Intel recently launched two new graphics cards for budget gamers: the Arc B580 priced at $249 and the Arc B570 priced at $219. At those prices there’s no question these cards will fly off the shelves and go out of stock. Hopefully Intel can keep up with demand on these units. The B580 is already available to testers and will open to the public on December 13th, 2024. The B570 will be released on Jan. 16, 2025. These cards are part of Intel’s second generation of the Arc series and are designed for gaming at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
The Arc B (codename: Battleverse) series currently includes just these two models. They offer good performance for their price and include features like improved ray tracing and XeSS 2 technology. Intel aims to compete in the budget GPU market, offering more options for gamers against established brands like Nvidia and AMD. The earlier Arc A-Series faced some driver issues, but it ultimately provided good value.
The Arc B-Series looks promising as it aims to deliver upgrades at reasonable prices. Gamers are looking forward to reviews to see if Intel can meet its performance claims. Overall, Intel’s efforts to offer affordable graphics cards could benefit the gaming community by providing better pricing and performance options.
Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Cards: A Budget Gamer’s Dream
Two New GPUs
Intel has just announced two new graphics cards. The new cards are the Intel Arc B580 and the Arc B570. These cards are for gamers who want good performance at a good price.
1440p Gaming Performance
The B580 is a good card for 1440p gaming. The B570 is a good option for 1080p gaming. 1440p gaming provides a higher resolution for clearer images.
Competitive Pricing
The Intel Arc B580 costs $249. The Intel Arc B570 costs $219. These prices make them competitive with other graphics cards on the market.
New Features
These new cards use the Xe2 “Battlemage” architecture. They have better ray tracing performance. Ray tracing makes the lighting in games look more realistic. The cards also have XeSS 2. XeSS 2 makes games look better and run faster.
Availability
The Arc B580 launched on December 13th, 2024. The Arc B570 will be available on January 16th, 2025.
Specifications
| Feature | Intel Arc B580 | Intel Arc B570 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Xe2 “Battlemage” | Xe2 “Battlemage” |
| Target Market | Budget 1440p gaming | Budget 1080p gaming |
| Ray Tracing | Yes, improved | Yes, improved |
| XeSS | XeSS 2 | XeSS 2 |
| Price | $249 | $219 |
| Release Date | December 13th, 2024 | January 16th, 2025 |
What About the Intel Arc A-Series?
The Intel Arc A-Series was Intel’s first attempt to enter the dedicated graphics card market. It had some issues at launch. Drivers were not very good. This caused problems with game performance. But Intel worked hard to improve the drivers. The A-Series became a good choice for gamers on a budget.
The A770 and A750 cards offered good performance for the price. They were often cheaper than similar cards from NVIDIA and AMD. This made them popular with gamers who wanted the best value.
The A380 was a good entry-level card. It let people play games without spending a lot of money. It was a good choice for esports games.
The Intel Arc A-Series showed that Intel was serious about making graphics cards. It gave gamers more choices. And it helped to keep prices down.
Short Summary:
- Intel introduces two affordable GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570, with competitive specs.
- Both models leverage similar architectures, promising impressive performance for 1440p gaming.
- New AI technologies, XeSS 2 and Xe Low Latency, are designed to enhance gaming experience significantly.
Intel is taking a bold step in the graphics card market with the release of its new Battlemage GPUs, specifically aimed at budget gamers. The Arc B580, priced at $249, will make its debut on December 13, while the slightly less powerful Arc B570 will follow on January 16 at $219. With these cards, Intel hopes to establish a strong foothold in a segment that has seen rising prices and dwindling options for affordable, high-performance GPUs.
Key Specifications and Features
Both the Arc B580 and B570 are built on Intel’s innovative Xe2 “Battlemage” architecture, originally utilized in Intel’s Lunar Lake laptop chips. This new lineup marks a significant upgrade over the previous generation, boasting over 20 Xe cores, up to 12GB of dedicated video memory, and power ratings reaching 190W. The emphasis is clearly on delivering superior performance per dollar, aimed at gamers who seek high-quality graphics without breaking the bank.
According to Intel’s benchmarks, the Arc B580 outperforms Nvidia’s RTX 4060, which retails for around $299, claiming an average of 10% better performance in various gaming scenarios. In a test scenario utilizing an Intel Core i9-14900K CPU, the B580 exceeded 60 frames per second (fps) in graphic-intensive titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and The Witcher 3, underscoring its potential for 1440p gaming.
“Intel’s B580 GPU runs 10 percent faster than the RTX 4060 in various games at 1440p ultra settings,” said Intel during the announcement, showcasing its commitment to aggressive pricing and competitive performance.
The new GPUs distinctly feature a 192-bit memory bus for the B580, which translates to a bandwidth of up to 456 GB/s, fitting the needs of 1440p gaming. The B570, while slightly scaled down, still offers an impressive setup with 10GB of GDDR6 memory and a maximum bandwidth of 380 GB/s.
Performance Insights
Intel claims that the B580 averages a substantial 24% increase in performance over its predecessor, the A750, despite the latter now being available for around $180. This jump in performance, while contingent on specific game demands, indicates a significant advancement in GPU technology.
Benchmark comparisons have suggested that in titles like Forza Motorsport, the Arc B580 shines brightly when running with ray tracing enabled. While the RTX 4060 might score higher in standard settings, Intel’s latest GPU holds its ground when it comes to more complex visuals, reinforcing the importance of memory in modern gaming.
Additionally, while Intel has not yet provided specific comparisons against AMD’s RX 7600, early discussions around performance metrics indicate that the brand feels confident that the higher memory allocation of the B580 will attract gamers looking for enhanced visuals.
Competitor Landscape
Intel’s entry into the $249 GPU market comes at a time when budget options from both Nvidia and AMD typically hover around $300 and suffer from limited memory configurations. Competitors such as the RTX 4060 might deliver respectable benchmark results, but Intel’s substantial memory advantage (12GB vs. 8GB for Nvidia’s option) stands out as a crucial element that could appeal to gamers running higher resolution setups or utilizing graphically-demanding applications.
Further solidifying its position, Intel is set to release a Limited Edition variant of the B580 featuring a dual-fan cooling system. Supported by partners including Acer and ASRock, this move could leverage custom fan designs to push performance even further, enabling overclocking potential beyond 3GHz.
Introduction of XeSS 2 and Xe Low Latency
In addition to GPU improvements, Intel is proactive in the software domain. The latest version of its AI-driven XeSS technology is poised to be a game changer, offering capabilities similar to Nvidia’s DLSS. This update includes frame generation features, anticipated to lift frame rates significantly in supported titles.
Intel Fellow Tom Petersen explained,
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“With XeSS 2, gamers can expect up to a 3.9x performance increase based on our circuit tests, making for a much smoother experience when paired with our new graphics cards.”
Enhanced Gaming Experience
The introduction of the new Xe Low Latency (XeLL) feature is yet another step to provide gamers with an edge in competitive scenarios. By reducing latency, Intel aims to ensure that the experience remains fluid as performance demands transition between frame generation and traditional rendering methodologies.
Intel’s commitment to integrating these features into modern gaming titles is noteworthy. Partnerships with a number of developers plan to ensure that upcoming titles like F1 24, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Dying Light 2 will include support, expanding the new technology’s footprint.
Outlook for Gamers
With traditional price points of graphics cards being pushed upward over the last few years, Intel’s latest initiatives pave a path for budget gamers seeking high-quality performance. The introduction of the Arc B580 and B570 could be transformative, particularly as they enable gamers to experience modern titles at desirable frame rates in high settings while sticking to a tighter budget.
As competition heats up in the graphics card market, Intel’s future trajectory will likely depend on how well these new models are received. The landscape shaping around these cards hints at an evolving narrative in the GPU sector—one where affordability meets robust performance.
