Intel Arc B580 Review: The New $249 GPU Champion Has Arrived
Introduction
The Intel Arc B580 is making waves in the budget and mid-range GPU market with its upgraded Battlemage architecture. Priced at $249, this graphics card offers a strong value proposition, improved performance over its predecessor, and enhanced driver stability. But how does it compare to the competition? Let’s find out.
Intel Arc B580 vs. Previous Generation
| Graphics Card | Arc B580 | Arc B570 | Arc A770 16GB | Arc A750 | Arc A580 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | BMG-G21 | BMG-G21 | ACM-G10 | ACM-G10 | ACM-G10 |
| Process Technology | TSMC N5 | TSMC N5 | TSMC N6 | TSMC N6 | TSMC N6 |
| Transistors (Billion) | 19.6 | 19.6 | 21.7 | 21.7 | 21.7 |
| Die size (mm^2) | 272 | 272 | 406 | 406 | 406 |
| Xe-Cores | 20 | 18 | 32 | 28 | 24 |
| GPU Cores (Shaders) | 2560 | 2304 | 4096 | 3584 | 3072 |
| VRAM (GB) | 12 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| VRAM Bus Width | 192-bit | 160-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Boost Clock (MHz) | 2850 | 2750 | 2400 | 2400 | 1700 |
| Bandwidth (GB/s) | 456 | 380 | 560 | 512 | 512 |
| Total Board Power (TBP) | 190W | 150W | 225W | 225W | 185W |
| Launch Price ($) | 249 | 219 | 349 | 289 | 179 |
The B580 may have fewer Xe-cores than the A770 and A750, but thanks to higher boost clocks and architectural enhancements, it delivers superior real-world performance.
Key Improvements with Battlemage
- Native Hardware Support for Execute Indirect – Eliminates driver workarounds and improves compute efficiency.
- Increased Mesh & Vertex Throughput – Delivers up to 2x performance gains.
- Better Ray Tracing Performance – 1.5x to 2.1x improvement per Xe-core.
- SIMD16 Execution – More efficient data handling compared to the SIMD32 setup in Alchemist.
- Higher Memory Bandwidth – Uses GDDR6 at 19Gbps, providing 456GB/s bandwidth.
Gaming Performance
Intel claims the Arc B580 outperforms the RTX 4060 by 10% while being $50 cheaper. Benchmarks show strong 1440p gaming performance, with excellent results in DirectX 12 and Vulkan games. However, performance in older DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 titles still has room for improvement.
Design and Cooling
- Sleek Limited Edition Design
- Dual-fan cooling system for efficient heat dissipation
- 190W TDP, requiring at least a 500W power supply
Compatibility & Resizable BAR
The Arc B580 uses an x8 PCIe 4.0 interface, which may raise concerns, but in practical scenarios, Resizable BAR ensures optimal performance.
Pricing & Availability
- Intel Arc B580: $249 (MSRP)
- Online Prices: $250
- Available on Amazon & major retailers
Final Verdict
Pros:
✅ Excellent value for budget/mid-range gamers
✅ 12GB VRAM for future-proofing
✅ Better ray tracing and AI performance
✅ Competitive against RTX 4060
Cons:
❌ Driver optimizations still ongoing
❌ Efficiency lags behind Nvidia
❌ Potential AMD competition in January
Conclusion
The Intel Arc B580 offers exceptional price-to-performance, next-gen architectural improvements, and great 1440p gaming capabilities. While driver improvements are ongoing, this GPU is an attractive option for budget-conscious and mid-range gamers looking for the best bang for their buck.
