Intel Arc A380E vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Arc A380E and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q occupy different ends of the mobile graphics spectrum, and the data supports distinct buyer profiles for each. The Arc A380E is a low-power, end-of-life desktop card aimed at compact systems where physical footprint and power draw matter more than raw throughput. The RTX 4080 Max-Q is an active mobile part built for laptops, delivering substantially higher compute and memory performance in a package that sips power at 60 W.

For users who need basic display output, multiple monitor connectivity, and modest 3D acceleration in a single-slot card with no external power connectors, the Arc A380E fits that role. Its 75 W TDP, 254 mm length, and PCIe 4.0 x8 interface make it suitable for small form factor builds or as a secondary rendering card. The 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 186.0 GB/s bandwidth handle lightweight workloads, but the 4.096 TFLOPS FP32 ceiling limits its reach.

The RTX 4080 Max-Q targets laptop buyers who want high-end gaming or creative work in a thin chassis. Its 20.04 TFLOPS FP32, 12 GB GDDR6, and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth place it far ahead in every compute category. The 60 W TDP is remarkable for that performance level, enabled by the 5 nm process and Ada Lovelace architecture. The 12 GB memory capacity and 192 bit bus double the Arc's bandwidth and capacity, which matters for texture-heavy scenes and larger datasets.

The benchmark database shows the RTX 4080 Max-Q with a taller specification sheet across every measurable compute metric: shading units (7424 vs 1024), texture units (232 vs 64), ROPs (80 vs 32), ray tracing cores (58 vs 8), and tensor cores (232 vs none). The Arc A380E wins only on base clock (2000 MHz vs 795 MHz), boost clock (2000 MHz vs 1350 MHz), and physical dimensions where it offers a standard single-slot card rather than an integrated mobile package.

The Arc A380E is a legacy product. Its production status is end-of-life, with Battlemage listed as the successor. The RTX 4080 Max-Q remains active, with GeForce 50 Mobile as its successor. Buyers should treat the Arc as a fixed-function utility card, while the RTX represents a current-generation mobile solution.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc A380E uses the DG2-128 chip built on Xe-HPG architecture, belonging to the Alchemist (Arc 3) generation. The process node is 6 nm at TSMC, with 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die. Transistor density measures 45.9M per mm². The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q uses the AD104 chip on Ada Lovelace architecture, part of the GeForce 40 Mobile generation. It is fabricated on a 5 nm TSMC process, packing 35,800 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, yielding a density of 121.8M per mm².

The Arc A380E has 1024 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 8 ray tracing cores. It has no tensor cores. The RTX 4080 Max-Q provides 7424 shading units, 232 TMUs, 80 ROPs, 58 ray tracing cores, and 232 tensor cores. The shading unit count is 7.25 times higher on the NVIDIA part, and the tensor core presence enables AI-accelerated workloads that the Intel card cannot attempt.

Memory architecture differs sharply. The Arc uses 6 GB GDDR6 on a 96 bit bus, delivering 186.0 GB/s. The RTX uses 12 GB GDDR6 on a 192 bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s. The RTX has double the capacity and 2.32 times the bandwidth. The Arc's memory clock is 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective), while the RTX runs at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective).

Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Arc outputs via 4x DisplayPort 2.0, while the RTX uses portable device dependent outputs. The Arc connects through PCIe 4.0 x8; the RTX uses PCIe 4.0 x16.

The Arc's FP32 throughput is 4.096 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 8.192 TFLOPS using a 2:1 ratio. The RTX reaches 20.04 TFLOPS in both FP32 and FP16 at a 1:1 ratio. This means the RTX is 4.89 times faster in FP32 and 2.45 times faster in FP16. Pixel rate favors the RTX at 108.0 GPixel/s versus 64.00 GPixel/s. Texture rate favors the RTX at 313.2 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s.

The RTX 4080 Max-Q uses an integrated GPU package (IGP) with no slot width, while the Arc is a single-slot card. The Arc requires a 250 W suggested PSU; the RTX has no suggested PSU listed because it is designed for laptop integration.

FAQ

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q delivers 432.0 GB/s from 12 GB GDDR6 on a 192 bit bus, while the Intel Arc A380E provides 186.0 GB/s from 6 GB GDDR6 on a 96 bit bus.

Q: Can the Intel Arc A380E support ray tracing?

A: Yes, it has 8 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which includes ray tracing features. The RTX 4080 Max-Q has 58 ray tracing cores for comparison.

Q: Which card has tensor cores?

A: Only the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q has tensor cores, with 232 of them. The Intel Arc A380E lists none in its specifications.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Intel Arc A380E has a 75 W TDP, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q has a 60 W TDP. The RTX delivers far higher performance at a lower power envelope.

Q: What is the production status of each card?

A: The Intel Arc A380E is end-of-life, with Battlemage as its successor. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q is active, with GeForce 50 Mobile listed as its successor.

Q: Which card has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Arc A380E runs at 2000 MHz for both base and boost. The RTX 4080 Max-Q has a 795 MHz base and 1350 MHz boost. The Arc's clocks are higher, but the RTX compensates with far more cores and higher memory throughput.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Arc A380E uses a 6 nm TSMC process; the RTX 4080 Max-Q uses 5 nm TSMC. Transistor count is 7,200 million versus 35,800 million, and die size is 157 mm² versus 294 mm². Transistor density is 45.9M per mm² versus 121.8M per mm².

