Overview of the Intel Arc B580
The Intel Arc B580 made quite an impression when it was released in December 2024. Priced at $249, this graphics card offered fantastic value, especially considering the ever-increasing prices of GPUs in today’s market. While the Intel Arc B570 also provides a great experience at a lower price point, the minimal price difference between the two makes it difficult to recommend the B570 over the B580.
Specifications and Features
Similar to its counterpart, the Arc B580, the Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2 architecture and shares a similar GPU design. The key difference lies in the disabled cores on the B570, resulting in 18 active cores compared to the B580’s 20 cores. This binning process is common among GPU manufacturers to salvage slightly flawed units and sell them as lower-tier products.
In addition to the disabled cores, the B570 also has a lower clock speed, less VRAM, and reduced power budget compared to the B580. While these compromises contribute to a more affordable price, they can affect the overall performance of the B570, especially in demanding scenarios.
Performance
When tested, the Intel Arc B570 proved to be a capable graphics card for 1080p gaming, excelling in most titles at this resolution. However, the performance gap becomes more noticeable at higher resolutions and in more demanding games, where the B580 outshines its counterpart.
Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition showcase the difference in performance between the two cards, with the B580 consistently delivering better frame rates. While the B570 can hold its own in certain titles, the overall value proposition is challenged by the slight price difference.
Despite featuring advanced technologies like XeSS Frame Generation and XeLL for reduced latency, the B570 struggles to match the performance of the B580 in various benchmarks.
For budget-conscious gamers, the Intel Arc B570 remains a viable option at $219. However, considering the marginal price increase of $30, opting for the B580 could provide a significant boost in performance, especially in graphically intensive games.
In conclusion, while the Intel Arc B570 offers good value for its price point, the superior performance and features of the B580 make it a more compelling choice for gamers looking for optimal performance without breaking the bank.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra