Intel Arc A310 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M Comparison

The Intel Arc A310 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M represent two distinct eras of GPU design, separated by a decade of architectural evolution. The data reveals a stark contrast: the Arc A310, built on a 6 nm process with Xe-HPG architecture, delivers a Geekbench OpenCL score of 30,607, while the GTX 675M, a 40 nm Fermi 2.0 part from 2012, manages only 6,946 in the same test. This translates to a 340.6% advantage for the Intel part in the single benchmark where they overlap, a gap that underscores the profound impact of process technology and architectural innovation on raw compute performance.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Arc A310 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M in the only benchmark they share?

A: The Geekbench OpenCL result shows the Intel Arc A310 scoring 30,607 against the GTX 675M's 6,946, giving Intel a 340.6% lead. This is the sole head-to-head data point, and it is decisively in favor of the newer architecture.

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

A: The Arc A310 uses Intel's Xe-HPG architecture on a 6 nm TSMC process with 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die. The GTX 675M uses NVIDIA's Fermi 2.0 architecture on a 40 nm TSMC process with 1,950 million transistors on a much larger 332 mm² die. The Arc A310 also features 6 dedicated ray tracing cores, which the GTX 675M lacks entirely.

Q: How do their memory subsystems differ?

A: The Arc A310 has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, yielding 124.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 675M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 96.00 GB/s. Despite the narrower bus, the newer memory type gives the Intel card a 29% bandwidth advantage.

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The Arc A310's FP32 performance is 2.688 TFLOPS, compared to 952.3 GFLOPS for the GTX 675M. This makes the Intel part roughly 2.8 times faster in single-precision floating-point math, a core metric for general compute tasks.

Q: What about power consumption and physical design?

A: The Arc A310 has a 30 W TDP and is a single-slot card with no power connectors, requiring a 200 W suggested PSU. The GTX 675M has a 100 W TDP and is an MXM module, meaning it is designed for laptop or mobile chassis rather than a standard desktop slot.

Q: How do their API support profiles compare?

A: The Arc A310 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 675M only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support listed, limiting its compatibility with modern graphics APIs.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the Intel Arc A310 is the superior performer for almost any conceivable use case. Its 340.6% lead in Geekbench OpenCL over the GTX 675M is not merely incremental; it is a generational leap. The Arc A310's higher FP32 throughput (2.688 TFLOPS vs 952.3 GFLOPS), doubled memory capacity (4 GB vs 2 GB), and modern API support (Vulkan 1.4, DirectX 12 Ultimate) make it the clear choice for anything involving current or future software. The GTX 675M, however, might be relevant only in legacy systems where its MXM form factor is required, but even then, its performance ceiling is severely constrained by its 2012-era Fermi architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a rout. The Intel Arc A310 scores 30,607, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M scores 6,946, a difference of 23,661 points. The deltaPct of 340.6% means the Intel card is over four times faster in this workload. This benchmark is a general-purpose compute test that exercises the GPU's raw parallel processing capabilities, memory bandwidth, and driver efficiency. The result is consistent with the underlying specifications: the Arc A310's 768 shading units running at 1750 MHz with 124.0 GB/s of GDDR6 bandwidth easily outpaces the GTX 675M's 384 shading units (with no base or boost clock listed) and 96.00 GB/s of GDDR5. This single data point suggests that in any compute-heavy application—from rendering to physics simulation—the Arc A310 will deliver a transformative performance uplift.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs diverge sharply on nearly every specification. The Intel Arc A310 has 768 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the GTX 675M has 384 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The Arc A310 compensates for fewer TMUs and ROPs with much higher clock speeds (1750 MHz base/boost vs none listed for NVIDIA) and a newer architecture. Memory configurations differ fundamentally: 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus (124.0 GB/s) versus 2 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus (96.00 GB/s). The Intel card is a 30 W single-slot PCIe 4.0 x8 part, whereas the GTX 675M is a 100 W MXM-B (3.0) module. Display outputs also differ: the Arc A310 offers four mini-DisplayPort 2.0 connections, while the GTX 675M is marked as "Portable Device Dependent," reflecting its mobile origin.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two is the primary driver of their performance disparity. The Intel Arc A310 is built on the Xe-HPG architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 6 nm process. This allows for 7,200 million transistors packed into a 157 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 45.9 million per mm². It includes 6 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the older NVIDIA chip. The GTX 675M uses NVIDIA's Fermi 2.0 architecture on a 40 nm process, a node that is now over a decade old. It houses 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, resulting in a density of just 5.9 million per mm²—a staggering 8x difference in density. The Arc A310 also supports the Xe-HPG feature set, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing and variable rate shading, which the Fermi 2.0 architecture cannot offer. The process node advantage alone explains much of the efficiency gain: the Arc A310 delivers over 2.8x the FP32 performance while consuming only 30% of the power (30 W vs 100 W).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A310 wins in every measurable category from the data. It dominates in raw compute (2.688 TFLOPS vs 952.3 GFLOPS), memory bandwidth (124.0 GB/s vs 96.00 GB/s), and memory capacity (4 GB vs 2 GB). It is the only one of the two with ray tracing support, Vulkan compatibility, and PCIe 4.0 connectivity. Its lower TDP (30 W vs 100 W) and lack of power connectors make it far easier to integrate into a compact or power-efficient system. The GTX 675M's only theoretical advantage lies in its MXM form factor, which is specific to certain laptops and small-form-factor systems from the early 2010s. In a modern desktop context, the Arc A310 is categorically superior. For any user running current games, creative applications, or compute workloads, the Arc A310 is the only sensible choice. The GTX 675M is a relic that, while functional for basic 2D tasks, cannot compete on any level that matters for contemporary software. The data is unambiguous: the Intel Arc A310 is the definitive winner across the board.