Intel Arc A530M vs NVIDIA Tesla P4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear picture across the two benchmark applications. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Intel Arc A530M posts a score of 49,735 against the NVIDIA Tesla P4’s 34,947. This translates to a 42.3% advantage for the Intel part, a substantial margin that places the Arc A530M firmly ahead in compute workloads utilizing this API. The Tesla P4, while capable, trails significantly here, and the delta is large enough to define the overall comparison.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the gap narrows considerably. The Arc A530M scores 43,492, while the Tesla P4 scores 40,309. The Intel GPU still wins, but the margin shrinks to 7.9%. This indicates that the Tesla P4 is comparatively stronger in Vulkan relative to its OpenCL showing, though it still does not overcome the Intel part’s lead. The Arc A530M wins both head-to-head matchups, giving it a 2-0 record in these tests.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the Intel Arc A530M records 46,614, which is 23.9% higher than the Tesla P4’s 37,628. This aggregate figure reinforces the per-test results. The percentile rankings also differ: the Arc A530M sits at the 85th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the Tesla P4 sits at the 81st percentile. While both are above average, the Intel part is positioned higher in the distribution.

When placed against their respective nearest rivals, the two cards occupy different competitive spaces. The Arc A530M’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 5600M, with a delta of 0.0%, meaning they are effectively tied. It also edges out the AMD Radeon RX 6550M by 0.2%, the NVIDIA RTX A2000 by 1.2%, and the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation by 1.4%. The Tesla P4, meanwhile, is within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, ahead of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 by 0.3%, and ahead of the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 by 1.3%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile leads it by 1.3%. These figures show that the Tesla P4, despite its age, remains competitive in its immediate peer group, but the Arc A530M simply operates at a higher performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The Intel Arc A530M wins with a score of 49,735 compared to the NVIDIA Tesla P4’s 34,947, a 42.3% advantage.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Geekbench Vulkan?

A: The Intel Arc A530M scores 43,492, and the NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 40,309. The Intel part leads by 7.9%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc A530M has an average benchmark score of 46,614, while the NVIDIA Tesla P4 averages 37,628.

Q: How do these GPUs rank against all other GPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Arc A530M is at the 85th percentile, and the NVIDIA Tesla P4 is at the 81st percentile.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor count?

A: The Intel Arc A530M has 11,500 million transistors, while the NVIDIA Tesla P4 has 7,200 million.

Q: Does the NVIDIA Tesla P4 support ray tracing?

A: No, the Tesla P4 has no ray tracing cores. The Intel Arc A530M includes 12 ray tracing cores.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is substantial, reflecting their different design eras. The Intel Arc A530M is built on the Xe-HPG architecture, specifically the DG2-256 chip, and belongs to the Alchemist generation for Arc 5 Mobile. It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 uses the Pascal architecture with the GP104 chip, and it is manufactured on a 16 nm process, also at TSMC. This process difference is significant: the newer 6 nm node allows the Intel chip to pack 11,500 million transistors into a 269 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 42.8 million per square millimeter. The Tesla P4, on the older 16 nm node, houses 7,200 million transistors on a larger 314 mm² die, with a density of just 22.9 million per square millimeter. The Intel chip is therefore more than twice as dense.

The Intel Arc A530M includes 12 ray tracing cores, while the Tesla P4 has none. This is a fundamental feature gap, as the Pascal architecture predates dedicated ray tracing hardware. The Intel part also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), whereas the Tesla P4 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4, so API compatibility beyond DirectX is similar.

