Battlemage is here – Intel just announced the first two cards that use its new GPU architecture. Since Intel uses letters instead of numbers to denote generation, say “hello” to the Intel Arc B580 and B570.
The B580 is priced at $250, the B570 is a bit cheaper at $220. Both are based on the same BMG-G21 chip, but use different bins. The B580 has 20 Xe2 cores and 12GB of VRAM (192-bit bus, 456GB/s), while the B570 has 18 Xe2 cores and 10GB of VRAM (160-bit bus, 380GB/s). The B570 also runs at lower clocks and a lower TDP (150W vs. 180W), but both are powered by a single 8-pin connector. Here is the head-to-head comparison between the two cards.
Intel Arc B580 vs. B570
Perhaps a more important comparison is with the outgoing Arc A750, which launched at $250 – the same price as the Arc B580. However, the B580 is 24% faster on average compared to the old Intel card (tested at 1440p). The company’s own testing shows that it edges out the Nvidia RTX 4060 by a 10% margin and the Nvidia card is a bit pricier while having less VRAM (8GB).
The new Xe2 architecture up close
The new Xe2 graphics architecture looks promising – the BMG-G21 chip has 19.6 billion transistors, down from 21.7 billion on the ACM-G10 that was used for the A750. So, smaller chip, higher performance.
B580 vs. A750 • B580 vs. 4060 • Battlemage vs. Alchemist
The Xe2 cores are 70% faster at full tilt and more efficient too, offering 50% higher performance per watt than the cores used in Intel’s first gen GPUs (Alchemist). Additionally, they have new X Matrix Extensions (XMX) AI engines, which accelerate ray-tracing.
Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition
These days the software is just as important as the silicon, so Intel is also introducing XeSS 2. In addition to super resolution (image upscaling), version 2 features Frame Generation and Low Latency (these are answers to Nvidia’s frame gen and Reflex tech).
XeSS 2, now featuring frame gen and low latency options
F1 24 will be the first game to support XeSS 2, nine others will support it “soon”:
- Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
- Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
- RoboCop: Rogue City
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
- Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Ascendant
- Marvel Rivals
- Killing Floor 3
- Citadels
Anyway, the Intel Arc B580 will be available from December 13. There is a B580 Limited Edition with dual fans. Acer, Asrock, Gunnir, Maxsun, Onix and Sparkle will also be releasing Battlemage cards. The cheaper Arc B570 is coming on January 16.
