Intel is gearing up to shake up the graphics card market with its soon-to-be-released Arc B580 Battlemage GPU. Slated to launch Dec. 13, 2024, this new card is already making waves with leaked benchmark results suggesting it could outperform Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 in gaming-related performance tests.
The benchmark data, sourced from Geekbench, highlights the Arc B580’s potential as a competitive option in the budget GPU market. According to the leak, the B580 scored 103,445 in the Vulkan performance test, a gaming-oriented API, outpacing the RTX 4060 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT. This marks a 30% improvement over Intel’s previous A580 card, which scored 79,341 in the same test. While the OpenCL test showed slightly less impressive gains (a 9% boost compared to the A580), this metric is less indicative of gaming performance and more focused on general-purpose computing power.
The Arc B580 is equipped with 12GB of VRAM and features 160 vector engines, offering a significant step up from its predecessor. What makes it even more enticing is its aggressive pricing. At an expected MSRP of $249, the B580 undercuts its rivals, with the RX 7600 priced at $269 and the RTX 4060 at $299.
Intel’s latest GPU could be a boon for gamers looking for an affordable upgrade this holiday season. With competitive performance in gaming APIs like Vulkan and a budget-friendly price point, the Arc B580 promises to deliver great value. However, questions remain about its driver stability and long-term optimization—a challenge Intel faced with its earlier Arc cards.
This release also signals Intel’s continued push into a GPU market historically dominated by AMD and Nvidia. While the Battlemage series may not claim the top performance spots, it is carving out a niche for budget-conscious gamers and tech enthusiasts.
As the official launch approaches, all eyes will be on Intel’s Arc B580 to see if it can deliver on its early promise. Full reviews and more detailed benchmarks are expected soon, providing a clearer picture of how this GPU stacks up against its competitors.
