Intel Arc A380E x2 vs Intel Arc A580 Comparison

Intel Arc A380E x2 and Intel Arc A580 represent two distinct approaches within Intel's Alchemist generation. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the practical differences extend beyond raw speed into memory configuration, physical design, and intended use case. The A380E x2, as the name suggests, operates as a dual-GPU configuration of the Arc A380E, while the A580 is a single, larger die. This comparison examines where each configuration holds an advantage based strictly on the recorded specifications and benchmark results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A580 wins in every measurable compute discipline. Its benchmark scores, including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 result of 2229, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 91657, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 79381, place it at the 87th percentile among all GPUs in the database. The A380E x2 has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile, indicating a fundamentally lower performance tier. The A580's shading unit count of 3072, compared to 1024 for the A380E x2, delivers a 3x advantage in raw shader throughput. Its FP32 compute of 12.29 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS shows a similar gap.

The A380E x2 wins in physical flexibility. Its single-slot design with a 265 mm length, 127 mm height, and 20 mm width contrasts with the A580's dual-slot footprint. The A380E x2 also provides 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, which is a specialized configuration for multi-display or embedded environments. The A580 offers 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 2.0, a more conventional output set. The A380E x2's lower 130 W TDP and single 6-pin power connector make it easier to integrate into constrained systems, while the A580's 175 W TDP and dual 8-pin connectors demand more substantial power delivery.

The A580 also wins on memory bandwidth. Its 512.0 GB/s bandwidth, achieved through a 256-bit bus and 8 GB GDDR6, dwarfs the A380E x2's 186.0 GB/s from a 96-bit bus and 6 GB GDDR6. This difference directly impacts texture-heavy workloads and high-resolution rendering, which we will examine in the head-to-head section.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the Xe-HPG architecture and the Alchemist generation, but they use entirely different silicon. The A380E x2 is built on the DG2-128 chip, while the A580 uses the DG2-512 die. The A580's DG2-512 packs 21,700 million transistors across a 406 mm² die, produced on TSMC's 6 nm process with a transistor density of 53.4M per mm². The A380E x2's DG2-128 contains 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, also on 6 nm TSMC, with a lower density of 45.9M per mm².

The A580's larger die enables 3072 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, 96 raster operation units, and 24 ray tracing cores. The A380E x2 halves most of these: 1024 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 8 ray tracing cores. The A580's boost clock matches the A380E x2 at 2000 MHz, but its base clock is lower at 1700 MHz versus 2000 MHz. This suggests the A580 relies on its wider execution resources rather than higher clocks to achieve performance.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The A580 uses a 256-bit memory bus with 2000 MHz memory clock (16 Gbps effective), yielding 512.0 GB/s. The A380E x2 uses a 96-bit bus with 1937 MHz memory clock (15.5 Gbps effective), yielding 186.0 GB/s. The A580's 8 GB capacity also exceeds the A380E x2's 6 GB, which matters for modern game assets and large compute workloads.

Both support the same API set: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The A580 connects via PCIe 4.0 x16, while the A380E x2 uses PCIe 4.0 x8, halving the host interface bandwidth. The A580's predecessor is Xe Graphics and its successor is Battlemage, matching the A380E x2's lineage. The A380E x2 was released on 2024-03-31 and is end-of-life, while the A580 launched on 2023-10-09 and remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records three benchmarks for the A580, and none for the A380E x2. This asymmetry means the comparison relies on the A580's absolute scores and its position relative to known rivals. The A580's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2229 tests modern DirectX 12 rendering. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 91657 and Vulkan score of 79381 provide compute and graphics API-specific measurements.

The A580's average benchmark score is 57756. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM at 58085 (0.6% higher), the Intel Arc A570M at 58239 (0.8% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT at 58392 (1.1% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE at 57367 (0.7% lower). The A580 sits within a tight 1.1% band around these cards, indicating it performs competitively with that group. The RX 9070 GRE is the only rival the A580 beats in the recorded data, with a 0.7% margin.

