Intel has officially announced the release of next-generation discrete graphics. The line of graphics cards codenamed Battlemag is being launched by Intel Arc B580 and Intel Arc B570. The older model will go on sale in a few days with a price tag of $249, while the younger one will be released early next year. Let's take a look at the features of the Intel Arc B580 and evaluate its prospects based on information from the manufacturer before independent reviews appear.
Specifications
Intel Arc B580/B570 graphics cards use the new BMG-G21 GPU with Xe2-HPG architecture. During the upgrade, the developers tried to improve both the performance of various subsystems and overall energy efficiency.
The result is a promised relative increase in Xe-core performance of up to +70% and up to +50% in terms of performance per watt of energy consumed.
We will dive into the architectural nuances when reviewing the new Intel graphics cards, but for now we will focus on the practical aspects.
Thus, the BMG-G21 processor is manufactured by TSMC according to the 5 nm (TSMC 5N) process technology. As with the previous generation of graphics cards, Intel relies on Taiwanese partners. The silicon crystal has an area of 272 mm² and contains 19.6 billion transistors. Compared to its predecessor DG2-512, which had a 406 mm² wafer, the new GPU is much more compact, but everything is relative. For example, AD107, which is used for GeForce RTX 4060, has an area of 159 mm² (18.9 billion transistors), and AMD Navi 33 from Radeon RX 7600 has an area of 204 mm² (13.3 billion transistors).
The transition to a new process and architectural changes allowed Intel to significantly increase operating frequencies. In the version for Arc B580, the processor is accelerated to 2670 MHz.
The GPU has 20 Xe cores, which include a total of 2560 shader computers, 160 Intel XMX matrices, and 20 RT modules to accelerate ray tracing.
The Intel Arc B580 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory with an effective frequency of 19,000 MHz and a 192-bit bus, which ultimately provides a bandwidth of 456 GB/s.
In the above configuration, the video card will consume up to 190 watts of power (TBP). Among the features, we note that Intel Arc B580 will use the PCI-E 4.0 x8 interface. Obviously, the developers believe that for graphics cards of this level, PCI-E 5.0 support is an unnecessary waste of resources and complication of the accompanying strapping. In addition, we now have eight bus lines, so these models can hardly be recommended for upgrading systems with PCI-E 3.0 slots.
Of course, the video card will offer hardware support for accelerating popular video codecs. There are three DisplayPort 2.1 ports (one of which corresponds to UHBR 13.5) and HDMI 2.1 for image output.
Reference Design Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition
To accelerate the launch of the new graphics line, the company has prepared its own reference design of the video card - Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition. It is a fairly compact model with a two-slot cooling system.
The video card has a cooler with a massive cassette with aluminum plates and heat pipes. At the same time, the printed circuit board is much more modest in size. The GPU itself has an unusual layout with an accentuated shift of the crystal to one side of the textolite substrate.
The developers assure that the new model has higher performance than the previous generation solutions (it would be surprising if it were otherwise), and the updated design of the reference model Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition provides better airflow and lower noise.
1440p for the "people"
During the presentation of the new graphics cards, Intel representatives emphasized that gamers are increasingly using 1440p screens, while the popularity of Full HD monitors is gradually declining.
At the moment, the share of players with Full HD displays is ~56%, 1440p - 22%. However, if the current trend continues, monitors with higher resolutions will be more popular than screens with the still "classic" 1920x1080 in 2026-2027.
The available statistics of the Steam service generally corresponds to the above figures. According to the data obtained in November, the share of users with 1920×1080/1200 screens was ~57.5%, and the owners of devices with 2560×1440/1600 displays were 24.4%. The current changes fluctuate, but in general, it is clear that players are increasingly preferring higher resolution modes. Further static will show whether parity will be achieved in 2026.
Intel Arc B580 performance
For an initial assessment of the performance of Intel Arc B580 12 GB, the developers compared its capabilities with those of Intel Arc A750 8 GB. Despite the fact that formally there is a conditional direct predecessor on sale - Arc A580, the latter was released much later than the A750/A770 models and did not become widespread. So, for comparison, we chose the Intel Arc A750, which was introduced in the fall of 2022 and had a recommended price tag of $289.
The chart shows the performance in popular projects running in 1440p mode with Ultra picture quality settings. Under these conditions, Intel claims an average Arc B580 advantage of 24%. Despite the tangible overall performance gain, in several games it was still not enough to reach the average 60 frames per second. And in some projects, the conditional target was reached only after activating XeSS scaling.
Evaluating the relative performance when the results of Intel Arc A750 are taken as a basis, we see that the increase can vary significantly from zero and a few percent up to an impressive +78% in Fortnite (XeSS). It is worth noting that in almost half of the cases, the test results are presented in modes with active XeSS scaling. In such cases, due to the more powerful XMX units and vector engines, the Intel Arc B580 may have a more significant advantage here. This is not a bad thing, but XeSS support is available in a limited number of games, so for the sake of the experiment, it would also be nice to get results in basic native modes. This is a matter for independent reviewers.
