AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 vs Intel Arc A580 Comparison

AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 and Intel Arc A580 are two very different 8 GB graphics cards separated by nearly five years of GPU evolution, and the benchmark data reflects a decisive shift in compute performance. The AMD card, built on the aging GCN 5.0 architecture and designed for Apple Mac systems, posts an average benchmark score of 60140, while the Intel Arc A580, based on Xe-HPG, averages 57756. Despite the AMD card holding a 4.0% higher average score, the Intel part wins both head-to-head compute tests by substantial margins, indicating a major generational leap in raw throughput and API efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 has an average benchmark score of 60140, which is 4.0% higher than the Intel Arc A580's average of 57756. The AMD card also holds a slightly higher percentile rank at 88 vs 87 for the Intel part.

Q: How do the two graphics cards compare in OpenCL performance?

A: The Intel Arc A580 is dramatically faster in OpenCL, scoring 91657 compared to the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48's 53757. This represents a 41.3% advantage for the Intel card, as shown by the deltaPct of -41.3 from the AMD card's perspective.

Q: What are the key architectural differences between the two GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 uses the Vega 10 chip with GCN 5.0 architecture on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Arc A580 uses the DG2-512 chip with Xe-HPG architecture on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel chip has nearly double the transistor density at 53.4M / mm² versus 25.3M / mm² for AMD.

Q: Which GPU supports more advanced DirectX features?

A: The Intel Arc A580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which includes hardware ray tracing via its 24 RT cores. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 only supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and has no dedicated ray tracing cores.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference between the two cards?

A: Both cards have 8 GB of memory, but the AMD uses HBM2 with a 2048-bit bus and 402.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel uses GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus and higher 512.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel card also has a higher memory clock at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) versus 786 MHz (1572 Mbps effective) for AMD.

Q: How does the production status differ between the two GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is listed as end-of-life with a release date of 2019-03-18, while the Intel Arc A580 is active with a release date of 2023-10-09. The Intel card also has a listed successor (Battlemage), whereas the AMD card has no successor listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is vast, representing two completely different design philosophies from different eras. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 uses the Vega 10 chip built on GCN 5.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 12,500 million transistors on a 495 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Arc A580 uses the DG2-512 chip with Xe-HPG architecture, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC with 21,700 million transistors on a smaller 406 mm² die. The transistor density tells the story: Intel packs 53.4 million transistors per square millimeter versus AMD's 25.3 million, a 2.1x density advantage that comes from the much newer process node.

The compute layouts differ in ROP count and ray tracing capability. Both cards have 3072 shading units and 192 texture mapping units, but the Intel Arc A580 has 96 ROPs versus 64 on the AMD, and it adds 24 RT cores for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The AMD card has no RT cores at all, reflecting its pre-ray-tracing GCN design. The API support reflects this too: Intel supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) with Vulkan 1.4, while AMD maxes out at DirectX 12 (12_1) with Vulkan 1.3. The FP32 throughput also favors Intel at 12.29 TFLOPS versus 7.373 TFLOPS for AMD, and FP16 is similarly lopsided at 24.58 TFLOPS versus 14.75 TFLOPS (both at 2:1 ratio).

Memory architecture is another key differentiator. AMD uses HBM2 with a 2048-bit bus and 402.4 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus but higher 512.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel card also runs its memory at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) versus 786 MHz (1572 Mbps effective) for AMD. The bus interface differs as well, with Intel supporting PCIe 4.0 x16 versus PCIe 3.0 x16 on AMD, and the Intel card has a 175 W TDP with dual-slot cooling and 2x 8-pin power connectors, while the AMD card is an integrated GPU (IGP) with no power connectors and portable-device-dependent display outputs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 wins in the overall average benchmark score, posting 60140 versus 57756 for the Intel Arc A580. Its percentile rank of 88 also edges out Intel's 87, placing it slightly higher in the global GPU hierarchy. The AMD card's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 with a deltaPct of -0.3% and the Intel Arc Pro A60 with -0.3%, showing it sits in competitive company despite its age. This suggests the AMD card retains strength in certain compute workloads, particularly those that favor its HBM2 memory and legacy GCN optimizations.

The Intel Arc A580 wins decisively in the two head-to-head benchmark tests available. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 91657 versus AMD's 53757, a 41.3% advantage. In Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 79381 versus 57653, a 27.4% advantage. The Intel card also has a higher memory bandwidth (512.0 GB/s vs 402.4 GB/s), more ROPs (96 vs 64), higher pixel rate (192.0 GPixel/s vs 76.80 GPixel/s), and higher texture rate (384.0 GTexel/s vs 230.4 GTexel/s). Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM with a deltaPct of -0.6% and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE with +0.7%, placing it in a similar performance tier to those cards.

