Intel Arc A380E x2 vs Intel Arc G3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380E x2 and Intel Arc G3 occupy entirely different positions in the GPU landscape. The A380E x2 is a discrete, single-slot add-in card built for multi-display embedded and edge deployments, while the Arc G3 is an integrated graphics processor embedded within a Panther Lake mobile platform. Their benchmark data shows no direct head-to-head wins recorded, as the two parts target separate use cases and never share a common testing environment.

The A380E x2 wins on the basis of its dedicated memory subsystem and sustained clock operation. Its memory runs at 1937 MHz with 15.5 Gbps effective data rate, delivering 186.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 96-bit bus. That fixed memory allocation of 6 GB GDDR6 means the GPU never contends with a host CPU for memory access. For workloads that require predictable frame pacing, multiple display outputs, or stable compute throughput, the discrete card has the structural advantage.

The Arc G3 wins on power efficiency and portability. Its 25 W TDP stands against the A380E x2's 130 W TDP, a more than fivefold difference. The integrated part requires no power connectors, no slot width, and no external PSU recommendation. It operates as an IGP within a mobile processor, which makes it the only viable option for thin-and-light systems where a 265 mm, 127 mm, 20 mm card simply cannot fit.

The A380E x2 also leads in memory bandwidth per shading unit. With 1024 shading units and 186.0 GB/s, each shading unit has access to roughly 0.18 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc G3's bandwidth is system dependent, meaning it fluctuates with the host memory configuration, and therefore cannot guarantee consistent throughput.

The Arc G3 leads in raw FP32 and FP16 compute throughput. Its 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 and 12.29 TFLOPS FP16 figures exceed the A380E x2's 4.096 TFLOPS and 8.192 TFLOPS respectively. This is notable given the G3's dramatically lower power envelope, indicating that newer Xe3-LPG architecture delivers higher compute density per watt than the older Xe-HPG design.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and fabrication processes. The A380E x2 uses the DG2-128 chip based on 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, yielding a transistor density of 45.9M per mm².

The Arc G3 uses the Panther Lake chip based on Xe3-LPG architecture, belonging to the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation. It is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. Transistor count and die size are listed as unknown in the database, so no density comparison is possible.

The shading unit counts differ: 1024 for the A380E x2 versus 1280 for the Arc G3. Texture mapping units stand at 64 versus 40, and raster output units at 32 versus 20. Ray tracing cores number 8 on the discrete card versus 10 on the integrated part. Neither GPU lists tensor cores.

Both support the same API set: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. That means feature-level parity for modern graphics workloads, despite the underlying architectural differences.

The A380E x2's pixel rate is 64.00 GPixel/s versus 48.00 GPixel/s on the Arc G3. Texture rate is 128.0 GTexel/s versus 96.00 GTexel/s. These fillrate figures favor the discrete card, which makes sense given its higher ROP and TMU counts, even though the G3 has more shading units.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The A380E x2 runs at a flat 2000 MHz for both base and boost, with no separate game clock. The Arc G3 has a 300 MHz base clock and a 2400 MHz boost clock, representing a wide dynamic range that allows the integrated part to idle aggressively and ramp up when needed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two GPUs. This absence itself is informative: the A380E x2 and Arc G3 were never benchmarked against each other in a shared test suite, likely because they serve fundamentally different platforms and cannot be installed in the same system configuration.

Without measured deltas, the analysis must rely on the recorded specification-derived outputs. The FP32 compute advantage of the Arc G3 is 6.144 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS, which puts the integrated part 50% ahead of the discrete card in raw floating-point throughput. The FP16 figures show the same margin: 12.29 TFLOPS versus 8.192 TFLOPS, again 50% higher.

The A380E x2 counters with fillrate. Its 64.00 GPixel/s pixel throughput is 33% higher than the G3's 48.00 GPixel/s. Texture fillrate stands at 128.0 GTexel/s versus 96.00 GTexel/s, a 33% advantage as well.

Memory bandwidth offers the starkest separation. The A380E x2 delivers 186.0 GB/s from its dedicated GDDR6. The Arc G3 relies on system shared memory, with bandwidth described as system dependent. In a typical laptop configuration, shared memory bandwidth may approach or exceed the discrete card's figure depending on the host memory type, but it cannot be guaranteed. The discrete card's dedicated 6 GB allocation also ensures capacity is never stolen from the operating system.

The power disparity is equally stark. The A380E x2 consumes 130 W and requires a 300 W suggested PSU plus a 1x 6-pin power connector. The Arc G3 consumes 25 W with no external power requirements. The ratio is 5.2 to 1 in favor of the integrated part.

