Intel Arc A310E vs Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architectural identities of the two Intel GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc A310E uses the DG2-128 chip based on the Xe-HPG architecture, belonging to the Alchemist (Arc 3) generation. The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses the Ponte Vecchio chip based on Generation 12.5 architecture, classified under the Data Center GPU (Ponte Vecchio) generation.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare between the two cards?

A: The Arc A310E has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 124.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e memory on an 8192-bit bus, delivering 3.28 TB/s bandwidth, which is a substantial difference in capacity and throughput.

Q: What is the difference in FP32 compute performance?

A: The Arc A310E provides 3.072 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the Data Center GPU Max 1550 provides 52.43 TFLOPS. The data center part delivers over 17 times the FP32 throughput.

Q: What are the power requirements for each GPU?

A: The Arc A310E has a TDP of 75 W with a suggested PSU of 250 W, and it requires no power connectors. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has a TDP of 600 W with a suggested PSU of 1000 W.

Q: Do both GPUs support similar graphics APIs?

A: No. The Arc A310E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6, but Vulkan support is not listed.

Q: What are the production statuses and release dates?

A: The Arc A310E is end-of-life and was released on 2024-03-31. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 is active and was released on 2023-01-09.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent divergent design philosophies within Intel's portfolio. The Arc A310E is built on the DG2-128 chip using the Xe-HPG architecture, fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It contains 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 45.9M per mm². The Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses the Ponte Vecchio chip with Generation 12.5 architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. This chip packs 100,000 million transistors across a 1280 mm² die, achieving a density of 78.1M per mm². The data center chip integrates more than 13 times the transistor count of the Arc part.

The shading resources differ drastically. The Arc A310E has 768 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 16,384 shading units and 1,024 TMUs, but its ROP count is listed as 0, and its pixel rate is 0 MPixel/s. This suggests the Max 1550 is not designed for traditional rasterization output. Ray tracing hardware also scales: the Arc has 6 RT cores, while the Max 1550 has 128 RT cores.

Clock behavior differs as well. The Arc A310E runs at a fixed 2000 MHz for both base and boost. The Max 1550 operates with a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz. Memory clocks also diverge: the Arc uses 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) for its GDDR6, while the Max 1550 uses 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) for its HBM2e.

Form factors and interfaces reflect their intended deployments. The Arc A310E is a single-slot card measuring 168 mm in length, 69 mm in height, and 20 mm in width, using a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, with 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The Max 1550 is an OAM Module with no display outputs, using a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, and its dimensions are not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database lists no direct head-to-head benchmark entries and no wins for either GPU. However, the recorded specifications provide clear comparative data. The most significant advantage for the Data Center GPU Max 1550 is in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 performance of 52.43 TFLOPS is 17.1 times the Arc A310E's 3.072 TFLOPS. In FP16 operations, the Max 1550 sustains 52.43 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the Arc A310E reaches 6.144 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio. This indicates the Max 1550 does not rely on rate conversion for FP16, while the Arc does.

Texture throughput follows a similar pattern. The Max 1550 delivers 1,638.4 GTexel/s, which is 25.6 times the Arc A310E's 64.00 GTexel/s. The pixel rate, however, is a reversal: the Arc A310E outputs 32.00 GPixel/s, while the Max 1550 outputs 0 MPixel/s. This confirms the Max 1550 lacks conventional pixel processing pipelines, making it unsuitable for display-oriented workloads.

Memory bandwidth is another major differentiator. The Max 1550's 3.28 TB/s bandwidth is roughly 26.5 times the Arc A310E's 124.0 GB/s. The Max 1550 also has 32 times the memory capacity (128 GB versus 4 GB). These ratios illustrate that the Max 1550 is designed for data-heavy compute tasks, whereas the Arc A310E targets low-power, compact graphics workloads.

Both GPUs sit at the 50th percentile against all GPUs in the database, and both have an average benchmark score of 0, meaning no performance measurements are recorded. The nearest rival lists are empty for both, so no comparative score deltas can be calculated. The analysis must rely on architectural and specification data rather than empirical benchmark outcomes.

The Verdict

The data indicates two entirely different use cases. The Intel Arc A310E is a compact, single-slot card with a 75 W TDP, no power connectors, and a 250 W suggested PSU. It offers 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, a 64-bit bus, and 3.072 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its display outputs (4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0) and DirectX 12 Ultimate support position it for client-side graphics, likely in embedded or small-form-factor systems.

The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 is a 600 W OAM module with a 1000 W suggested PSU. It provides 128 GB of HBM2e memory on an 8192-bit bus, 52.43 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 compute, and 128 RT cores. The absence of display outputs and the 0 MPixel/s pixel rate make it unsuitable for direct display tasks. Its DirectX 12 (12_1) support and lack of listed Vulkan support further emphasize compute-focused deployment.

For workloads requiring high FP32 throughput, massive memory capacity, and extreme bandwidth, the Max 1550 is the clear choice from the recorded data. For tasks needing a low-power, single-slot GPU with modern display outputs and DirectX 12 Ultimate features, the Arc A310E is the only option between the two. The Max 1550's ROP count of 0 and pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s mean it cannot handle traditional rasterization, while the Arc A310E's 16 ROPs and 32.00 GPixel/s pixel rate confirm its graphics capability.

The production statuses also matter. The Arc A310E is end-of-life with a successor listed as Battlemage. The Max 1550 is active with a successor listed as H3C Graphics. This suggests the data center part remains in current production, while the Arc A310E has been phased out. The release dates show the Max 1550 launched earlier (2023-01-09) than the Arc A310E (2024-03-31), but the Arc has already reached end-of-life status.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc A310E | Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Xe-HPG | Generation 12.5 |

| Generation | Alchemist (Arc 3) | Data Center GPU (Ponte Vecchio) |

| Process Node | 6 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 7,200 million | 100,000 million |

| Die Size | 157 mm² | 1280 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 45.9M / mm² | 78.1M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 2000 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2000 MHz | 1600 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) | 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 128 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | HBM2e |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | 8192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 124.0 GB/s | 3.28 TB/s |

| Shading Units | 768 | 16384 |

| TMUs | 32 | 1024 |

| ROPs | 16 | 0 |

| RT Cores | 6 | 128 |

| Pixel Rate | 32.00 GPixel/s | 0 MPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 64.00 GTexel/s | 1,638.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 3.072 TFLOPS | 52.43 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 6.144 TFLOPS (2:1) | 52.43 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 75 W | 600 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | OAM Module |

| Power Connectors | None | Not listed |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 1000 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 | No outputs |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_1) |

| OpenGL Support | 4.6 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | Not listed |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2024-03-31 | 2023-01-09 |

| Successor | Battlemage | H3C Graphics |