Intel Arc B390 vs Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains only one benchmark result for the Intel Arc B390: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 has no benchmark entries in the database, so a direct head-to-head comparison using identical tests is not possible from the available measurements.

The Arc B390's single score places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest recorded rivals, based on average scores, are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% behind). These deltas show the Arc B390 sits in a narrow performance band, only 1.3% to 2.7% ahead of those older discrete parts.

For the Data Center GPU Max 1550, the database records an average benchmark score of 0 and a 50th percentile standing. The absence of any test results means its measured performance cannot be compared numerically with the Arc B390. The percentile field indicates it ranks at the median of the database's GPU population, but without actual scores, that ranking cannot be tied to specific benchmark outcomes.

The data confirms that the Arc B390 has a measurable, albeit modest, benchmark footprint, while the Data Center GPU Max 1550 has none in the current records. Any performance relationship between the two must be inferred from their architectural and specification differences rather than from direct test results.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent entirely different design goals. The Intel Arc B390 uses the Panther Lake chip with the Xe3-LPG architecture, belonging to the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation. It is built on a 3 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses the Ponte Vecchio chip with Generation 12.5 architecture, from the Data Center GPU (Ponte Vecchio) generation, and is built on a 10 nm process, also at Intel's foundry.

Transistor counts and die sizes diverge sharply. The Max 1550 packs 100,000 million transistors on a 1280 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 78.1M per mm². The Arc B390's transistor count and die size are listed as unknown in the database. The Max 1550 is a massive multi-die accelerator, while the B390 is an integrated graphics processor.

Clock behavior differs fundamentally. The Arc B390 has a 300 MHz base clock and a 2500 MHz boost clock. The Max 1550 has a 900 MHz base clock and a 1600 MHz boost clock. The B390 boosts 56.25% higher than the Max 1550's boost, but the Max 1550's base clock is three times higher than the B390's base.

Memory architecture is another major split. The Arc B390 uses system shared memory, with system-dependent bandwidth and no dedicated video memory. The Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e on an 8192-bit bus, delivering 3.28 TB/s of bandwidth. The B390's memory clock is also system shared, while the Max 1550 runs at 1600 MHz with 3.2 Gbps effective.

Compute resources show a wide gap. The Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, 24 ROPs, and 12 ray tracing cores. The Max 1550 has 16384 shading units, 1024 TMUs, 0 ROPs, and 128 ray tracing cores. The Max 1550 has 10.67 times more shading units, 21.33 times more TMUs, and 10.67 times more ray tracing cores. The B390 has 24 ROPs while the Max 1550 has none, reflecting the data center part's lack of traditional raster output stages.

Rates and throughput figures mirror these resource differences. The Arc B390 delivers 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate, with 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1 ratio). The Max 1550 produces 0 MPixel/s pixel rate and 1,638.4 GTexel/s texture rate, with 52.43 TFLOPS FP32 and 52.43 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1 ratio). The Max 1550 is 6.83 times faster in FP32 and 3.41 times faster in FP16, but its pixel rate is effectively zero.

Power and physical form differ completely. The Arc B390 has an 80 W TDP, is an IGP with no power connectors, and uses the IGP bus interface. The Max 1550 has a 600 W TDP, is an OAM Module with a suggested PSU of 1000 W, and uses PCIe 5.0 x16. The B390's display outputs are portable device dependent; the Max 1550 has no outputs.

API support shows a notable split. The Arc B390 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Max 1550 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan entry. The B390 has a higher DirectX feature level and Vulkan support, while the Max 1550 lacks both.

Release timing differs. The Arc B390 has a release date of January 26, 2026, while the Max 1550 was released January 9, 2023. The Max 1550 has a successor listed as H3C Graphics; the B390 has no predecessor or successor recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 16384 shading units, compared to 1536 on the Intel Arc B390. That is a 10.67 times difference in favor of the Max 1550.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each card?

A: The Arc B390 uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e on an 8192-bit bus with 3.28 TB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either GPU support Vulkan?

A: The Arc B390 supports Vulkan 1.4. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has no Vulkan support listed in the database.

Q: What are the TDP values?

A: The Arc B390 has an 80 W TDP. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has a 600 W TDP, with a suggested PSU of 1000 W.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Arc B390 boosts to 2500 MHz, while the Data Center GPU Max 1550 boosts to 1600 MHz. The B390's boost is 56.25% higher.