Clock speeds: the Arc runs at 2000 MHz base and 2000 MHz boost. The RTX runs at 795 MHz base and 1350 MHz boost. Memory clock: the Arc runs at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective), the RTX at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective).

Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 versus 12 GB GDDR6, 96 bit bus versus 192 bit bus, 186.0 GB/s versus 432.0 GB/s.

Compute units: 1024 shading units versus 7424, 64 TMUs versus 232, 32 ROPs versus 80, 8 ray tracing cores versus 58, no tensor cores versus 232.

Rates: pixel rate 64.00 GPixel/s versus 108.0 GPixel/s, texture rate 128.0 GTexel/s versus 313.2 GTexel/s, FP32 4.096 TFLOPS versus 20.04 TFLOPS, FP16 8.192 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 20.04 TFLOPS (1:1).

Power and physical: TDP 75 W versus 60 W, single-slot versus IGP, no power connectors on either, PCIe 4.0 x8 versus PCIe 4.0 x16, 4x DisplayPort 2.0 versus portable device dependent outputs.

Dimensions: the Arc is 254 mm long, 127 mm high, and 20 mm wide. The RTX has no listed dimensions because it is an integrated mobile package.

Release dates: the Arc released on 2024-03-31, the RTX on 2023-01-02. The Arc has a predecessor called Xe Graphics and a successor called Battlemage. The RTX has a predecessor called GeForce 30 Mobile and a successor called GeForce 50 Mobile.

The suggested PSU is 250 W for the Arc, with no value listed for the RTX.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table is empty, and the win counts for both items are zero. However, the specification data provides clear performance deltas that can be projected from the recorded figures.

The largest advantage for the RTX 4080 Max-Q comes in shading throughput. With 7424 shading units versus 1024, the RTX processes 7.25 times more pixel and vertex work per clock. FP32 compute shows a 4.89 times advantage for the RTX (20.04 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS). FP16 compute shows a 2.45 times advantage (20.04 TFLOPS versus 8.192 TFLOPS). Texture rate favors the RTX by 2.45 times (313.2 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s). Pixel rate favors the RTX by 1.69 times (108.0 GPixel/s versus 64.00 GPixel/s).

Memory bandwidth gives the RTX a 2.32 times advantage (432.0 GB/s versus 186.0 GB/s). Memory capacity doubles from 6 GB to 12 GB. The memory bus width doubles from 96 bit to 192 bit, and the effective memory speed rises from 15.5 Gbps to 18 Gbps.

The Arc A380E wins on clock speeds. Its 2000 MHz base clock is 2.52 times higher than the RTX's 795 MHz base. Its 2000 MHz boost clock is 1.48 times higher than the RTX's 1350 MHz boost. Higher clocks help the Arc in latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, but the RTX's massive core count overcomes this in parallel workloads.

The Arc also wins on physical integration for desktop use. It is a single-slot card with standard dimensions (254 mm length, 127 mm height, 20 mm width) and four DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The RTX is an IGP package with no fixed dimensions and portable device dependent outputs, meaning it cannot be installed as a standalone desktop card.

Ray tracing capability shows a 7.25 times core advantage for the RTX (58 cores versus 8). Tensor core presence is exclusive to the RTX at 232 cores, enabling DLSS and AI workloads that the Arc cannot run.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380E wins in scenarios where power efficiency per absolute watt matters more than peak performance, and where a standard desktop form factor is required. Its 75 W TDP and single-slot design fit into compact cases. The lack of power connectors simplifies installation. The 2000 MHz base and boost clocks give it a latency advantage in lightly threaded workloads. The 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs support multi-monitor setups without adapters. The 6 GB memory is sufficient for basic rendering, video output, and older games at modest settings. The 250 W suggested PSU requirement is low, allowing it to pair with modest desktop power supplies.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Max-Q wins in every compute-heavy scenario. The 20.04 TFLOPS FP32 throughput handles modern games, 3D rendering, and video encoding. The 12 GB memory and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth support high-resolution textures and large scene data. The 232 tensor cores enable AI inference and DLSS upscaling. The 58 ray tracing cores process real-time ray tracing effects far more efficiently than the Arc's 8 cores. The 60 W TDP means this performance fits in a laptop chassis without excessive heat or battery drain. The 5 nm process and 121.8M per mm² density show a far more modern implementation than the Arc's 6 nm and 45.9M per mm².

The Arc is the choice for a secondary display card, a low-power server GPU, or an entry-level desktop GPU where the user prioritizes physical compatibility and simple installation. The RTX is the choice for a high-end laptop where the user prioritizes gaming, creative work, and AI acceleration. The RTX's 232 tensor cores alone create a capability gap that no clock speed advantage can close.

The production status reinforces this split. The Arc is end-of-life, meaning no further driver or firmware development is expected. The RTX is active, with ongoing support. For a buyer choosing today, the RTX 4080 Max-Q represents a current, supported platform, while the Arc A380E is a fixed-function legacy part.

The percentile ranking for both items is 50, indicating median placement among all GPUs in the database. The RTX's specification advantage does not translate into a higher percentile because the metric is based on benchmark scores, and no benchmark results are recorded for either item. The empty benchmark arrays and zero win counts mean the database has no measured performance data for these specific units. The specification comparison, therefore, is the only quantitative basis for analysis, and it consistently favors the RTX 4080 Max-Q across all compute and memory metrics.