Intel Arc A310 vs NVIDIA GeForce 945M Comparison

The data presents a fascinating generational clash. The NVIDIA GeForce 945M is a relic from the Maxwell era, while the Intel Arc A310 is a modern Alchemist part. The benchmark results are not just a victory for one side; they represent a complete paradigm shift in mobile graphics, from a low-power notebook chip to a discrete desktop solution with a far more advanced feature set.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole direct benchmark comparison available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, delivers a decisive and lopsided result. The Intel Arc A310 scores 30,607 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce 945M manages only 8,099 points. This represents a staggering 73.5% deficit for the NVIDIA part, meaning the Intel GPU is approximately 3.8 times faster in this compute-oriented workload. The sheer magnitude of this delta is not a marginal improvement; it is a categorical leap in raw processing power. This single score is the clearest indicator of the architectural gulf between the two.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the Arc A310’s average score across all its tested workloads is 7,550, which places it in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in this average scoring include the AMD Radeon R7 250 by a negligible 0.1% and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 by 0.4%. Interestingly, it is also 1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, a much more modern and well-regarded NVIDIA part. This suggests that while the Arc A310 is not a high-end performer, its compute potential is firmly in the range of established mainstream desktop graphics cards.

The GeForce 945M, in stark contrast, has an average benchmark score of 8,099, placing it in the 42nd percentile. Its closest rivals are the NVIDIA GRID K2, which it leads by 0.2%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost, which it leads by 0.4%. It trails the AMD Radeon R9 M360 and its own sibling, the GeForce GTX 950M, by 0.4% each. The data shows that the 945M is essentially at parity with these older mid-range parts, its performance firmly anchored in the mid-2010s. The 73.5% delta in the head-to-head test is not a reflection of the 945M being particularly slow for its time, but rather a signal of how far GPU compute capabilities have advanced.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A310 wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark, making it the clear victor in raw compute and general-purpose GPU workloads. The Geekbench OpenCL score is a strong proxy for tasks that leverage the GPU for non-graphics processing, such as video encoding, physics simulations, and some forms of content creation. The Arc A310’s 30,607 score suggests it can handle these kinds of tasks with relative ease. Its other benchmark scores, like the 5,433 in Passmark G3D, further reinforce its capability in modern DirectX 11 and 12 gaming scenarios.

The NVIDIA GeForce 945M, with no benchmark wins, is left in a difficult position. Its only saving grace in this comparison is its historical context. In its lifetime, it was a competent entry-level mobile GPU, but the data shows it is now outclassed. There is no benchmark category where the 945M emerges as a winner. The narrative is not about where each GPU wins, but about the extent to which the Arc A310 dominates. The 945M’s performance is simply a baseline from a bygone era, and it cannot compete in any modern workload represented by these scores.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two GPUs is immense. The NVIDIA GeForce 945M is built on the Maxwell architecture using the GM107 chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This older process node and architecture are reflected in its transistor count of 1,870 million spread across a 148 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.6M / mm². It features 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. It has no dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores. Its memory subsystem is severely limited by modern standards, using 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, providing just 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth.

In contrast, the Intel Arc A310 is based on the Xe-HPG architecture with the DG2-128 chip, fabricated on a much more advanced 6 nm process, also by TSMC. This allows for a massive 7,200 million transistors on a similar 157 mm² die, resulting in a far higher transistor density of 45.9M / mm². It has 768 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, but crucially, it also includes 6 dedicated ray tracing cores. Its memory is also a significant upgrade: 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus provides 124.0 GB/s of bandwidth, over four times that of the 945M. The clock speeds also tell a story, with the Arc A310 running at a flat 1750 MHz base and boost, while the 945M runs at a lower 928 MHz base and 1020 MHz boost.

