Intel Arc A380E vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Comparison

Intel Arc A380E and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 occupy very different positions in the database. The RTX 5060 holds an average benchmark score of 26,331, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, while the Arc A380E has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile. The recorded data shows a clear performance separation, but the split between the two is not just about raw speed; it is about architectural priorities and workload suitability.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 wins every measurable head-to-head category in the database, as it is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark results. Its wins are concentrated in modern, API-heavy workloads. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test returns a score of 3,628, which reflects strong DirectX 12 Ultimate performance. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 112,787 and Vulkan score of 113,321 show that the RTX 5060 handles compute and cross-vendor graphics APIs with similar efficiency. PassMark results reinforce this: DirectX 11 scores 200, DirectX 10 scores 127, DirectX 9 scores 225, and DirectX 12 scores 77. The PassMark G3D score of 20,891 and GPU compute score of 10,899 further confirm that the card is a general-purpose performer across both rasterization and compute tasks.

The Intel Arc A380E, by contrast, has no benchmark wins because no benchmark data exists for it in the database. Its strengths are architectural rather than measured. The card uses 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. It also includes 8 ray tracing cores, which gives it hardware-accelerated ray tracing capability. The A380E's 75 W TDP and single-slot design with no power connectors make it a low-profile option for space-constrained systems. Its 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs support multiple high-resolution displays, which is a practical advantage for multi-monitor setups. In terms of workload split, the RTX 5060 wins all performance-based scenarios, while the A380E wins scenarios where power draw, physical footprint, and display connectivity matter more than raw throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and process nodes. The Intel Arc A380E uses the DG2-128 chip based on the Xe-HPG architecture, belonging to the Alchemist (Arc 3) generation. It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die. The transistor density is 45.9 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 uses the GB206 chip based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, part of the GeForce 50 series. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, packing 21,900 million transistors into a 181 mm² die. That yields a transistor density of 121.0 million per square millimeter, more than 2.5 times denser than the Intel part.

Core configurations differ substantially. The RTX 5060 has 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. It also has 30 ray tracing cores and 120 tensor cores. The A380E has 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units, with 8 ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. The RTX 5060's FP32 throughput is 19.18 TFLOPS, while the A380E delivers 4.096 TFLOPS. The RTX 5060 does FP16 at 19.18 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the A380E does FP16 at 8.192 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio).

Memory subsystems also diverge. The RTX 5060 uses 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective) and bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The A380E has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, with memory at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) and bandwidth of 186.0 GB/s. The RTX 5060 offers more than double the memory bandwidth. Clock speeds favor NVIDIA as well: the RTX 5060 runs at 2280 MHz base and 2497 MHz boost, while the A380E runs at 2000 MHz for both base and boost.

Power and physical design differ sharply. The A380E has a TDP of 75 W, is single-slot, requires no external power connectors, and suggests a 250 W PSU. The RTX 5060 has a TDP of 145 W, is dual-slot, uses a single 8-pin power connector, and suggests a 300 W PSU. The A380E measures 254 mm in length, 127 mm in height, and 20 mm in width. The RTX 5060 is shorter at 241 mm, lower at 111 mm, but thicker at 40 mm. The RTX 5060 uses PCIe 5.0 x8, while the A380E uses PCIe 4.0 x8. Display outputs also differ: the A380E has 4x DisplayPort 2.0, while the RTX 5060 has 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1b.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between the Arc A380E and the RTX 5060. However, the RTX 5060's benchmark suite provides absolute numbers that illustrate its performance level. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,628 is the most demanding modern test in the set, and it indicates the card can handle current DirectX 12 titles. Geekbench OpenCL at 112,787 and Vulkan at 113,321 are nearly identical, suggesting balanced compute and graphics performance across different API backends.

PassMark results show varied strengths. The DirectX 9 score of 225 is the highest among the PassMark DirectX tests, while DirectX 11 scores 200 and DirectX 10 scores 127. The DirectX 12 score of 77 is notably lower, which is a pattern that suggests the card's absolute performance is strong but relative scaling across older API versions is uneven. The PassMark G2D score of 1,154 covers 2D graphics operations, while the G3D score of 20,891 covers 3D rendering. The GPU compute score of 10,899 is roughly half the G3D score, indicating compute workloads are handled well but not at the same throughput as rasterization.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for the RTX 5060's standing. The AMD Radeon 860M has an average score of 26,401, which is 0.3% lower than the RTX 5060. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26,421, also 0.3% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26,553, which is 0.8% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26,011, which is 1.2% higher than the RTX 5060. These deltas are small, all within a range of roughly 2%, meaning the RTX 5060 sits in a tightly contested performance band despite its superior architectural specs on paper.

FAQ

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its closest rival in average score?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26,331. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, scores 26,011, which is 1.2% higher. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26,401, which is 0.3% lower, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26,421, also 0.3% lower.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two GPUs?

A: The RTX 5060 has 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth using 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus. The Arc A380E has 186.0 GB/s using 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus. The RTX 5060 provides more than double the memory bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor density?

A: The RTX 5060 has a transistor density of 121.0 million per square millimeter, with 21,900 million transistors on a 181 mm² die. The Arc A380E has 45.9 million per square millimeter, with 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die.

Q: What are the TDP and power connector requirements?

A: The Arc A380E has a TDP of 75 W and uses no power connectors, with a suggested PSU of 250 W. The RTX 5060 has a TDP of 145 W and uses a single 8-pin connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W.

Q: Does the Arc A380E support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the Arc A380E includes 8 ray tracing cores. The RTX 5060 includes 30 ray tracing cores, providing more ray tracing hardware.

Q: What PCIe interface does each GPU use?

A: The Arc A380E uses PCIe 4.0 x8. The RTX 5060 uses PCIe 5.0 x8, which offers a newer bus generation.

The Verdict

The data points to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 as the superior performer in every recorded benchmark category. Its 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 3,840 shading units give it a decisive edge in compute and graphics workloads. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3,628 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 113,321 show that it handles modern APIs effectively. Its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 26,331 place it in the upper half of the database, with nearest rivals within a 1.2% delta, indicating competitive positioning.

The Intel Arc A380E is not a competitor in raw performance. With 4.096 TFLOPS FP32, 186.0 GB/s bandwidth, and 1,024 shading units, it is built for a different purpose. Its 75 W TDP, single-slot form factor, and lack of power connectors make it suitable for low-power or compact systems. Its 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs exceed the RTX 5060's 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1b in display count, which matters for multi-monitor configurations. The A380E is also end-of-life, while the RTX 5060 is active production.

Users seeking maximum performance should choose the RTX 5060. Users prioritizing minimal power draw, single-slot installation, and multiple DisplayPort outputs may find the A380E adequate, but only for workloads that do not demand high throughput. The recorded data does not support any scenario where the A380E outperforms the RTX 5060 in measured benchmarks.