In addition to a possible increase in the power of the graphics subsystem, Intel also suggests considering Arc B580 as an upgrade option for previous generations of graphics cards. The next slide demonstrates the multiple advantage of the new product over GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. The latter have only 6 GB of memory, so even in classic 1440p Ultra rendering, they have a hard time with it. In turn, the lack of an RT accelerator in these models makes it impossible to compare them with the Arc B580 after activating ray tracing mode.
As for the current models on the market, the manufacturer categorically states that Inte Arc B580 has a significant advantage over its AMD/NVDIA classmates in terms of price/performance. Based on the initial MSRP, Intel's new product potentially offers almost a third more frames per dollar spent than GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. In ray-tracing mode, the ratio changes slightly due to the more modest performance of the AMD video card, but the claimed advantage of the Inte Arc B580 is tangible. Again, we note that the results in 1440p mode with Ultra settings were used for the evaluation.
A direct comparison of the capabilities of the Intel Arc B580 12 MB and GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB is interesting and quite revealing. According to the results of tests in almost fifty projects, Intel's new product turned out to be 10% faster on average. However, this is a generalized indicator, while in some cases the balance of power is significantly different. For comparison, we used the conditions that are most "uncomfortable" for RTX 4060 8GB - 1440p Ultra. That is, the mode in which the available local memory may no longer be enough.
In about ten of the games used for comparison, even the Intel Arc B580 12 MB failed or barely managed to reach the average 60 fps. Still, graphics cards of this level are obviously not enough for the most demanding projects. It is unlikely that a potential owner of a graphics adapter of this class will be satisfied with an average of 40-60 frames per second. In such cases, the player would rather give up the maximum picture quality in favor of higher performance.
For the convenience of comparing the capabilities of both graphics cards, the results are also presented in the form of a chart with relative values, where the GeForce RTX 4060 is taken as the baseline. As you can see, in certain projects, the NVIDIA model even has an advantage, but in most cases, the Intel new product still offers higher performance. In some games, it can even reach over 30%. The developers claim that ARC B580 is up to 43% faster than RTX 4060 in Cyberpunk 2077.
The presence of 12 GB of memory is definitely a strong point of the Intel Arc B580. This is one of the obvious options that helps the video card to cope with heavy graphic modes. For clarity, Intel offered the following slide explaining the advantage of graphics cards with higher local memory capacity. The game Forza Motosport is used as an example. In 1440p mode with high quality settings, when 8 GB of video card memory is sufficient, the GeForce RTX 4060 outperforms the Intel Arc B580 by 12%.
After enabling ray tracing, the game requires more than 9 GB of memory. In this case, an NVIDIA video card with 8 GB on board will have to access the system RAM, losing performance. The Intel Arc B580 with 12 GB feels very confident here and gains a 16% advantage over its opponent.
If you use the maximum quality mode (Ultra+ RT), when the actual needs of the game exceed 10.5 GB of video memory, the new Intel product will still rely on its resources, while the RTX 4060 will increasingly access much slower system memory, further losing fps. Intel developers claim that the final performance difference can be up to 64%.
So, when comparing the capabilities of the RTX 4060 and Arc B580, the big bet is on the conditions and settings when games really need more than 8 GB of memory. In such cases, the advantage of Intel's new product appears or becomes more noticeable. But while getting carried away with relative performance, it's important not to lose sight of the point.
Even the above presentation slide leads to some preliminary conclusions. In cases where 8 GB of memory is enough for games, the Intel Arc B580 may be inferior to the RTX 4060. When using modes where this capacity is not enough, the overall performance of video cards in this class is no longer always sufficient. For example, is there any point in a 50% advantage of one video card over another when it comes to conventional 30 and 45 fps? In both cases, you will probably need to make additional settings to lower the picture quality and activate DLSS/XeSS scaling. This will also reduce the need for memory capacity.
In general, we have so far recorded the promised +10% advantage of the Intel Arc B580 over the GeForce RTX 4060 in 1440p mode with maximum quality settings. Unfortunately, Intel does not provide results for comparing both graphics cards in Full HD. Probably in this case the advantage is either more modest, or even the NVIDIA model will be more likely to be a favorite. The example of Forza Motosport is quite illustrative. By the way, for some reason this particular car simulator was not included in the general list of games in which the performance of video cards was compared. We are confident that such omissions will be corrected based on the results of independent reviews of Intel Arc B580.
Energy consumption
As we have already mentioned, the claimed power consumption of the Intel Arc B580 12GB is 190 watts. This is a tangible progress compared to 225 watts for the Intel Arc A750. However, if we compare the figures with those for current competitors' models, then Intel's new product does not look so economical.
The GeForce RTX 4060 has a TDP of only 120 watts. Even if we take into account that it is 10% lower (1440p Ultra) than the Intel Arc B580, in terms of performance per watt, the NVIDIA model remains unbeatable.
More data is needed to compare the power efficiency with that of the Radeon RX 7600, which has a TDP of 165W. We assume that they will be quite close.
To connect additional power, Intel Arc B580s will usually be equipped with a single 8-pin connector. This configuration allows you to provide the graphics adapter with up to 225 W (150 + 75 W) of power. At the same time, the most overclocked versions of graphics cards will obviously have a higher TDP than models with recommended frequencies and will have two 8-pin connectors. The use of 12VHPWR is not expected.
We hope that Intel has managed to fix a rather annoying issue with the power consumption of video cards, which is relevant for Alchemist generation models. We are talking about excessive power consumption in idle mode. Intel Arc A750/A770 consume 40-45 watts in this state. This is extremely high compared to the 10-15 watts of NVIDIA/AMD graphics cards.
Since the existing descriptions of certain Intel Arc B580 models already mention hybrid cooler modes, which allow the fans to stop when the GPU is not overheating, we hope that Intel has managed to resolve this issue for the new graphics cards.
So, the declared TDP of 190 W for the stock Intel Arc B580 is a bit higher than we would like to see in models of this class, but there is progress. Of course, we can't talk about energy efficiency records, but in general, the figure is relatively moderate.
Intel Arc B580 overclocking
The potential for additional overclocking of Intel Arc B580 will be revealed in practical testing. Nevertheless, Intel's separate mentions of the possibility of exceeding the GPU operating frequencies of 3-3.1 GHz gives us reason to hope for quite good independent acceleration capabilities of the video card.
In addition, developers will offer software tools for additional overclocking experiments. Judging by the slide, it will be possible to increase the power limit (50-120%), increase the supply voltage and GPU frequency. In addition, it will finally be possible to accelerate memory chips, which was not possible with previous generation Intel graphics cards. The screenshot shows the possibility of increasing the effective GDDR6 frequency from the standard 19,000 MHz to an effective 22,000 MHz (+16%). It is not a given that such values will be achievable for all models, as much depends on the memory chips used.
Additional options also include the ability to set temperature limits and adjust the speed of the cooler fans. The presence of a GPU frequency vs. voltage curve is nice. If this is a real working option, and not a visual decoration, Battlemag owners will get a great set for experimentation.
AI acceleration
Intel intends to compete with NVIDIA/AMD not only in the gaming segment but also in the AI accelerator niche.
Upgraded XMX GPU units improve the capabilities of new Intel graphics cards for local computing. Obviously, the number of such tasks will grow rapidly, so this is also a fundamental option and one of the parameters for the overall assessment of the video card's capabilities.
According to the developers, Intel Arc B580 has a very significant advantage (+35-50%) over GeForce RTX 4060 when working with certain generative models. Obviously, this is also due in no small part to the increased memory capacity, which is usually essential for LLM.
XeSS 2 and latency reduction
Along with the new generation of graphics cards, Intel will also offer an updated intelligent scaling technology - XeSS 2, with frame generation mechanisms and reduced input latency.
Technologies such as XeSS/DLSS/FSR can significantly increase performance, sometimes radically changing the comfort level of the game. Or by enabling ray tracing without significantly reducing performance. The developers claim that more than 150 games already support first-generation XeSS.
By offering XeSS 2 with frame generation, Intel will try to catch up with its main competitors, which previously offered DLSS 3.0 and FSR 3. In its turn, XeLL (Low Latency) is a response to similar developments of opponents - NVIDIA Reflex and Radeon Anti-Lag. Improving response and responsiveness is especially important in competitive projects, where milliseconds can decide the fate of matches. But reducing latency from controls also improves the experience in single-player games.
The corresponding settings will be available in the new driver. As you can see, there is also an FPS Limiter setting that allows you to set a target performance limit. This is a useful option when, for example, you need to reduce the power consumption of a video card.
Traditionally, in the case of Frame Generation, developers promise a multiple increase in performance. The first game to support XeSS 2 was F1 2024, and the list will soon grow to ten projects.
Original Intel Arc B580 models from partners
Simultaneously with the official launch of Intel Arc B580, several AIB partners will offer their own versions of the graphics card. Acer, ASRock, Gunnir, Muxsun, Onix, and Sparkle are expected to present their own designs.
The list of manufacturers is not as wide as Intel would probably like. As in the case of the previous generation models, the leaders of the custom graphics card market are in no hurry to offer their own versions of Battlemag adapters. Doubts about the success or limitations in previous agreements with NVIDIA/AMD? Here we can only make our own assumptions. Of course, this state of affairs is not conducive to the spread and growth of popularity of Intel graphics cards. However, we hope that the production capabilities of existing partners will be enough to meet at least the initial demand.
Intel assures that despite the release of its own reference model, the Limited Edition, the supply of this version will be limited in time. The goal is to speed up the launch. However, this will probably depend on real demand.
Start of sales
Thus, sales of Intel Arc B580 12 GB will officially start on December 13. The recommended price of the basic versions for the US market is $249. The boosted versions with more efficient coolers will obviously be slightly more expensive.
Interestingly, some users who pre-ordered the cards have already started receiving them. However, they will only have to admire the appearance of the devices for a few days. The corresponding driver from Intel will be available only with the start of sales. Exceptions to this are partners and reviewers who have previously agreed to an NDA prior to the relevant date and are preparing materials about the capabilities of the Intel Arc B580.