AMD Radeon 860M vs Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon 860M is the decisively faster integrated graphics solution. The recorded data shows the 860M delivers an average benchmark score of 26401, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile, by contrast, sits in the 50th percentile with an average score of 0 due to a lack of recorded benchmark entries. For any system builder selecting between these two IGPs, the AMD part is the clear choice based on raw compute performance, architectural capabilities, and confirmed benchmark output.

The Intel solution does hold one advantage: its rated TDP of 28 W is higher, which means it carries a larger power envelope. However, that power budget does not translate into demonstrated performance in the database. The AMD Radeon 860M achieves its results at a 15 W TDP, making it both more power-efficient on paper and far more capable in actual measurements. The data indicates the 860M is the superior option for gaming, compute workloads, and any application that can leverage its feature set. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile is only suitable when its specific architectural traits, such as the Xe-LPG design and ring bus interface, are required for platform compatibility.

The AMD Radeon 860M is the pick for users who need confirmed performance. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile is the fallback for platforms that require Intel's integrated solution, but the benchmark data offers no evidence of competitive performance.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has an average benchmark score of 26401. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has an average benchmark score of 0, as the database contains no recorded benchmark results for it.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has a TDP of 28 W. The AMD part delivers its higher performance at nearly half the power envelope.

Q: Which GPU supports higher versions of DirectX?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2). The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the shading unit counts for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has 512 shading units. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has 384 shading units, a difference of 128 units in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the release date for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M was released on 2025-02-28. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile was released earlier, on 2023-12-13.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has a boost clock of 3000 MHz. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has a boost clock of 1800 MHz, which is 1200 MHz lower.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon 860M is built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture and uses the Krackan Point chip. It belongs to the Navi III IGP generation within the Strix Point Mobile lineup. The manufacturing process is 4 nm at TSMC. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile uses the Xe-LPG architecture with the Meteor Lake chip, part of the Arc Graphics-M generation. Intel fabricates this chip on a 10 nm process at its own foundry.

The AMD implementation features 8 dedicated ray tracing cores, a capability the Intel part does not list. The 860M also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Intel part is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). This places the AMD GPU at a higher feature tier for modern graphics APIs.

The bus interfaces differ significantly. The AMD Radeon 860M uses PCIe 4.0 x8, a standard external interface. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile uses a Ring Bus, which reflects its integration into the Meteor Lake package. Both are integrated graphics processors (IGP) and share system memory, with memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent" for both.

The production status for both parts is Active. The AMD Radeon 860M lists its predecessor as Navi II IGP, while the Intel part lists HD Graphics-M as its predecessor. Neither part has a successor recorded in the database.

The AMD GPU uses a 1:1 ratio for FP16 to FP32, meaning both operations run at the same rate. The Intel GPU uses a 2:1 ratio, where FP16 throughput is double the FP32 rate. This indicates a different compute philosophy: AMD prioritizes equal throughput, while Intel emphasizes half-precision performance.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds differ substantially. The AMD Radeon 860M has a base clock of 600 MHz and a boost clock of 3000 MHz. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1800 MHz. The AMD part runs at double the base clock and 1200 MHz higher on boost.

Compute unit counts favor AMD across every category. The 860M has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operations pipelines. The Intel part has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The AMD GPU has 8 ray tracing cores; the Intel GPU lists none.

The resulting throughput rates reflect these differences. The AMD Radeon 860M delivers a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile delivers a pixel rate of 14.40 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 43.20 GTexel/s. The AMD part is 3.3 times faster in pixel throughput and over 2.2 times faster in texture throughput.

FP32 performance shows a wide gap. The AMD Radeon 860M delivers 3.072 TFLOPS. The Intel part delivers 1,382.4 GFLOPS, which is approximately 1.38 TFLOPS. The AMD GPU is more than twice as fast in single-precision compute. In FP16, the AMD part delivers 3.072 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the Intel part delivers 2.765 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio.

Power draw is a notable differentiator. The AMD Radeon 860M has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has a TDP of 28 W. Despite drawing less power, the AMD part delivers higher performance across every measured specification.

The AMD GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface. The Intel part uses a Ring Bus. Slot width is IGP for both, and display outputs are portable device dependent for both. The AMD part has no power connectors listed as "None", while the Intel part lists no power connector data. Neither part has a suggested PSU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for these two GPUs. However, the AMD Radeon 860M has standalone benchmark results that provide a clear performance picture. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has no recorded benchmark scores.

The AMD Radeon 860M scores 22759 in the Geekbench OpenCL test and 30043 in the Geekbench Vulkan test. The average of these two results is 26401. This average places the 860M in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals to the AMD Radeon 860M provide context for its performance level. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 has an average score of 26421, which is 0.1% higher than the 860M. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 has an average score of 26331, which is 0.3% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary has an average score of 26553, which is 0.6% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 has an average score of 26683, which is 1.1% higher.

These deltas show the 860M is competitive with dedicated mobile and desktop graphics cards. The 860M sits within 1.1% of all four nearest rivals, a narrow band of performance. The RTX A4000 leads this group, but the 860M trails by a single percentage point.

The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has no benchmark scores and no nearest rivals in the database. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it holds the 50th percentile. This means the database cannot confirm any level of performance for the Intel part, while the AMD part has verified results that place it among capable dedicated GPUs.

The data indicates a wide performance gulf. The AMD Radeon 860M has confirmed scores in two different graphics APIs, OpenCL and Vulkan. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile has no measured output. The 860M's average score of 26401 is the only verifiable performance metric between the two.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 860M wins on raw compute performance. Its FP32 throughput of 3.072 TFLOPS is more than double the Intel part's 1,382.4 GFLOPS. Its pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s is more than triple the Intel part's 14.40 GPixel/s. Its texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s is more than double the Intel part's 43.20 GTexel/s. Every measured throughput metric favors AMD by a wide margin.

The 860M also wins on ray tracing capability. It has 8 dedicated ray tracing cores, a feature the Intel part does not list. Combined with DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) support, the AMD GPU is positioned for modern graphics workloads that use ray tracing and the latest API features. The Intel part's DirectX 12 (12_1) support places it a tier below.

The 860M wins on power efficiency. Its TDP of 15 W is lower than the Intel part's 28 W, yet it delivers higher performance in every category. This makes the AMD solution the better choice for thin-and-light laptops where thermal and power budgets are constrained.

The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile wins on architectural integration. Its Ring Bus interface reflects a tightly coupled design within the Meteor Lake package. The Xe-LPG architecture and 2:1 FP16 ratio indicate a different compute emphasis, one that favors half-precision workloads. Its higher TDP of 28 W suggests the Intel part is designed to sustain higher sustained power draw if the platform allows it.

The Intel part also wins on release timing. It was released on 2023-12-13, more than a year before the AMD Radeon 860M's release on 2025-02-28. This means the Intel part has been available in platforms longer, though the database shows no benchmark evidence of its performance.

In practical terms, the AMD Radeon 860M is the choice for gaming, graphics rendering, and general compute tasks. The Intel Arc Graphics 48EU Mobile is the choice for platforms that require Intel's integrated graphics, particularly where the Xe-LPG architecture and ring bus integration are necessary. The benchmark data, however, only confirms performance for the AMD part.