Intel Arc A380 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 Comparison

The benchmark data presents a decisive generational mismatch. The Intel Arc A380 is the clear performance victor, delivering a 337% advantage in the single comparable compute test, while also offering a far more modern feature set and significantly higher efficiency. The GeForce GTX 460 v2, while a historical piece, is outclassed in every measurable category by the data available.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is in the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is a landslide. The Intel Arc A380 scores 38,224, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 scores 8,743. This gives the Arc A380 a 77.1% lead over the GTX 460 v2, a performance gap that is not merely incremental but represents a complete generational leap. The GTX 460 v2 is not just behind; it is in a different performance tier entirely.

To contextualize the GTX 460 v2's score, the data shows it sits at the 44th percentile of all GPUs, placing it in the lower half of the performance spectrum. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile with an average score of 8,746 (a 0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 at 8,863 (a -1.4% delta), and the AMD Radeon R9 M265X at 8,851 (a -1.2% delta). This indicates that in the Geekbench OpenCL metric, the GTX 460 v2 is performing on par with a mobile entry-level RTX card and older mobile workstation parts, firmly anchoring it in a low-performance class.

The Arc A380, despite also being at the 44th percentile, achieves this with a much higher average benchmark score of 8,558. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the fact that its percentile is based on a broader set of benchmarks, including modern DirectX 12 tests where it excels. Its nearest rivals in the average score metric include the AMD FirePro W5170M with an average score of 8,595 (a -0.4% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 at 8,458 (a 1.2% delta). While its average score is dragged down by some legacy tests, its Geekbench OpenCL score of 38,224 is more than four times higher than the GTX 460 v2's, highlighting a massive raw compute advantage.

The Arc A380 also shows strength in other modern workloads, with a Geekbench Vulkan score of 36,736 and a Passmark G3D score of 6,252, showcasing its capability in contemporary graphics APIs. Its Passmark GPU Compute score of 2,762 further reinforces its compute prowess. The GTX 460 v2 has no comparable scores in these tests, leaving the OpenCL result as the sole, definitive proof of the performance chasm between the two.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are separated by over a decade of architectural evolution, which explains the stark performance disparity. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 is built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, using the GF114 chip manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This older design houses 1,950 million transistors on a large 332 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of just 5.9M / mm². In contrast, the Intel Arc A380 is based on the modern Xe-HPG architecture, using the DG2-128 chip built on a 6 nm process, also at TSMC. This advanced node allows Intel to pack 7,200 million transistors into a much smaller 157 mm² die, achieving a density of 45.9M / mm².

This architectural leap results in fundamental changes to the GPU core. The GTX 460 v2 has 336 shading units, 56 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 render output units (ROPs). The Arc A380, by comparison, has a massively higher count of 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Furthermore, the Arc A380 is equipped with 8 dedicated ray tracing cores, a feature that is entirely absent from the Fermi-based GTX 460 v2. This means the Arc A380 can handle hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the GTX 460 v2 cannot.

The memory subsystems are also from different eras. The GTX 460 v2 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 96.19 GB/s. The Arc A380 uses 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 96-bit bus, but thanks to much higher clock speeds, it achieves a bandwidth of 186.0 GB/s, nearly double that of the older card. The Arc A380 also supports modern APIs like DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 460 v2 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. This makes the Arc A380 compatible with the latest gaming and compute technologies, whereas the GTX 460 v2 is locked to legacy software paths.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher raw compute performance?

A: The Intel Arc A380 is significantly faster in compute performance. In the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, it scores 38,224 compared to the GTX 460 v2's 8,743, a 77.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Arc A380 support ray tracing?

A: Yes. The Arc A380 is equipped with 8 dedicated ray tracing cores, a feature that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 lacks entirely.

Q: What is the difference in memory technology and capacity?

A: The GTX 460 v2 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth. The Arc A380 has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 96-bit bus but with a higher bandwidth of 186.0 GB/s.

Q: How does the power consumption compare?

A: The Arc A380 is far more power-efficient, with a TDP of 75 W compared to the GTX 460 v2's 160 W. The Arc A380 also requires a smaller suggested PSU of 250 W versus 450 W.

Q: Which GPU supports more modern graphics APIs?

A: The Intel Arc A380 supports the latest APIs, including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 460 v2 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and does not support Vulkan.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 | Intel Arc A380 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Xe-HPG |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 6 nm |

| Transistors | 1,950 million | 7,200 million |

| Die Size | 332 mm² | 157 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 5.9M / mm² | 45.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | N/A | 2000 MHz |

| Boost Clock | N/A | 2050 MHz |

| Memory Size | 1024 MB | 6 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | 192 bit | 96 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 96.19 GB/s | 186.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 336 | 1024 |

| TMUs | 56 | 64 |

| ROPs | 24 | 32 |

| RT Cores | N/A | 8 |

| FP32 Performance | 1,046.3 GFLOPS | 4.198 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | N/A | 8.397 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 160 W | 75 W |

| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 450 W | 250 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_0) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| Vulkan Support | N/A | 1.4 |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 2.0 |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Arc A380 is the superior GPU by a massive margin. Its 4.198 TFLOPS FP32 performance is roughly four times that of the GTX 460 v2's 1,046.3 GFLOPS, and its 77.1% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark confirms this in a real-world test. The Arc A380 also offers a richer feature set with hardware ray tracing, modern API support, and a newer display interface. The GTX 460 v2's only advantages are its lower power draw via two 6-pin connectors, but even then, its 160 W TDP is double the Arc A380's 75 W. The GTX 460 v2 is a legacy product from 2011, while the Arc A380, despite also being end-of-life, is a modern, efficient, and far more capable piece of hardware.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Arc A380: The Arc A380 is the winner in virtually every performance and feature category. It dominates in raw compute (38,224 vs 8,743 in OpenCL), offers hardware ray tracing, supports the latest DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan APIs, has significantly more memory (6 GB vs 1 GB), and is drastically more power-efficient (75 W TDP vs 160 W). It is the clear choice for any modern workload, including current gaming, content creation, or compute tasks that can leverage its modern architecture.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2: There are no benchmark categories where the GTX 460 v2 wins. Its only potential edge lies in its physical interface, using a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot instead of the Arc A380's PCIe 4.0 x8, which could be a compatibility consideration on very old motherboards. However, this is a minor logistical detail, not a performance win. From the data provided, the GTX 460 v2 is strictly a legacy part with no performance or feature advantage over the Intel Arc A380.