDIA emphasizes that the CUDA cores enable concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, enhancing its compute capabilities for modern workloads.

Conclusion

  • The detailed comparative analysis highlights distinctive roles each GPU fulfills within its operational spectrum. The high-performing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, with its DLSS 3 and ray tracing capabilities, is best suited for gamers and professionals seeking top-tier graphical fidelity. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA RTX 4050 caters well to mid-range gamers, providing a balance of performance and efficiency, though with limitations in ray tracing feats due to power constraints. Intel's Arc A570M presents competitive mid-range attributes with substantial multi-display and media engine capabilities, though it does not eclipse NVIDIA’s upper-tier offerings, especially in graphics-intensive tasks. Despite the prowess of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and the competitive presence of Intel's Arc series, both exhibit unique advantages and limitations. The RTX 4080’s reliance on robust cooling and TGP settings affects its practical application in ultrathin laptops, whereas Intel Arc GPUs require fine-tuning to enhance performance outcomes in demanding situations. There is significant room for innovation and competition in future GPU models, offering potential advancements in power efficiency and graphical computing. These findings suggest consumers must consider specific use cases, budget constraints, and targeted performance levels when choosing a laptop GPU. Such considerations are paramount as technology evolves, gradually blurring the lines between different GPU capabilities and their applicability across diverse user requirements.

Glossary

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU [Graphics Card]: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is a high-end mobile graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 7,680 shaders, 12GB of GDDR6 memory, and supports advanced gaming technologies such as Ray Tracing and DLSS 3, making it suitable for demanding gaming and professional applications.
  • Intel Arc A570M Laptop GPU [Graphics Card]: The Intel Arc A570M is a mid-range dedicated graphics card designed for laptops. It incorporates Intel's ACM-G12 chip architecture, delivering 16 Xe cores and supporting 8GB of GDDR6 memory, aiming to provide competitive performance in the laptop GPU market.
  • NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU [Graphics Card]: The NVIDIA Quadro T500 Mobile GPU is a professional-grade graphics card based on the Turing architecture, offering reliable performance for workstation tasks. It is particularly suitable for applications requiring high computational power and efficient rendering capabilities.

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