For gaming and modern API workloads, the Intel Arc A580 is the clear winner based on data. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate support, hardware ray tracing capabilities, and significantly higher FP32 throughput make it better suited for contemporary titles. The AMD card, with its end-of-life status and IGP form factor, appears better positioned for specific legacy compute tasks or Mac-centric workflows where its 88th percentile ranking still holds value.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every specification except memory size, shading units, and TMUs. Both have 8 GB of memory, 3072 shading units, and 192 TMUs, but the similarities end there.

• Process Node: AMD uses 14 nm at GlobalFoundries; Intel uses 6 nm at TSMC.
• Transistors: AMD has 12,500 million; Intel has 21,700 million.
• Die Size: AMD is 495 mm²; Intel is 406 mm².
• Transistor Density: AMD is 25.3M / mm²; Intel is 53.4M / mm².
• Memory Type: AMD uses HBM2; Intel uses GDDR6.
• Memory Bus Width: AMD is 2048-bit; Intel is 256-bit.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 402.4 GB/s; Intel is 512.0 GB/s.
• Memory Clock: AMD is 786 MHz (1572 Mbps effective); Intel is 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective).
• ROPs: AMD has 64; Intel has 96.
• RT Cores: AMD has none; Intel has 24.
• Pixel Rate: AMD is 76.80 GPixel/s; Intel is 192.0 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: AMD is 230.4 GTexel/s; Intel is 384.0 GTexel/s.
• FP32: AMD is 7.373 TFLOPS; Intel is 12.29 TFLOPS.
• FP16: AMD is 14.75 TFLOPS; Intel is 24.58 TFLOPS.
• TDP: AMD has no listed TDP; Intel is 175 W.
• Slot Width: AMD is IGP; Intel is dual-slot.
• Power Connectors: AMD has none; Intel has 2x 8-pin.
• Suggested PSU: AMD has none listed; Intel is 450 W.
• Bus Interface: AMD is PCIe 3.0 x16; Intel is PCIe 4.0 x16.
• Display Outputs: AMD is portable-device dependent; Intel is 1x HDMI 2.13x DisplayPort 2.0.
• DirectX Support: AMD is 12 (12_1); Intel is 12 Ultimate (12_2).
• Vulkan Support: AMD is 1.3; Intel is 1.4.
• Production Status: AMD is end-of-life; Intel is active.
• Release Date: AMD is 2019-03-18; Intel is 2023-10-09.
• Predecessor: AMD has none listed; Intel is Xe Graphics.
• Successor: AMD has none listed; Intel is Battlemage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Arc A580 wins both tests, and it wins them by wide margins. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Intel card scores 91657 against the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48's 53757, resulting in a deltaPct of -41.3% from the AMD card's perspective. That is not a marginal improvement; it is a 1.7x performance lead in raw compute throughput. The gap is slightly narrower but still decisive in Geekbench Vulkan, where Intel scores 79381 versus AMD's 57653, a deltaPct of -27.4% and a 1.4x advantage.

These results align with the theoretical specifications. Intel's FP32 throughput of 12.29 TFLOPS is 66.7% higher than AMD's 7.373 TFLOPS, and its FP16 rate of 24.58 TFLOPS is 66.6% higher than AMD's 14.75 TFLOPS. The higher memory bandwidth (512.0 GB/s vs 402.4 GB/s) and double the pixel rate (192.0 GPixel/s vs 76.80 GPixel/s) further explain Intel's dominance. The AMD card's wins are limited to the aggregate average benchmark score and percentile rank, which likely reflect a broader range of tests beyond the two head-to-head comparisons available here.

The deltaPct values in the nearestRivals data provide additional context. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48's closest rival is the Intel Arc Pro A60 at -0.3% and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 at -0.3%, meaning the AMD card scores within 0.3% of both. The Intel Arc A580's closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM at -0.6% and the Intel Arc A570M at -0.8%, with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE just 0.7% ahead. This places both cards in similar performance tiers overall, but the head-to-head compute tests show Intel has a significant edge in the specific workloads measured.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: the Intel Arc A580 is the superior GPU for modern compute and gaming workloads, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 holds a slight edge in aggregate benchmark averages. If the decision hinges on raw performance in OpenCL or Vulkan, the Intel card wins outright with 41.3% and 27.4% advantages respectively. Its higher FP32 throughput, doubled pixel rate, faster memory bandwidth, and hardware ray tracing support make it the practical choice for any builder looking at current or future software. The Intel card's active production status and PCIe 4.0 interface also suggest better long-term driver support and system compatibility.

However, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48's 88th percentile ranking and average score of 60140 — higher than the Intel card's 57756 — indicate it remains competitive in broader benchmark suites. Its HBM2 memory with a 2048-bit bus was state-of-the-art for its time, and its IGP form factor with no power connectors makes it suitable for specific integrated or portable applications. For someone constrained to a system that requires an IGP-style card or relies on older GCN-optimized software, the AMD card still offers value. But for anyone building a new system or upgrading for gaming, the Intel Arc A580's specification sheet and head-to-head results make it the data-backed recommendation. The verdict is not close in compute: Intel wins where it matters most, and AMD's aggregate advantage is too small to offset the 41.3% OpenCL deficit.