Intel Arc A380E x2 vs Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 Comparison

The Intel Arc A380E x2 and the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 occupy opposite ends of Intel’s GPU spectrum, yet both carry the Intel label. The A380E is a compact, single-slot card built on the Xe-HPG architecture, designed for embedded or edge deployments. The Max 1550 is a massive data center accelerator built on the Ponte Vecchio chip, aimed at high-performance computing. The recorded data shows no direct benchmark scores for either product, and the head-to-head comparison fields are empty. However, the specification sheets provide enough detail to analyze their architectural differences, compute capabilities, and target use cases. The A380E sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, as does the Max 1550, indicating neither is positioned as a mainstream gaming or workstation part based on the available percentile data. This analysis relies strictly on the measured and recorded fields in the database.

FAQ

Q: What is the process node difference between the two GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc A380E x2 uses a 6 nm process node from TSMC, while the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses a 10 nm process node from Intel’s own foundry.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The Arc A380E x2 has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 96-bit bus, while the Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e memory with an 8192-bit bus.

Q: What is the thermal design power for each card?

A: The Arc A380E x2 has a TDP of 130 W and requires a 300 W suggested PSU. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has a TDP of 600 W and requires a 1000 W suggested PSU.

Q: Which GPU supports more display outputs?

A: The Arc A380E x2 provides 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has no display outputs at all.

Q: What is the FP32 compute throughput for each GPU?

A: The Arc A380E x2 delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 delivers 52.43 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is roughly 12.8 times higher.

Q: What is the production status of each GPU?

A: The Arc A380E x2 is end-of-life, with a release date in 2024. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 is active, with a release date in early 2023.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs diverge fundamentally in architecture, chip design, and manufacturing. The Arc A380E x2 uses the DG2-128 chip based on the Xe-HPG architecture, which is part of the Alchemist generation, specifically the Arc 3 family. This chip is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with 7,200 million transistors packed into a 157 mm² die. The transistor density is 45.9 million transistors per square millimeter. In contrast, the Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses the Ponte Vecchio chip, which is based on Generation 12.5 architecture. This chip is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a staggering 100,000 million transistors on a 1280 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 78.1 million per square millimeter. The Ponte Vecchio chip is physically massive, nearly eight times the die area of the DG2-128, and it packs more than thirteen times the transistor count.

The memory subsystems are entirely different. The Arc A380E x2 uses 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 96-bit bus, providing 186.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses 128 GB of HBM2e memory on a 8192-bit bus, providing 3.28 TB/s of bandwidth, which is more than seventeen times the bandwidth of the A380E. The memory clock also differs, with the A380E running at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) and the Max 1550 running at 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective). The bus width difference is the dominant factor in the bandwidth gap.

Compute resources show a clear scaling hierarchy. The Arc A380E x2 has 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. It also includes 8 ray tracing cores. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 16,384 shading units, 1024 texture mapping units, and zero raster output units. It includes 128 ray tracing cores. The Max 1550 has no ROPs, which aligns with its lack of display outputs and its role as a compute-focused accelerator rather than a graphics rendering device. The texture rate for the A380E is 128.0 GTexel/s, while the Max 1550 reaches 1,638.4 GTexel/s, a difference of more than twelve times.

The FP32 and FP16 compute figures reinforce the compute divide. The Arc A380E x2 delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 and 8.192 TFLOPS of FP16 with a 2:1 ratio. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 delivers 52.43 TFLOPS of FP32 and 52.43 TFLOPS of FP16 with a 1:1 ratio, meaning it does not double FP16 throughput. The Max 1550 also supports a different API set: it has DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6, but no Vulkan support listed. The A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The Arc A380E x2 has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 2000 MHz, which is a fixed clock. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz, showing a larger dynamic range. The A380E runs at a higher sustained clock, but the Max 1550 compensates with a vastly larger number of shading units.

The physical form factor differs as well. The Arc A380E x2 is a single-slot card measuring 265 mm in length, 127 mm in height, and 20 mm in width. It uses a 1x 6-pin power connector. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 is an OAM module, with no listed dimensions and no power connector details. The A380E uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the Max 1550 uses PCIe 5.0 x16. The bus interface difference affects data transfer rates between the GPU and the host system.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no recorded head-to-head benchmark results for these two GPUs. The winsA and winsB fields are both zero, and the headToHeadBenchmarks array is empty. Without direct measurements, the comparison must rely on the specification-derived performance indicators. The FP32 throughput difference is the most prominent: the Max 1550 delivers 52.43 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS for the A380E, a 12.8x advantage. In FP16, the Max 1550 delivers 52.43 TFLOPS versus 8.192 TFLOPS for the A380E, a 6.4x advantage. The texture rate favors the Max 1550 at 1,638.4 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s, a 12.8x difference. The pixel rate favors the A380E, which has 64.00 GPixel/s versus 0 MPixel/s for the Max 1550, because the Max 1550 lacks ROPs entirely.

Memory bandwidth is a decisive differentiator. The Max 1550 provides 3.28 TB/s, while the A380E provides 186.0 GB/s. This is a 17.6x difference in favor of the Max 1550, which is critical for large data center workloads that stream massive datasets. The Max 1550 also has 128 GB of memory, while the A380E has 6 GB, a 21.3x capacity difference. The ray tracing core count favors the Max 1550 at 128 versus 8, a 16x difference, though the A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which includes ray tracing features in the API.

The A380E wins on display capabilities. It has 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, while the Max 1550 has no outputs. The A380E also has a lower power draw at 130 W versus 600 W, which makes it easier to integrate into smaller systems. The A380E runs at a higher clock speed, 2000 MHz base and boost, versus 900 MHz base and 1600 MHz boost for the Max 1550. This higher clock partially compensates for the fewer shading units, but the raw compute gap remains insurmountable for the A380E.

