Intel Arc A530M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Comparison

# Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two GPUs into entirely different performance classes. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 wins both recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Arc A530M fails to take a single victory. That said, the two products serve completely different markets, and the wins matter in context.

The RTX 4090 dominates in raw compute throughput. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 255,416 against the Arc A530M's 49,735, a delta of 413.6%. In Geekbench Vulkan, the gap widens further: 271,631 versus 43,492, a 524.6% advantage. These are not close contests; they represent two orders of magnitude in compute capability.

The Intel Arc A530M, by contrast, is a mobile-focused part. It is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a 65 W TDP, designed for portable devices with dependent display outputs. Its wins are not in benchmark scores but in efficiency and form factor. The data shows no benchmark where it outperforms the RTX 4090, but its existence as an active, low-power mobile part means it wins in scenarios where a 450 W, triple-slot desktop card cannot physically operate.

The RTX 4090's benchmark portfolio is far broader. It has recorded scores across 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (9,223), PassMark DirectX 9/10/11/12 (397, 224, 326, 150), PassMark G2D (1,299), G3D (38,194), and GPU Compute (26,613). The Arc A530M only has Geekbench entries. This suggests the RTX 4090 is tested in desktop gaming and workstation contexts, while the Arc A530M targets mobile workloads where synthetic DirectX and PassMark suites are less relevant.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is fundamental. The RTX 4090 uses the AD102 chip on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 76,300 million transistors into a 609 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 125.3M per mm². The Arc A530M uses Intel's DG2-256 chip on the Xe-HPG architecture, also TSMC-fabricated but on a 6 nm process. It contains 11,500 million transistors across a 269 mm² die, with a density of 42.8M per mm².

The RTX 4090's transistor budget enables massive compute resources: 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, 176 ROPs, 128 RT cores, and 512 tensor cores. The Arc A530M has 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and 12 RT cores, with no tensor core count recorded. This is a 10.7x difference in shading units and a 10.7x difference in RT cores.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The RTX 4090 runs at a 2,235 MHz base and 2,520 MHz boost, while the Arc A530M sits at 900 MHz base and 1,300 MHz boost. Memory configurations diverge sharply: the RTX 4090 uses 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, whereas the Arc A530M uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s. The RTX 4090's memory clock is 1,313 MHz (21 Gbps effective), against 1,750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) for the Arc.

Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RTX 4090 connects via PCIe 4.0 x16, while the Arc A530M uses PCIe 4.0 x8. The RTX 4090 is triple-slot with a 16-pin power connector and an 850 W suggested PSU; the Arc A530M is an IGP with no power connector or PSU recommendation.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only overlapping tests are Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan, and the RTX 4090 wins both by enormous margins. In OpenCL, the RTX 4090 scores 255,416 versus 49,735, a 413.6% advantage. This reflects its 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 throughput against the Arc's 3.994 TFLOPS, a 20.7x raw compute difference. The RTX 4090's FP16 performance is also 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the Arc reaches 7.987 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio).

In Vulkan, the RTX 4090 scores 271,631 versus 43,492, a 524.6% delta. The larger gap in Vulkan suggests the RTX 4090 benefits more from driver optimization or architectural efficiency in this API. Pixel rate data supports this: the RTX 4090 pushes 443.5 GPixel/s, the Arc only 62.40 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 1,290.2 GTexel/s against 124.8 GTexel/s.

The RTX 4090's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 60,347, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. The Arc A530M averages 46,614, in the 85th percentile. Despite the massive per-test deltas, the percentile gap is narrow (3 points), because the Arc's limited benchmark set (only two Geekbench entries) and its mobile positioning skew the average.

Looking at nearest rivals: the RTX 4090 sits within 2.9% of the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58,657 average, +2.9% delta) and within 2.5% of the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, -2.5% delta). It is essentially tied with the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, 0% delta). The Arc A530M is nearly tied with the AMD Radeon RX 5600M (46,601, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6550M (46,702, -0.2% delta), while beating the NVIDIA RTX A2000 (46,043, +1.2%) and RTX 5880 Ada Generation (45,972, +1.4%).

# FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. It delivers 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 and 82.58 TFLOPS FP16, while the Intel Arc A530M manages 3.994 TFLOPS FP32 and 7.987 TFLOPS FP16.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 4090 in OpenCL?

A: The RTX 4090 scores 255,416 versus 49,735 for the Arc A530M, a 413.6% advantage.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth. The Arc A530M has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are both GPUs compatible with the same APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the form factor difference?

A: The RTX 4090 is a triple-slot desktop card measuring 304 mm in length, 137 mm in height, and 61 mm in width, requiring a 16-pin power connector and 850 W suggested PSU. The Arc A530M is an IGP with no dimensions recorded, no power connector, and no PSU recommendation.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The RTX 4090 ranks in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, while the Arc A530M ranks in the 85th percentile.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | Intel Arc A530M |

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

| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Xe-HPG |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 6 nm |

| Transistors | 76,300 million | 11,500 million |

| Die Size | 609 mm² | 269 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 125.3M / mm² | 42.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 2235 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2520 MHz | 1300 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) | 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 24 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 1.01 TB/s | 224.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 16384 | 1536 |

| TMUs | 512 | 96 |

| ROPs | 176 | 48 |

| RT Cores | 128 | 12 |

| Tensor Cores | 512 | None recorded |

| Pixel Rate | 443.5 GPixel/s | 62.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 1,290.2 GTexel/s | 124.8 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 82.58 TFLOPS | 3.994 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1) | 7.987 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 450 W | 65 W |

| Slot Width | Triple-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 850 W | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.13x DisplayPort 1.4a | Portable Device Dependent |

| Dimensions | 304 mm x 137 mm x 61 mm | Not recorded |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2022-09-19 | 2023-07-31 |

# The Verdict

The data supports a clear split. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the performance king, with a 413.6% OpenCL lead and a 524.6% Vulkan lead over the Intel Arc A530M. It offers 20.7x the FP32 throughput, 7.1x the pixel rate, and 10.3x the texture rate. Its 24 GB memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth make it suitable for high-end desktop workloads, but it is end-of-life, consumes 450 W, and requires a triple-slot chassis with an 850 W PSU.

The Intel Arc A530M is a mobile IGP with a 65 W TDP, active production status, and no power connector requirements. It trades massive compute for portability. Its 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for integrated mobile graphics, and its 85th percentile ranking shows it performs adequately within its class.

Buyers should choose the RTX 4090 if the workload demands maximum compute, high memory bandwidth, and desktop-class performance, accepting its end-of-life status and power requirements. The Arc A530M is the choice for portable devices where power draw, physical size, and thermal constraints preclude a discrete triple-slot card. The benchmark data cannot recommend the Arc A530M for any performance-critical task, but its form factor and efficiency profile define its purpose.