Intel Arc B390 vs NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains a single benchmark result for the Intel Arc B390, a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 run that produced a score of 1482. The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has no benchmark entries in the database, and no head-to-head tests exist between these two parts. Consequently, the comparison relies on the Arc B390’s measured performance relative to its nearest rivals, all of which are older NVIDIA parts.

The Arc B390’s score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation sits in the 50th percentile. The Arc B390’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which averages 1463 in the same test. The Arc B390 leads that part by 1.3%. Next is the GeForce 800M at 1460, with the Arc B390 ahead by 1.5%. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, putting the Arc B390 2.5% ahead. Finally, the GeForce GT 710 averages 1443, and the Arc B390 leads by 2.7%. These margins are narrow, indicating that the Arc B390’s raw 3DMark performance is comparable to a cluster of very old, low-end NVIDIA mobile and OEM parts.

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has no recorded benchmark scores, so its absolute performance cannot be quantified from the database. Its 50th percentile ranking, however, places it above the Arc B390’s 9th percentile ranking. The lack of head-to-head data means no direct win count can be assigned, but the percentile gap suggests a substantial difference in overall performance distribution. The Arc B390’s score of 1482 is a fixed point; the RTX 3500’s score is absent, so the comparison is qualitative at best.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 perform in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs in the database.

Q: What is the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation’s benchmark score?

A: The database contains no benchmark entries for the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation. Its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and it has no nearest rivals listed.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation ranks in the 50th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile.

Q: What are the closest competitors to the Arc B390 in the database?

A: The nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463 average, 1.3% behind the Arc B390), the GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% behind), the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% behind), and the GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% behind).

Q: What is the difference in memory capacity between the two GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses system-shared memory, with size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all dependent on the host system. The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has 12 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: What is the difference in process node?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is built on a 3 nm process at Intel, while the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation uses a 5 nm process at TSMC.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc B390 is built on the Xe3-LPG architecture, using the Panther Lake chip, and belongs to the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation. The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation uses the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip and is part of the Ada-MW generation. The two are architecturally distinct in several measurable ways.

The Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines. It also includes 12 ray tracing cores. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has 5120 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation pipelines, with 40 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA part also has 160 tensor cores, a feature the Arc B390 lacks entirely, as its tensor core count is not recorded in the database.

The memory subsystem differs fundamentally. The Arc B390 relies on system-shared memory, meaning the memory type, bus width, and capacity are all dependent on the host platform. The RTX 3500 uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit interface, with a fixed bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The Arc B390’s memory clock is listed as system shared, while the RTX 3500 runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed.

The process node and foundry also differ. The Arc B390 is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel, while the RTX 3500 uses a 5 nm process at TSMC. The RTX 3500 has a known transistor count of 35,800 million on a 294 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The Arc B390’s transistor count and die size are unknown.

The bus interface separates the two as well. The Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP), while the RTX 3500 uses PCIe 4.0 x16. Both have no power connectors and an IGP slot width, but the RTX 3500 has a suggested PSU rating of 300 W, whereas the Arc B390 has none listed.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification. The Intel Arc B390 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has a base clock of 1725 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. The Arc B390’s memory clock is system shared, while the RTX 3500’s memory clock is 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective.

The RTX 3500 provides 23.04 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and the same 23.04 TFLOPS of FP16 performance at a 1:1 ratio. The Arc B390 delivers 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS of FP16 at a 2:1 ratio. Pixel rate on the RTX 3500 is 144.0 GPixel/s versus 60.00 GPixel/s on the Arc B390. Texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s on the RTX 3500 versus 120.0 GTexel/s on the Arc B390.

The RTX 3500 has a TDP of 100 W, while the Arc B390 has a TDP of 80 W. The RTX 3500 has no display outputs, while the Arc B390’s display outputs are portable-device dependent. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The RTX 3500 has a known release date of 2023-03-20, with a predecessor of Ampere-MW and a successor of Blackwell-MW. The Arc B390 has a release date of 2026-01-26, with no predecessor or successor listed. The RTX 3500 is listed in the GeForce 30-series, while the Arc B390 has no series designation. The RTX 3500’s production status is active, as is the Arc B390’s.

The RTX 3500 has a transistor count of 35,800 million, a die size of 294 mm², and a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². None of these figures are available for the Arc B390. The Arc B390’s memory bandwidth is system dependent, while the RTX 3500’s is fixed at 432.0 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data indicates two GPUs with fundamentally different design goals. The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated part with system-shared memory, a 3 nm process, and a modest 80 W TDP. Its only recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, yields a score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile. That score sits marginally above a group of very old NVIDIA parts, with margins between 1.3% and 2.7%.

The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation is a discrete-class part with 12 GB of dedicated GDDR6, a 192-bit bus, 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and a 100 W TDP. It has no recorded benchmark scores, but its 50th percentile ranking indicates a significantly higher position in the performance distribution. The RTX 3500 also has substantially more shading units (5120 versus 1536), more texture units (160 versus 48), more ROPs (64 versus 24), and more ray tracing cores (40 versus 12). It also includes 160 tensor cores, which the Arc B390 does not have.

For FP32 compute, the RTX 3500 delivers 23.04 TFLOPS, three times the Arc B390’s 7.680 TFLOPS. The pixel rate is 144.0 GPixel/s versus 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s versus 120.0 GTexel/s. The RTX 3500’s memory bandwidth is fixed and dedicated, while the Arc B390’s bandwidth is system dependent, so its real-world memory performance cannot be stated.

The RTX 3500 is the stronger part by every recorded metric except process node, where the Arc B390 uses a smaller 3 nm node versus the RTX 3500’s 5 nm node. The Arc B390 also has a higher boost clock at 2500 MHz versus 2250 MHz, but the RTX 3500 has a much higher base clock at 1725 MHz versus 300 MHz.

For users seeking a GPU with dedicated memory, high compute throughput, and tensor core support, the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation is the clear choice based on the recorded specifications. For an integrated part with system-shared memory and lower power draw, the Arc B390 is the only option among the two. The absence of benchmark data for the RTX 3500 means its measured performance cannot be compared directly, but the specification differences and percentile gap point to a decisive advantage for the NVIDIA part in raw capability.