Both GPUs share the identical 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database, and both have an average benchmark score of zero, which reflects the lack of recorded benchmark runs rather than actual performance parity.

Specification Differences

The two parts differ across nearly every measurable specification field.

Process node: 6 nm (TSMC) on the A380E x2 versus 3 nm (Intel) on the Arc G3.

Transistors: 7,200 million on the discrete card versus unknown on the integrated part.

Die size: 157 mm² versus unknown.

Clocks: The A380E x2 runs at 2000 MHz base and boost. The Arc G3 runs at 300 MHz base and 2400 MHz boost. Memory clock is 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) on the discrete card versus system shared on the G3.

Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus with 186.0 GB/s bandwidth versus system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth.

Shading units: 1024 versus 1280.

TMUs: 64 versus 40.

ROPs: 32 versus 20.

RT cores: 8 versus 10.

Pixel rate: 64.00 GPixel/s versus 48.00 GPixel/s.

Texture rate: 128.0 GTexel/s versus 96.00 GTexel/s.

FP32: 4.096 TFLOPS versus 6.144 TFLOPS.

FP16: 8.192 TFLOPS versus 12.29 TFLOPS.

TDP: 130 W versus 25 W.

Slot width: Single-slot versus IGP.

Power connectors: 1x 6-pin versus none.

Suggested PSU: 300 W versus null.

Bus interface: PCIe 4.0 x8 versus IGP.

Display outputs: 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 versus portable device dependent.

Dimensions: 265 mm by 127 mm by 20 mm versus null (not applicable).

Production status: End-of-life versus active.

Release date: 2024-03-31 versus 2026-05-31.

Predecessor: The A380E x2 lists Xe Graphics as predecessor; the G3 lists none. Successor: The A380E x2 lists Battlemage; the G3 lists none.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw FP32 compute?

A: The Intel Arc G3 delivers 6.144 TFLOPS FP32, while the Intel Arc A380E x2 delivers 4.096 TFLOPS. The G3 is 50% higher in this metric.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The A380E x2 has a 130 W TDP and requires a 300 W suggested PSU plus a 1x 6-pin connector. The Arc G3 has a 25 W TDP and requires no power connectors or PSU recommendation.

Q: What memory configurations do the two GPUs use?

A: The A380E x2 uses 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus with 186.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Arc G3 uses system shared memory with bandwidth described as system dependent.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units and ray tracing cores?

A: The Arc G3 has 1280 shading units and 10 RT cores. The A380E x2 has 1024 shading units and 8 RT cores.

Q: Are the API feature sets different?

A: No. Both GPUs support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the production status of each GPU?

A: The A380E x2 is listed as end-of-life, released on 2024-03-31, with Battlemage as its successor. The Arc G3 is listed as active, with a release date of 2026-05-31 and no successor listed.

The Verdict

The data presents two GPUs that should be selected based on deployment context, not raw performance preference. The Intel Arc A380E x2 exists for fixed installations where dedicated memory, guaranteed bandwidth, and multiple display outputs are mandatory. Its 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, 186.0 GB/s bandwidth, and 6 GB dedicated GDDR6 make it suitable for digital signage, kiosk systems, and multi-monitor workstations. Its 130 W TDP and 300 W PSU requirement demand a chassis with adequate power delivery and cooling. The flat 2000 MHz clock ensures consistent behavior regardless of thermal headroom.

The Intel Arc G3 exists for mobile platforms where power and space constraints dominate. Its 25 W TDP fits within a processor's thermal budget, and its IGP form factor requires no board space beyond the CPU package. The higher shading unit count and FP32 throughput suggest it can outperform the discrete card in compute-bound tasks when system memory bandwidth is sufficient. The 300 MHz base to 2400 MHz boost range allows aggressive power saving during idle and substantial burst performance under load.

The percentile rankings are identical at 50, and neither GPU has recorded benchmark scores. Buyers choosing the A380E x2 accept lower compute throughput but gain memory certainty and display flexibility. Buyers choosing the Arc G3 accept variable memory performance but gain portability and efficiency. The end-of-life status of the A380E x2 versus the active status of the Arc G3 also matters: the discrete card has a successor in Battlemage, while the integrated part remains current.

There is no single winner from the recorded data. There are two correct answers depending on the system. For fixed, power-tolerant, multi-display environments, the A380E x2 is the only option with its dedicated memory and 8 display outputs. For mobile, power-constrained, single-device use, the Arc G3 is the only option that fits within a 25 W envelope and requires no additional hardware.