Intel’s New GPU Outperforms Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
The upcoming Intel Arc B580 Battlemage GPU is set to deliver a notable speed boost over its predecessor, just ahead of its launch later this week. The launch of Intel’s Arc Battlemage GPU lineup is just days away, aiming to debut ahead of the holiday season. In the meantime, leaked test results for the Intel Arc B580 have surfaced online, shedding light on its anticipated performance.
Intel’s new GPUs may not aim for the top spots in our best graphics card rankings, but competitive pricing for the Battlemage series could disrupt the market ahead of AMD and Nvidia’s upcoming launches early next year. These GPUs also have the potential to be excellent budget-friendly upgrades for gamers this holiday season, provided their gaming performance matches the promise shown in recent leaks.
The latest data comes from Geekbench, a frequent source of benchmark leaks. As this popular tool often uploads results to its online database, early hardware testers sometimes unintentionally—or intentionally—reveal performance figures after running tests.
That appears to be the case this time, as a Geekbench test run has surfaced, identifying a GPU detected as the Intel Arc B580. The listing confirms key specifications, including 12GB of VRAM and 160 compute units, which Intel refers to as vector engines.
In terms of performance, the Geekbench leak includes OpenCL and Vulkan test results for the GPU. While these benchmarks provide a basis for comparing GPUs, they don’t necessarily reflect final gaming performance. Starting with the OpenCL test, which evaluates the GPU’s general computing power rather than gaming capabilities, the Intel Arc B580 scored 98,343. This marks a 9% improvement over its predecessor, the A580, which scored 89,928 in the same test.
While the OpenCL result is somewhat modest, it could improve with future driver updates for the newer card. However, this test is less indicative of gaming performance. The Vulkan test, which is more relevant as Vulkan serves as a gaming API, paints a more promising picture. In this test, the Intel Arc B580 scored 103,445 points, a significant 30% improvement over the A580’s score of 79,341.
When compared to competing products from AMD and Nvidia, the Intel Arc B580 outperforms the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT in the Vulkan test, though the RTX 4060 edges ahead in the OpenCL test. These results align with earlier leaks about the GPU’s specs and anticipated performance.
Additionally, with an expected MSRP of $249, the B580 could be an excellent budget-friendly choice. For context, the 8GB RX 7600 is priced at $269, and the RTX 4060 comes in at $299. If the B580’s gaming performance lives up to its Vulkan Geekbench scores, it could represent great value for money.