Against the A380E x2, the A580's advantage is overwhelming. The FP32 compute gap is exactly 3x: 12.29 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS. Texture rate follows the same pattern: 384.0 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s, a 3x difference. Pixel rate shows a 3x gap as well: 192.0 GPixel/s versus 64.00 GPixel/s. The A580's 24 ray tracing cores triple the A380E x2's 8. Memory bandwidth is 2.75x higher on the A580 (512.0 GB/s versus 186.0 GB/s). The A580's 8 GB capacity provides 2 GB more than the A380E x2's 6 GB.

The A380E x2 does hold one clock advantage: its base clock of 2000 MHz matches its boost clock, while the A580's base clock sits at 1700 MHz. This means the A380E x2 maintains a higher minimum frequency, which can benefit latency-sensitive workloads that do not scale with parallel width. However, the A580's boost clock of 2000 MHz matches the A380E x2's maximum, so peak single-core frequency is identical.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel Arc A580 has 3072 shading units, while the Intel Arc A380E x2 has 1024, a 3x difference.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each card?

A: The A580 delivers 512.0 GB/s over a 256-bit bus with 8 GB GDDR6. The A380E x2 delivers 186.0 GB/s over a 96-bit bus with 6 GB GDDR6.

Q: How does the A580 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The A580's average benchmark score of 57756 places it 0.7% above the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (57367) and 0.6% below the AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM (58085). It trails the Intel Arc A570M by 0.8% and the AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT by 1.1%.

Q: What display outputs does each card provide?

A: The A380E x2 offers 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The A580 offers 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 2.0.

Q: Which card has a higher power draw?

A: The A580 has a 175 W TDP and requires 2x 8-pin power connectors with a 450 W suggested PSU. The A380E x2 has a 130 W TDP, needs 1x 6-pin, and lists a 300 W suggested PSU.

Q: Are both cards from the same architecture generation?

A: Yes, both use the Xe-HPG architecture from the Alchemist generation. The A380E x2 uses the smaller DG2-128 chip, and the A580 uses the DG2-512 chip.

The Verdict

The data indicates a decisive performance win for the Intel Arc A580. Its 87th percentile ranking, 3x compute advantage across FP32, texture rate, and pixel rate, and 2.75x memory bandwidth make it the appropriate choice for any workload that benefits from parallel processing. The A580's 24 ray tracing cores and 8 GB memory further extend its lead in modern games and compute tasks. Its nearest rivals cluster within 1.1% of its average score, confirming it sits in a competitive mid-range tier.

The Intel Arc A380E x2 is a different product category. Its single-slot profile, 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, 130 W TDP, and 300 W suggested PSU target dense multi-display or embedded deployments where space and power constraints outweigh raw performance. Its 50th percentile ranking and lack of recorded benchmarks show it is not designed for high-end rendering. The 2000 MHz base clock matches its boost, offering consistent frequency under load, but the execution resources are simply too limited to compete with the A580.

For rendering, gaming, or general compute, the A580 is the clear selection. For multi-display signage, kiosk systems, or compact industrial setups, the A380E x2's physical characteristics and output count are relevant advantages. The A580's active production status and the A380E x2's end-of-life status further reinforce this split. The A580 remains a current product with database-verified performance; the A380E x2 is a legacy part with no recorded benchmark presence.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc A380E x2 | Intel Arc A580 |

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

| Chip | DG2-128 | DG2-512 |

| Generation | Alchemist (Arc 3) | Alchemist (Arc 5) |

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

| Transistors | 7,200 million | 21,700 million |

| Die Size | 157 mm² | 406 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 45.9M / mm² | 53.4M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 2000 MHz | 1700 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2000 MHz | 2000 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps) | 2000 MHz (16 Gbps) |

| Memory Size | 6 GB GDDR6 | 8 GB GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus | 96 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 186.0 GB/s | 512.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 3072 |

| TMUs | 64 | 192 |

| ROPs | 32 | 96 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 8 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 64.00 GPixel/s | 192.0 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 128.0 GTexel/s | 384.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 4.096 TFLOPS | 12.29 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 8.192 TFLOPS (2:1) | 24.58 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 130 W | 175 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | Dual-slot |

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

| Suggested PSU | 300 W | 450 W |

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

| Display Outputs | 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 2.0 |

| Dimensions | 265 mm x 127 mm x 20 mm | Not recorded |

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

| Release Date | 2024-03-31 | 2023-10-09 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 50 | 87 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 0 | 57756 |