Intel Arc A310E vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results for the Intel Arc A310E and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q. Both entries list an average benchmark score of 0 and an empty benchmark array, meaning no measured performance data exists for either product in the current records. The wins counters for both items are set to 0, confirming that no comparative testing has been logged.

Without benchmark scores, the analysis must rely on the theoretical throughput figures recorded in the specifications. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q delivers 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the Intel Arc A310E delivers 3.072 TFLOPS. This places the NVIDIA part at approximately 3.7 times the raw FP32 throughput of the Intel part, a substantial margin in raw shader capacity. The RTX 4070 Max-Q also holds a significant advantage in pixel rate, at 59.04 GPixel/s versus 32.00 GPixel/s, and in texture rate, at 177.1 GTexel/s versus 64.00 GTexel/s.

The memory subsystem further widens the gap. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses an 8 GB GDDR6 frame buffer on a 128-bit bus, producing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc A310E uses 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, yielding 124.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA part has exactly double the memory capacity and more than double the bandwidth, which directly influences performance in texture-heavy scenes and higher resolution workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A310E shows advantages in areas unrelated to raw graphics throughput. Its base and boost clocks are both 2000 MHz, compared to 735 MHz base and 1230 MHz boost on the RTX 4070 Max-Q. While clock speed alone does not determine performance, the Arc A310E operates at a much higher frequency, which can benefit lightly threaded tasks or workloads that are sensitive to clock rate rather than parallel throughput.

The Arc A310E also offers four mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, making it a practical option for multi-monitor setups with modern display connectivity. The RTX 4070 Max-Q lists its display outputs as portable device dependent, meaning its video output configuration is not standardized and depends on the laptop implementation.

Power draw is another differentiator. The Arc A310E is rated at 75 W TDP and suggests a 250 W power supply. The RTX 4070 Max-Q is rated at 35 W TDP, which is less than half the power envelope. This makes the NVIDIA part more suitable for thin and light portable systems where thermal and power budgets are tight. The RTX 4070 Max-Q is an integrated graphics package (IGP) with no power connectors, while the Arc A310E is a single-slot discrete card with no power connectors either, but the higher TDP implies greater cooling requirements.

The RTX 4070 Max-Q wins in every raw performance category recorded: shading units (4608 versus 768), TMUs (144 versus 32), ROPs (48 versus 16), ray tracing cores (36 versus 6), and tensor cores (144 versus none listed for the Arc). It also uses a newer process node at 5 nm versus 6 nm, and it has a higher transistor density at 121.8M per mm² versus 45.9M per mm².

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q, with 256.0 GB/s over a 128-bit bus. The Intel Arc A310E has 124.0 GB/s over a 64-bit bus.

Q: What is the FP32 compute difference between the two?

A: The RTX 4070 Max-Q delivers 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the Arc A310E delivers 3.072 TFLOPS. The NVIDIA part provides roughly 3.7 times the FP32 throughput.

Q: Which GPU has more ray tracing cores?

A: The RTX 4070 Max-Q has 36 ray tracing cores. The Arc A310E has 6 ray tracing cores.

Q: Are both GPUs using the same process node?

A: No. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses a 5 nm process, while the Arc A310E uses a 6 nm process. Both are manufactured by TSMC.

Q: What is the TDP of each GPU?

A: The Arc A310E is rated at 75 W TDP. The RTX 4070 Max-Q is rated at 35 W TDP.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same API levels?

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

Specification Differences

The most immediate difference is form factor. The Arc A310E is a single-slot discrete card measuring 168 mm in length, 69 mm in height, and 20 mm in width. The RTX 4070 Max-Q is an integrated graphics package (IGP) with no recorded dimensions, designed for direct integration into portable devices.

Memory configurations differ sharply. The Arc A310E has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus with 124.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA part doubles both capacity and bus width, and it exceeds the Arc bandwidth by 132 GB/s.

Clock behavior is inverted between the two. The Arc A310E holds a constant 2000 MHz across base and boost, whereas the RTX 4070 Max-Q runs a 735 MHz base clock and a 1230 MHz boost clock. The Arc operates at a far higher frequency, but the NVIDIA part compensates with a much larger execution resource pool.

