Intel Arc 130V Mobile vs Intel Arc A380E x2 Comparison

Intel Arc 130V Mobile and Intel Arc A380E x2 represent two distinct approaches to Intel graphics, one integrated into a processor and the other a discrete, dual-GPU card. The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy despite both occupying the 50th percentile in the database. The Arc A380E x2, with its dual DG2-128 dies, delivers substantially higher raw throughput, while the Arc 130V Mobile offers a far more power-efficient, integrated solution for portable devices.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant difference between the two is in raw compute performance. The Arc A380E x2 delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput, which is 23.6% higher than the Arc 130V Mobile's 3.315 TFLOPS. This advantage is consistent across other compute metrics. The A380E x2 achieves 8.192 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (2:1 ratio), compared to 6.630 TFLOPS on the 130V Mobile, a 23.6% advantage in the same proportion. This raw compute lead translates directly into higher fill rates. The A380E x2 outputs 64.00 GPixel/s of pixel rate, which is 23.6% ahead of the 130V Mobile's 51.80 GPixel/s. Similarly, the texture rate on the A380E x2 is 128.0 GTexel/s, a 23.6% improvement over the 103.6 GTexel/s of the 130V Mobile.

These percentage differences are uniform, but the architectural reasons are clear. The A380E x2 has more execution resources: 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operations pipelines, versus 896, 56, and 28 respectively on the 130V Mobile. The A380E x2 also has 8 ray tracing cores compared to 7 on the 130V Mobile. Clock speeds also favor the discrete card. The A380E x2 runs at a fixed 2000 MHz for both base and boost, while the 130V Mobile has a 300 MHz base clock that boosts to 1850 MHz. The sustained clock on the A380E x2 ensures that its peak throughput is maintained, whereas the 130V Mobile's performance is variable and power-dependent.

Memory bandwidth is another area of decisive advantage for the A380E x2. It uses 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 96-bit bus, delivering 186.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 130V Mobile uses system-shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the integrated GPU is reliant on the system's memory speed and configuration, which will typically be far lower than dedicated VRAM. In practice, this bandwidth disparity heavily impacts texture-heavy workloads and high-resolution rendering, where the A380E x2's dedicated memory avoids the contention and latency penalties inherent in shared memory architectures.

The data does not show any benchmark category where the 130V Mobile wins against the A380E x2. The wins are all in favor of the discrete card, driven by its higher core counts, higher clock, and dedicated memory. The 130V Mobile's only technical advantages are in power consumption and physical integration, not in measured performance.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Arc A380E x2 is the superior performer. It leads in every measurable compute and graphics metric: FP32 throughput, FP16 throughput, pixel fill rate, texture fill rate, and memory bandwidth. The 23.6% lead in compute and fill rates is consistent and significant. For any workload that demands maximum graphics throughput, the A380E x2 is the clear choice. It also offers 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory, which removes the dependency on system memory performance that hampers the 130V Mobile.

The Intel Arc 130V Mobile is not a competitor in the same segment. It is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 37 W TDP, designed for thin-and-light portable devices. Its 3.315 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is respectable for an integrated solution, and its 51.80 GPixel/s pixel rate is adequate for casual gaming and media tasks at lower resolutions. However, it cannot match the sustained performance of the A380E x2, which has a 130 W TDP and a single-slot form factor with a 6-pin power connector. The A380E x2 is end-of-life, while the 130V Mobile is active production, so the latter is the current product, but that does not change the performance verdict. The A380E x2 is the card to pick for sustained, high-throughput graphics work, while the 130V Mobile is the only viable option for a system that requires an integrated solution with no discrete card.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and processes. The Arc 130V Mobile uses the Xe2-LPG architecture on Lunar Lake silicon, manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Arc A380E x2 uses the older Xe-HPG architecture on DG2-128 silicon, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. This is a two-generation gap in process technology, which explains the efficiency difference. The 3 nm node allows the 130V Mobile to achieve its performance at 37 W, while the 6 nm A380E x2 requires 130 W.

The die sizes are similar: 172 mm² for the Lunar Lake chip, and 157 mm² for the DG2-128. However, the transistor counts differ, with the A380E x2's DG2-128 containing 7,200 million transistors, while the 130V Mobile's transistor count is unknown. The A380E x2 has a documented transistor density of 45.9M per mm². The 130V Mobile uses a system-shared memory architecture with no dedicated VRAM, while the A380E x2 has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus.

