Intel Arc A730M vs NVIDIA Quadro GV100 Comparison

Intel Arc A730M and NVIDIA Quadro GV100 occupy very different corners of the hardware landscape, one a mobile-focused integrated part from Intel's Alchemist generation, the other a workstation-class dual-slot card from NVIDIA's Volta era. The recorded data shows a clear split in capabilities, but the decision between them depends entirely on workload priorities. The Arc A730M sits at the 84th percentile of all GPUs, while the Quadro GV100 lands at the 80th percentile, a narrow gap in overall standing that masks significant differences in raw throughput and feature support.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro GV100 is the outright winner in raw compute and memory-bound tasks. In the two head-to-head benchmarks recorded, it dominates: a 53.1% lead in Geekbench OpenCL and a 53.6% lead in Geekbench Vulkan. These are not marginal gains; they represent a doubling of performance in those specific tests. The GV100 also brings 32 GB of HBM2 memory with a 4096-bit bus, delivering 868.4 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double the Arc A730M's 336.0 GB/s. For large datasets, rendering scenes, or compute workloads that saturate memory, the data points squarely at the Quadro.

The Intel Arc A730M wins where portability and efficiency matter. Its 80 W TDP is a fraction of the GV100's 250 W, and its integrated form factor means it requires no dedicated slot width or external power connectors, unlike the GV100's dual-slot design and single 8-pin connector. The Arc also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GV100 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). For modern gaming features like mesh shaders or variable rate shading, the Arc's API support is the deciding factor. The Arc's average benchmark score of 45592 also edges out the GV100's 35520, driven by its strong showing in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test where it scored 1732, a metric the GV100 lacks entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. Intel's Arc A730M uses the DG2-512 chip on the Xe-HPG architecture, fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It packs 21,700 million transistors onto a 406 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 53.4 million per square millimeter. The Quadro GV100 uses NVIDIA's GV100 chip on the Volta architecture, built on a 12 nm process, also at TSMC. It houses 21,100 million transistors on a much larger 815 mm² die, with a lower density of 25.9 million per square millimeter. The Arc's smaller, denser die reflects its newer manufacturing process.

Core configurations differ substantially. The Arc A730M has 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, 96 ROPs, and 24 ray tracing cores. The GV100 counters with 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, but no dedicated ray tracing cores. Instead, it carries 640 tensor cores, which the Arc lacks entirely. This is a critical split: the GV100's tensor cores are built for AI and deep learning workloads, while the Arc's RT cores target real-time ray tracing. Memory types also diverge: the Arc uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, while the GV100 uses 32 GB of HBM2 on a 4096-bit bus. Clock speeds favor the Arc (1100 MHz base, 2050 MHz boost versus 1132 MHz base, 1627 MHz boost), but the GV100's wider memory bus and higher core count more than compensate.

The Verdict

Pick the NVIDIA Quadro GV100 for compute-heavy professional workloads. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 150004 and Vulkan score of 139526 are roughly double the Arc's 70352 and 64693, respectively. The 32 GB HBM2 frame buffer with 868.4 GB/s bandwidth is the clear choice for memory-intensive tasks like scientific simulation, large-scale rendering, or AI inference using its 640 tensor cores. Its 16.66 TFLOPS FP32 and 33.32 TFLOPS FP16 performance outpace the Arc's 12.60 TFLOPS and 25.19 TFLOPS. The GV100 also supports PCIe 3.0 x16, which, while older, remains adequate for most workstation motherboards.

Pick the Intel Arc A730M for modern API support and efficiency. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate capability is a generation ahead of the GV100's DirectX 12 (12_1), making it the better fit for games or applications that leverage DirectX 12 Ultimate features. Its 6 nm process and 80 W TDP mean it can slot into thin-and-light laptops without external power, whereas the GV100 demands a dual-slot chassis and a 600 W suggested PSU. The Arc's 84th percentile ranking also places it slightly above the GV100's 80th, and its average benchmark score of 45592 beats the GV100's 35520, driven by the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 result where it scored 1732.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro GV100 is significantly ahead in compute. It scores 150004 in Geekbench OpenCL versus the Arc A730M's 70352, a 53.1% advantage. Its FP32 throughput is 16.66 TFLOPS versus 12.60 TFLOPS for the Arc.

Q: Can the Intel Arc A730M handle ray tracing?

A: Yes, the Arc A730M includes 24 dedicated ray tracing cores. The Quadro GV100 has no ray tracing cores at all, so the Arc is the only one of the pair with dedicated RT hardware.

Q: Which GPU offers more memory bandwidth?

A: The Quadro GV100 offers far more bandwidth at 868.4 GB/s, thanks to its 4096-bit HBM2 interface. The Arc A730M provides 336.0 GB/s over a 192-bit GDDR6 bus.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: Both are listed as end-of-life in the database. The Quadro GV100 was released on 2018-03-26, while the Arc A730M has no recorded release date.

Q: Which GPU is better for modern gaming APIs?

A: The Intel Arc A730M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Quadro GV100 only supports DirectX 12 (12_1). The Arc is the better choice for games using the latest DirectX 12 features.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Arc A730M has a TDP of 80 W and uses an integrated form factor. The Quadro GV100 has a TDP of 250 W, is dual-slot, and requires a single 8-pin power connector with a 600 W suggested PSU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data contains only two benchmarks, and the Quadro GV100 wins both decisively. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GV100 scores 150004 against the Arc A730M's 70352, a delta of -53.1% for the Arc. In Geekbench Vulkan, the GV100 scores 139526 versus 64693, a delta of -53.6%. These are the largest margins in the entire comparison, and they indicate that in any OpenCL or Vulkan workload, the Quadro is the dominant performer. The Arc's counterpoint comes from its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1732, a test the GV100 does not appear in, and its higher overall percentile (84th versus 80th). The Arc's average benchmark score of 45592 also beats the GV100's 35520, but this average is skewed by the GV100's inclusion of legacy Passmark tests like DirectX 9 (207) and DirectX 10 (140), which drag its average down. In practical terms, the Quadro's compute and memory advantages are overwhelming in the tests where both appear.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Arc A730M uses a 6 nm process, while the GV100 uses 12 nm. The Arc's die is 406 mm² with 21,700 million transistors; the GV100's die is 815 mm² with 21,100 million transistors. Transistor density is 53.4M per mm² for the Arc versus 25.9M per mm² for the GV100. Clocks: the Arc runs at 1100 MHz base and 2050 MHz boost, while the GV100 runs at 1132 MHz base and 1627 MHz boost. Memory: the Arc has 12 GB GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth; the GV100 has 32 GB HBM2 on a 4096-bit bus with 868.4 GB/s. Core counts: the Arc has 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, 96 ROPs, and 24 RT cores; the GV100 has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 128 ROPs, and 640 tensor cores. Pixel rate is 196.8 GPixel/s for the Arc versus 208.3 GPixel/s for the GV100. Texture rate is 393.6 GTexel/s versus 520.6 GTexel/s. FP32 is 12.60 TFLOPS versus 16.66 TFLOPS. FP16 is 25.19 TFLOPS versus 33.32 TFLOPS. TDP is 80 W versus 250 W. The Arc is integrated (IGP), while the GV100 is dual-slot with a 267 mm length and 111 mm height. The GV100 supports PCIe 3.0 x16, the Arc supports PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs: the Arc is portable-device dependent, while the GV100 has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GV100 carries a launch MSRP of 8,999 USD.