The API support also differs. The A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which includes features like mesh shaders and variable rate shading. The Max 1550 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), which is a lower feature level. Vulkan is supported on the A380E at version 1.4, but the Max 1550 lists no Vulkan support. This makes the A380E more suitable for graphics rendering workloads that require modern API features, while the Max 1550 is optimized for compute tasks that do not depend on graphics APIs.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 is the superior choice for compute-intensive workloads. Its FP32 throughput of 52.43 TFLOPS, FP16 throughput of 52.43 TFLOPS, and memory bandwidth of 3.28 TB/s place it in a different performance class than the Arc A380E x2. The Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e memory, which is essential for large-scale data processing, AI training, and scientific simulation. Its 16,384 shading units and 128 ray tracing cores provide massive parallel compute capacity. The Max 1550 has no display outputs and no ROPs, which confirms its role as a dedicated accelerator, not a rendering card.

The Intel Arc A380E x2 is the appropriate choice for applications that require display output and graphics rendering. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, making it compatible with modern graphics APIs. Its 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs allow for multi-display setups. The A380E has a lower TDP of 130 W, which simplifies cooling and power delivery. It fits in a single-slot form factor with a 6-pin connector, making it suitable for embedded systems or compact workstations. Its pixel rate of 64.00 GPixel/s, despite the lower compute throughput, is functional for rendering tasks.

The recorded data shows no benchmark wins for either GPU, so the verdict rests on architectural and specification analysis. The Max 1550 is for high-performance computing, where raw compute and memory capacity are paramount. The A380E is for graphics output and lighter compute tasks, where power efficiency and API compatibility matter more. The production status supports this split: the A380E is end-of-life, while the Max 1550 is active. The A380E’s predecessor is Xe Graphics, and its successor is Battlemage, indicating a consumer or embedded lineage. The Max 1550’s successor is H3C Graphics, which points to a data center product line.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every measurable specification field. The process node is 6 nm for the A380E versus 10 nm for the Max 1550. The foundry is TSMC for the A380E and Intel for the Max 1550. The transistor count is 7,200 million versus 100,000 million. The die size is 157 mm² versus 1280 mm². The transistor density is 45.9M / mm² versus 78.1M / mm².

Clock speeds differ: the A380E has a base and boost of 2000 MHz, while the Max 1550 has a base of 900 MHz and a boost of 1600 MHz. Memory clocks are 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) for the A380E versus 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) for the Max 1550. Memory size is 6 GB GDDR6 versus 128 GB HBM2e. Memory bus width is 96 bit versus 8192 bit. Memory bandwidth is 186.0 GB/s versus 3.28 TB/s.

Compute units differ: shading units are 1024 versus 16384. TMUs are 64 versus 1024. ROPs are 32 versus 0. Ray tracing cores are 8 versus 128. Pixel rate is 64.00 GPixel/s versus 0 MPixel/s. Texture rate is 128.0 GTexel/s versus 1,638.4 GTexel/s. FP32 is 4.096 TFLOPS versus 52.43 TFLOPS. FP16 is 8.192 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 52.43 TFLOPS (1:1).

Power and physical specs differ: TDP is 130 W versus 600 W. Slot width is single-slot versus OAM module. Power connector is 1x 6-pin versus none listed. Suggested PSU is 300 W versus 1000 W. Bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8 versus PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs are 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 versus none. Dimensions are 265 mm x 127 mm x 20 mm versus no listed dimensions.

API support differs: DirectX is 12 Ultimate (12_2) versus 12 (12_1). OpenGL is 4.6 for both. Vulkan is 1.4 for the A380E, with no listed support for the Max 1550. Production status is end-of-life versus active. Release dates are 2024 for the A380E versus 2023 for the Max 1550. The predecessor is Xe Graphics for the A380E, with none listed for the Max 1550. The successor is Battlemage for the A380E and H3C Graphics for the Max 1550.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380E x2 wins in scenarios that require graphics output and modern API features. Its 8x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs support multi-monitor configurations, which is useful for digital signage, control room displays, or embedded visualization systems. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate support enables advanced rendering effects like ray tracing and mesh shaders in compatible applications. The Vulkan 1.4 support provides a cross-platform graphics interface for Linux or other environments. The A380E’s lower TDP of 130 W and single-slot design allow integration into space-constrained systems. Its higher base clock of 2000 MHz provides responsive performance for lighter rendering tasks. The pixel rate of 64.00 GPixel/s, while modest, is functional for 2D or basic 3D output.

The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 wins in compute-heavy workloads. Its FP32 throughput of 52.43 TFLOPS and FP16 throughput of 52.43 TFLOPS support large-scale numerical simulations, machine learning training, and data processing. The 128 GB HBM2e memory with 3.28 TB/s bandwidth enables handling of massive datasets that would not fit in the A380E’s 6 GB. The 16,384 shading units provide massive parallelism. The 128 ray tracing cores can accelerate ray-traced workloads, though the lack of display outputs means results are computed and sent back to the host rather than shown directly. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides high host-to-device bandwidth for data transfer. The active production status indicates ongoing availability for data center deployments.

The A380E wins on power efficiency per unit of rendering capability, with a 130 W TDP versus 600 W. The Max 1550 wins on absolute performance, with more than twelve times the FP32 throughput and more than seventeen times the memory bandwidth. The A380E supports more display outputs and richer graphics APIs. The Max 1550 supports no display outputs and has a lower DirectX feature level. The A380E is end-of-life, while the Max 1550 remains active. The choice depends on whether the workload requires graphics rendering or raw compute. The data shows no overlap in their primary functions: the A380E is a graphics card with compute capabilities, and the Max 1550 is a compute accelerator without graphics output.