Q: What is the pixel rate for each?

A: The Arc B390 has a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. The Data Center GPU Max 1550 has a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s, as it has no ROPs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc B390 | Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | Panther Lake | Ponte Vecchio |

| Architecture | Xe3-LPG | Generation 12.5 |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | unknown | 100,000 million |

| Die Size | unknown | 1280 mm² |

| Transistor Density | null | 78.1M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2500 MHz | 1600 MHz |

| Memory Clock | System Shared | 1600 MHz, 3.2 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 128 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | HBM2e |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 8192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 3.28 TB/s |

| Shading Units | 1536 | 16384 |

| TMUs | 48 | 1024 |

| ROPs | 24 | 0 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 12 | 128 |

| Pixel Rate | 60.00 GPixel/s | 0 MPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 120.0 GTexel/s | 1,638.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 7.680 TFLOPS | 52.43 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1) | 52.43 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 80 W | 600 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | OAM Module |

| Power Connectors | None | null |

| Suggested PSU | null | 1000 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | No outputs |

| DirectX | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_1) |

| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | null |

| Release Date | 2026-01-26 | 2023-01-09 |

| Successor | null | H3C Graphics |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

The Verdict

The data describes two GPUs with no overlapping use cases. The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor with modest compute resources, low power draw, and support for modern consumer APIs. Its single benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it just ahead of several older NVIDIA discrete GPUs, with deltas of 1.3% to 2.7%. That margin is small enough to call it a near-tie with those parts.

The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 is a high-power accelerator with massive compute throughput, enormous memory capacity, and no display output. Its lack of benchmark entries in the database means its measured performance cannot be verified. The specification sheet, however, paints a clear picture of a compute-focused part.

The Arc B390 should be selected by anyone needing a low-power integrated solution for a portable device. It has 24 ROPs, a 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate, and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4. The Max 1550 should be selected for data center compute workloads where 52.43 TFLOPS FP32, 128 GB of HBM2e, and 3.28 TB/s bandwidth matter. It has zero ROPs and no display outputs, so it cannot drive a screen.

The 600 W TDP and 1000 W suggested PSU for the Max 1550 indicate a server-class power envelope. The 80 W TDP and IGP form factor for the B390 indicate a mobile or compact device. The release dates further separate them: the B390 is newer by roughly three years, but the Max 1550 is built for a completely different environment.

Where Each One Wins

The Arc B390 wins in scenarios requiring integrated graphics. It is an IGP with no power connectors and a 3 nm process, making it suitable for portable devices. It has 24 ROPs, which the Max 1550 lacks entirely, and produces a 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 support give it a feature set aimed at consumer graphics workloads.

The Data Center GPU Max 1550 wins in raw compute throughput. It has 6.83 times the FP32 performance and 3.41 times the FP16 performance of the B390, based on the recorded TFLOPS figures. Its texture rate of 1,638.4 GTexel/s is 13.65 times higher than the B390's 120.0 GTexel/s. Its 128 GB of HBM2e with 3.28 TB/s bandwidth dwarfs the B390's system shared memory.

The Max 1550 also wins on shading unit count, TMU count, and ray tracing core count, with margins of 10.67 times, 21.33 times, and 10.67 times respectively. Its transistor count of 100,000 million on a 1280 mm² die indicates a far more complex silicon package than the B390, whose transistor count is unknown. The Max 1550 uses a 10 nm process, while the B390 uses a 3 nm process, so the B390 wins on process node efficiency.

The Arc B390 wins on power efficiency in practical terms. Its 80 W TDP against the Max 1550's 600 W TDP means the B390 draws 87.5% less power. The B390 also wins on clock speed, with a 2500 MHz boost versus 1600 MHz, and on API support breadth, with Vulkan and a higher DirectX feature level.

The Max 1550 wins on memory bandwidth by an enormous margin, though the comparison is complicated by the B390's system dependent memory. The Max 1550's 3.28 TB/s is a fixed specification, while the B390's bandwidth depends on the host system. The Max 1550 also wins on FP16 ratio, offering 1:1 performance rather than the B390's 2:1, meaning the Max 1550 does not halve its throughput on FP16 workloads.

For a portable device with integrated graphics, the Arc B390 is the only viable option. For a data center accelerator with no display output, the Max 1550 is the only viable option. The database shows no overlap in their intended functions, and the specification differences confirm that split.