Compute resources show a large disparity. The Arc A310E has 768 shading units, 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and 6 ray tracing cores. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has 4608 shading units, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and 36 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA part also includes 144 tensor cores, while the Arc lists no tensor core count.

Power and cooling requirements differ substantially. The Arc A310E draws 75 W and recommends a 250 W power supply. The RTX 4070 Max-Q draws 35 W and lists no suggested PSU, consistent with its mobile IGP status. Neither card requires auxiliary power connectors.

Display output is another distinguishing field. The Arc A310E provides 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The RTX 4070 Max-Q lists display outputs as portable device dependent, meaning there is no fixed configuration.

Production status separates the two as well. The Arc A310E is marked end-of-life, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q is marked active. The Arc was released on 2024-03-31, and the RTX 4070 Max-Q was released on 2023-01-02.

Architecture Differences

The Arc A310E is built on Intel's Xe-HPG architecture, specifically the DG2-128 chip, and belongs to the Alchemist (Arc 3) generation. It uses a 6 nm TSMC process with 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 45.9M per mm². Its predecessor is listed as Xe Graphics, and its successor is Battlemage.

The RTX 4070 Max-Q is built on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD106 chip, and belongs to the GeForce 40 Mobile generation. It uses a 5 nm TSMC process with 22,900 million transistors on a 188 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². Its predecessor is GeForce 30 Mobile, and its successor is GeForce 50 Mobile.

The transistor count difference is stark: the NVIDIA chip packs more than three times as many transistors (22,900 million versus 7,200 million) into a die that is only 31 mm² larger. This results in a much higher transistor density, reflecting the more advanced 5 nm process and the larger compute array.

Memory clock behavior also differs. The Arc A310E uses a 1937 MHz memory clock with 15.5 Gbps effective data rate. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses a 2000 MHz memory clock with 16 Gbps effective data rate. The NVIDIA memory clock is only slightly higher, but the wider bus creates the large bandwidth advantage.

The FP16 compute formats differ. The Arc A310E delivers 6.144 TFLOPS FP16 at a 2:1 ratio relative to FP32. The RTX 4070 Max-Q delivers 11.34 TFLOPS FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, meaning its FP16 and FP32 throughput are identical. The NVIDIA part therefore has both a higher absolute FP16 number and a more flexible ratio.

The bus interface is identical for both: PCIe 4.0 x8. The API support is also identical, with DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 on both sides.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q is the stronger GPU in every measured compute and memory category. It has 4608 shading units against 768, 36 ray tracing cores against 6, 144 tensor cores against none, and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth against 124.0 GB/s. Its FP32 throughput of 11.34 TFLOPS dwarfs the Arc A310E's 3.072 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate of 59.04 GPixel/s nearly doubles the Arc's 32.00 GPixel/s.

The Intel Arc A310E does hold advantages in specific areas. It runs at 2000 MHz base and boost, far above the RTX 4070 Max-Q's 735 MHz and 1230 MHz clocks. It provides four mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs for fixed multi-monitor configurations. It is a discrete single-slot card with a 168 mm length, making it suitable for small desktop systems. Its 75 W TDP is higher than the NVIDIA part's 35 W, but it still avoids auxiliary power connectors.

The RTX 4070 Max-Q is the appropriate choice for portable devices where power efficiency matters, given its 35 W TDP and IGP form factor. It is also the only choice for workloads that depend on tensor cores, as the Arc A310E has no tensor core count listed. The Arc A310E, being end-of-life and positioned in the Alchemist generation, suits fixed desktop builds that need multiple DisplayPort 2.0 outputs and do not require the higher compute throughput.

Users who prioritize raw rendering performance, ray tracing, or memory bandwidth should select the RTX 4070 Max-Q. Users who need a compact discrete card with standard display outputs and a constant high clock may consider the Arc A310E, provided their workloads fit within its 4 GB memory and lower compute envelope. The database contains no benchmark results for either product, so these conclusions derive entirely from the recorded specification data.