The API support is identical: both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The A380E x2 is a dual-GPU card, as indicated by the "x2" in its name, and it uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface. The 130V Mobile is an IGP, meaning it is integrated into the processor and has no bus interface, no slot width, and no power connectors. The A380E x2 is a single-slot card measuring 265 mm in length, 127 mm in height, and 20 mm in width, and it requires a 300 W suggested PSU.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The Intel Arc A380E x2 delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 and 8.192 TFLOPS of FP16, which are 23.6% higher than the 3.315 TFLOPS and 6.630 TFLOPS of the Intel Arc 130V Mobile.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The A380E x2 uses 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus with 186.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 130V Mobile uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU is more power efficient?

A: The 130V Mobile has a 37 W TDP, while the A380E x2 has a 130 W TDP. The 130V Mobile uses a 3 nm process, whereas the A380E x2 uses a 6 nm process.

Q: Do both support the same modern APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the production status of each?

A: The 130V Mobile is listed as Active, while the A380E x2 is listed as End-of-life. The A380E x2 has a successor named Battlemage.

Q: What are the clock speeds?

A: The 130V Mobile has a 300 MHz base clock and a 1850 MHz boost clock. The A380E x2 has a fixed 2000 MHz clock for both base and boost.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380E x2 wins in every performance category measured. Its 23.6% lead in FP32 and FP16 compute makes it the choice for GPU-accelerated compute tasks such as rendering, scientific simulation, and machine learning inference. The 186.0 GB/s of dedicated memory bandwidth is a decisive advantage for large datasets and high-resolution textures, as it avoids the system memory bottleneck that affects the 130V Mobile. The higher pixel rate of 64.00 GPixel/s supports higher resolution output and more demanding post-processing effects. The dual-GPU configuration and 8 ray tracing cores provide more headroom for ray-traced workloads compared to the 7 cores on the 130V Mobile.

The Intel Arc 130V Mobile wins in integration and power efficiency. Its 37 W TDP allows it to be used in compact, portable devices without a discrete power connector or cooling solution. The IGP form factor means it takes up no expansion slot and requires no additional power supply. It is a 3 nm part, which gives it a significant efficiency advantage over the 6 nm A380E x2. For a system that must operate on battery power or in a thin chassis, the 130V Mobile is the only viable option. It also has a higher base clock headroom, boosting from 300 MHz to 1850 MHz, which allows it to scale down to near-idle power states. The A380E x2 runs at a constant 2000 MHz, which means it always draws its full power unless explicitly throttled.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ on nearly every specification. The 130V Mobile uses the Xe2-LPG architecture on Lunar Lake, while the A380E x2 uses Xe-HPG on DG2-128. The process node is 3 nm for the 130V Mobile and 6 nm for the A380E x2. The 130V Mobile's die size is 172 mm², and the A380E x2's is 157 mm². The A380E x2 has 7,200 million transistors with a density of 45.9M per mm²; the 130V Mobile's transistor count is unknown.

The 130V Mobile has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1850 MHz, while the A380E x2 has a base and boost clock of 2000 MHz. The 130V Mobile uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, whereas the A380E x2 uses 6 GB of GDDR6 at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) on a 96-bit bus with 186.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 130V Mobile has 896 shading units, 56 TMUs, 28 ROPs, and 7 RT cores, while the A380E x2 has 1024 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 8 RT cores. The pixel rate is 51.80 GPixel/s on the 130V Mobile versus 64.00 GPixel/s on the A380E x2. The texture rate is 103.6 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 3.315 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS, and FP16 is 6.630 TFLOPS versus 8.192 TFLOPS.

The 130V Mobile has a 37 W TDP, is an IGP with no slot width, no power connectors, no suggested PSU, and no bus interface. The A380E x2 has a 130 W TDP, is a single-slot card, uses a 1x 6-pin power connector, has a 300 W suggested PSU, and uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent" on the 130V Mobile, while the A380E x2 has 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0. The 130V Mobile is 2024-09-23 in release date and is Active production, while the A380E x2 is 2024-03-31 and is End-of-life. The A380E x2 has a successor (Battlemage), while the 130V Mobile does not. The A380E x2 has physical dimensions of 265 mm length, 127 mm height, and 20 mm width; the 130V Mobile has no listed dimensions.