Intel Arc A380M vs Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile Comparison

Intel Arc A380M and Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile represent two distinct approaches to mobile graphics, one as a discrete module and the other as an integrated processor. The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy based on their architectural and specification differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results for these two products. Both parts have an average benchmark score of 0 in the recorded measurements, and neither has associated nearest rival data. The absence of comparative scores means a numerical performance delta cannot be established from the available facts.

What can be quantified is the theoretical throughput ceiling of each design. The Intel Arc A380M delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile reaches 1,280.0 GFLOPS, which converts to 1.280 TFLOPS. The A380M therefore holds a 3.2x advantage in raw FP32 throughput. In FP16 operations, the A380M produces 8.192 TFLOPS against 2.560 TFLOPS for the integrated part, a 3.2x lead again.

Pixel throughput follows the same pattern. The A380M renders 64.00 GPixel/s, while the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile manages 20.00 GPixel/s, a 3.2x difference. Texture rate shows the identical ratio: 128.0 GTexel/s versus 40.00 GTexel/s. These consistent 3.2x ratios are not coincidental; they directly reflect the difference in execution resources between the two chips.

Memory bandwidth is where the gap becomes absolute. The A380M uses 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, producing 186.0 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses system shared memory, with bandwidth listed as system dependent. No fixed figure exists for the integrated part, so a direct bandwidth comparison cannot be made from the data, but the discrete module has a fixed, dedicated pool that the IGP cannot match in isolation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380M wins in every measurable compute category recorded in the database. Its shading unit count of 1024 is four times the 256 found in the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile. Texture mapping units number 64 versus 16, and render output units number 32 versus 8. Each of these resource counts scales by a factor of four, which explains the 3.2x throughput advantage when clock speeds are factored in.

The A380M also holds the advantage in ray tracing resources. It carries 8 ray tracing cores, while the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has 2. Games and applications that offload ray intersection work to dedicated hardware will see a proportional scaling in that workload.

The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile wins in the efficiency domain. Its TDP is 25 W, lower than the 35 W of the A380M. It also integrates directly into the processor package as an IGP, requiring no separate module slot, no dedicated memory, and no power connectors. The database lists its power connectors as none, while the A380M is an MXM module that requires a socket and associated board design. For a thin, low-power portable device, the integrated part is the only viable choice; the discrete module needs the physical and thermal space that an MXM slot provides.

Clock speed is the one specification where the integrated part leads. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile boosts to 2500 MHz, while the A380M boosts to 2000 MHz. The 25% higher boost clock does not compensate for the 4x resource deficit, but it narrows the throughput gap from a theoretical 4x to the measured 3.2x. The base clocks tell a different story: 300 MHz for the integrated part versus 1550 MHz for the discrete module. The low base clock suggests the IGP spends most of its time at idle or low load states, ramping up only when graphics demand appears.

Architecture Differences

The two parts come from different architecture families entirely. The Intel Arc A380M uses the Xe-HPG architecture, built on the DG2-128 chip, and belongs to the Alchemist generation for Arc 3 Mobile. The Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on the Wildcat Lake chip, and belongs to the Arc Graphics-M generation for Wildcat Lake.

Process technology separates them further. The A380M is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, while the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses a 3 nm process at Intel. The newer node gives the integrated part its efficiency advantage despite the higher boost clock. Transistor counts are only known for one side: the A380M contains 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 45.9M per mm². The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has unknown transistor count and die size, so density cannot be compared.

The A380M uses dedicated GDDR6 memory with a 96-bit bus. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses system shared memory for both capacity and bus width, with bandwidth dependent on the host system. This architectural choice defines their roles: one is a self-contained graphics processor, the other shares resources with the CPU.

Both support the same API feature set. DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 are listed for each. Feature parity at the API level means software written for one can run on the other, provided the hardware resources are sufficient.

The production status for both is listed as active. The A380M has no predecessor or successor in the database, while the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile lists HD Graphics-M as its predecessor.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows where these two parts diverge. The A380M has 1024 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 8 ray tracing cores. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and 2 ray tracing cores. Each resource is exactly four times larger on the discrete part.

Clock speeds differ in both directions. The A380M runs at 1550 MHz base and 2000 MHz boost. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile runs at 300 MHz base and 2500 MHz boost. The integrated part has a much wider dynamic range, spanning 2200 MHz between base and boost, while the discrete part spans only 450 MHz.

Memory configuration is fundamentally different. The A380M has 6 GB of GDDR6 at 1937 MHz, or 15.5 Gbps effective, on a 96-bit bus, producing 186.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses system shared memory for size, type, bus width, and bandwidth, with bandwidth listed as system dependent. No fixed memory speed is recorded for the integrated part.

Power and physical format differ completely. The A380M has a TDP of 35 W and uses an MXM Module slot width with an MXM-A (3.1) bus interface. The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has a TDP of 25 W, uses an IGP slot width, has no power connectors, and uses an IGP bus interface. The A380M has no listed power connectors either, but its MXM form factor implies power delivery through the module connector.

Release dates are separated by over three years. The A380M was released on 2023-01-23, and the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile on 2026-04-15. The process node moved from 6 nm at TSMC to 3 nm at Intel over that period. Neither product has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more raw compute power?

A: The Intel Arc A380M delivers 4.096 TFLOPS FP32 and 8.192 TFLOPS FP16, while the Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile delivers 1,280.0 GFLOPS FP32 and 2.560 TFLOPS FP16. The A380M leads by a 3.2x margin in both precision formats.

Q: How do the memory systems differ?

A: The A380M has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus with 186.0 GB/s bandwidth at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective). The Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile uses system shared memory for size, type, bus width, and bandwidth, with bandwidth listed as system dependent.

Q: Which part has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile boosts to 2500 MHz, while the Intel Arc A380M boosts to 2000 MHz. The integrated part has a 25% higher boost clock but far fewer execution resources.

Q: What are the TDP requirements?

A: The A380M has a TDP of 35 W, and the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has a TDP of 25 W. The integrated part consumes 10 W less, a 40% reduction relative to the discrete module.

Q: Are the ray tracing capabilities different?

A: Yes. The A380M has 8 ray tracing cores, and the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile has 2 ray tracing cores. The discrete part has four times the dedicated ray tracing hardware.

Q: Do both support the same graphics APIs?

A: Yes. Both the A380M and the Arc Graphics 2 Xe Mobile support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, despite their different architectures and generations.