The memory subsystems differ in type and bus width. The Arc A530M uses GDDR6 memory with a 128-bit bus, while the Tesla P4 uses GDDR5 with a 256-bit bus. Despite the narrower bus, the Intel part achieves higher bandwidth (224.0 GB/s versus 192.3 GB/s) thanks to the faster GDDR6 standard and a higher effective memory clock of 14 Gbps versus 6 Gbps. The physical interface also differs: the Arc A530M uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the Tesla P4 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The production status tells a story as well: the Arc A530M is active, while the Tesla P4 is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show clear divergences in core configuration and clock speeds. The Intel Arc A530M has 1,536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Despite having fewer cores, the Intel part operates at higher clocks: a base of 900 MHz and a boost of 1300 MHz, versus the Tesla P4’s base of 886 MHz and boost of 1114 MHz. The raw throughput rates reflect this trade-off. The Tesla P4 posts a higher pixel rate of 71.30 GPixel/s versus 62.40 GPixel/s for the Arc A530M, and a higher texture rate of 178.2 GTexel/s versus 124.8 GTexel/s. The Tesla P4 also leads in FP32 compute with 5.704 TFLOPS versus 3.994 TFLOPS for the Intel part.

However, the FP16 comparison is starkly one-sided. The Intel Arc A530M delivers 7.987 TFLOPS for FP16 with a 2:1 ratio, while the Tesla P4 manages only 89.12 GFLOPS with a 1:64 ratio. This indicates that the Intel architecture is designed for rapid half-precision work, whereas the Pascal chip is heavily optimized for FP32 at the expense of FP16.

Memory capacity is equal at 8 GB, but the type and bandwidth differ as noted. The Tesla P4 has a 256-bit bus, and the Arc A530M uses a 128-bit bus. Power consumption is close: the Arc A530M has a TDP of 65 W, while the Tesla P4 is rated at 75 W. The Tesla P4 is a single-slot card with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W. The Intel part is listed as an integrated GPU (IGP) with a slot width of IGP and no power connector information. The Tesla P4 has a physical length of 168 mm (6.6 inches) and no display outputs, while the Intel part’s display outputs are described as portable device dependent.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A530M wins in every direct benchmark comparison in the database. Its 42.3% lead in OpenCL is the headline result, and its 7.9% lead in Vulkan, while smaller, is still a win. The Arc A530M also holds a higher average benchmark score and a higher percentile ranking. For workloads that leverage OpenCL compute, the Intel part is decisively superior. For Vulkan-based tasks, it retains an edge, though the Tesla P4 is closer.

The NVIDIA Tesla P4, despite losing both head-to-head tests, has specific strengths that matter in certain contexts. Its higher FP32 throughput (5.704 TFLOPS versus 3.994 TFLOPS) suggests it can handle single-precision floating-point calculations faster than the Intel part. Its higher pixel rate and texture rate also indicate an advantage in fill-rate-bound scenarios, such as traditional rasterization at high resolutions. The Tesla P4’s larger 256-bit memory bus, even with slower GDDR5, provides a different memory access pattern that some workloads may favor.

The Tesla P4 also has a wider core count (2,560 shading units versus 1,536), which can benefit tasks that scale well with shading unit parallelism. The Intel part counters with ray tracing support, which the Tesla P4 entirely lacks, and superior FP16 performance. For any workload involving ray tracing or half-precision compute, the Arc A530M is the only viable choice between the two. The Intel part’s active production status also means it remains available, while the Tesla P4 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Arc A530M as the stronger overall performer. It wins both benchmark tests, holds a higher average score, and sits at a higher percentile rank. The 42.3% OpenCL advantage is particularly telling, indicating a large compute capability gap. Users running OpenCL-based applications should expect a major uplift with the Arc A530M.

The NVIDIA Tesla P4 is a legacy product from the Pascal era. It still holds its own in Vulkan, losing by only 7.9%, and it offers higher FP32, pixel, and texture rates. For workloads that are heavily dependent on single-precision floating-point or raw fill rate, the Tesla P4 may still be competitive. However, it lacks ray tracing, has poor FP16 performance, and is end-of-life.

For most users, the Intel Arc A530M is the recommended choice based on benchmark results. It delivers better compute performance across both tested APIs, supports modern features like ray tracing and DirectX 12 Ultimate, and is built on a much newer process node. The Tesla P4 should be considered only in scenarios where its specific strengths (FP32 throughput, fill rate, and the 256-bit bus) are critical, and where the lack of modern features is acceptable. The recorded data shows a clear generational divide, with the Intel part emerging as the faster, more future-proof option.