The API support highlights the generational leap. The GeForce 945M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), which is a feature-limited version of the API. The Arc A310, on the other hand, supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which includes features like hardware ray tracing, mesh shaders, and variable rate shading. The Intel part also has a significantly higher pixel rate of 28.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 56.00 GTexel/s compared to the NVIDIA’s 16.32 GPixel/s and 40.80 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is also a stark contrast, with the Arc A310 delivering 2.688 TFLOPS versus the 945M’s 1,305.6 GFLOPS. The Arc A310 also supports FP16 at 5.376 TFLOPS (2:1), a feature entirely absent on the 945M.

FAQ

Q: Based on the benchmark data, which GPU is faster in compute workloads?

A: The Intel Arc A310 is overwhelmingly faster. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, it scored 30,607 compared to the NVIDIA GeForce 945M’s 8,099, a difference of 73.5% in favor of the Intel part.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ between the two GPUs?

A: The GeForce 945M uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, resulting in 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc A310 uses 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, which provides 124.0 GB/s of bandwidth, a substantial improvement.

Q: Do these GPUs support modern features like hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The NVIDIA GeForce 945M has no ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Yes. The Intel Arc A310 has 6 dedicated ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2).

Q: What is the difference in their power consumption?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 945M has a listed TDP of 75 W, while the Intel Arc A310 has a much lower TDP of 30 W, making the Intel part more power-efficient despite its higher performance.

Q: Which GPU is more recent?

A: The Intel Arc A310 is significantly more recent. It was released in 2022, while the NVIDIA GeForce 945M was released in 2015. The NVIDIA part is also listed as a predecessor to the GeForce 10 Mobile series, while the Arc A310’s successor is Battlemage.

The Verdict

The data makes the choice unequivocal for any modern use case. The Intel Arc A310 is the superior product in almost every measurable way. Its 73.5% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark is a decisive victory. Furthermore, its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, hardware ray tracing, and its vastly superior memory bandwidth make it the only viable option for current gaming or compute applications. The 945M’s architecture is simply too old to be relevant.

The only context where the NVIDIA GeForce 945M could be considered is in a legacy system where it is already installed, and where software is specifically optimized for its older feature set. However, as a standalone choice, it is outclassed. The Arc A310’s lower TDP of 30 W versus 75 W also makes it a more attractive option for compact or power-sensitive builds. The recommendation is clear: the Intel Arc A310 is the only sensible choice based on the benchmark results and architectural features presented here.

Specification Differences

This section outlines the key specifications where the two GPUs differ, based solely on the provided data.

Architecture and Process:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: Maxwell architecture, GM107 chip, 28 nm process, 1,870 million transistors, 148 mm² die size.
• Intel Arc A310: Xe-HPG architecture, DG2-128 chip, 6 nm process, 7,200 million transistors, 157 mm² die size.

Clock Speeds:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: Base clock of 928 MHz, boost clock of 1020 MHz.
• Intel Arc A310: Base and boost clock of 1750 MHz.

Memory:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: 2 GB DDR3, 128-bit bus, 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, 900 MHz / 1800 Mbps effective.
• Intel Arc A310: 4 GB GDDR6, 64-bit bus, 124.0 GB/s bandwidth, 1937 MHz / 15.5 Gbps effective.

Core Configuration:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, 16 ROPs, no ray tracing cores.
• Intel Arc A310: 768 shading units, 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, 6 ray tracing cores.

Performance Metrics:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: Pixel rate of 16.32 GPixel/s, texture rate of 40.80 GTexel/s, FP32 of 1,305.6 GFLOPS, no FP16.
• Intel Arc A310: Pixel rate of 28.00 GPixel/s, texture rate of 56.00 GTexel/s, FP32 of 2.688 TFLOPS, FP16 of 5.376 TFLOPS (2:1).

Power and Form Factor:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: 75 W TDP, MXM Module slot width, MXM-B (3.0) bus interface.
• Intel Arc A310: 30 W TDP, Single-slot width, PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface, suggested PSU of 200 W.

API and Display Support:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4, display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent".
• Intel Arc A310: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4, display outputs are 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0.

Release and Status:

• NVIDIA GeForce 945M: Released 2015-10-26, End-of-life, predecessor to GeForce 10 Mobile.
• Intel Arc A310: Released 2022-10-11, End-of-life, successor to Battlemage.