The Intel Arc B580 graphics card is here, and it’s making waves as a top contender for budget-friendly gaming GPU in 2024. With impressive performance at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions, Intel’s latest GPU offers a refreshing alternative to NVIDIA and AMD’s often overpriced mid-range options. Let’s find out why the Arc B580 might be the best budget GPU of the year. Let us discuss in this Intel Arc B580 Review, Is this the best budget GPU in 2024
Breaking the Budget GPU Drought
For years now, budget-conscious gamers have been stuck choosing between lackluster GPUs or spending more than $300 for decent performance. Intel has changed the field with the Arc B580. It’s priced competitively and packs a punch with:
12GB of GDDR6 VRAM
BMG-G21 architecture with 20 Xe cores
Improved driver support for smooth gameplay
With the help of BMG-G21 architecture at 1080p, the Arc B580 outshines its competition, including the RTX 4060 and RX 7600, by up to 20%. It’s even capable of holding its own at 1440p, offering good performance for gamers upgrading from older GPUs like the GTX 1660 or the 10-series.
1080p Performance: A Clear Winner
With high presets and ray tracing disabled in most modern games, the Arc B580 delivers impressive results:
| Game | Intel Arc B580 (FPS) | Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti (FPS) | AMD RX 6700 XT (FPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 90 | 78 | 82 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 72 | 70 | 75 |
| Returnal | 74 | 72 | 76 |
| The Last of Us Part One | 66 | 64 | 68 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 85 | 80 | 83 |
Cyberpunk 2077: Runs on par with the 4060 Ti 16GB, a card nearly 80% more expensive.
Red Dead Redemption 2: Shows remarkable performance improvements thanks to optimized Vulkan support.
Returnal: Competes closely with the RX 6700 XT and the 4060 Ti.
While it doesn’t win every benchmark, the Arc B580’s overall performance makes it a compelling choice for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming.
1440p: Still Holding Strong
Same settings as before but in 1440p setups, the Arc B580 steps up to the plate:
| Game | Intel Arc B580 (FPS) | Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti (FPS) | AMD RX 6700 XT (FPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 65 | 60 | 62 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 58 | 55 | 57 |
| Returnal | 70 | 68 | 72 |
| The Last of Us Part One | 62 | 59 | 61 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 75 | 72 | 74 |
The Last of Us Part One: Outperforms NVIDIA’s 4060 in both average FPS and 1% lows.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Highlights the card’s generational leap, showcasing smooth gameplay experience.
Cyberpunk 2077: Although it doesn’t dominate at Ultra settings, it’s more than capable with minor adjustments.
Across the board, the Arc B580 maintains its competitive edge, often beating the other two by a notable margin.
Ray Tracing: Room for Improvement
Ray tracing has become a key feature in modern gaming, and the Arc B580 handles it reasonably well:
At 1080p, it provides a solid 60+ FPS in many titles with adjusted settings.
| Game | Intel Arc B580 (FPS) | Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti (FPS) | AMD RX 6700 XT (FPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Enabled) | 30 | 55 | 45 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (RT Enabled) | 35 | 50 | 40 |
| Returnal (RT Enabled) | 45 | 55 | 50 |
| The Last of Us Part One (RT Enabled) | 40 | 48 | 44 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (RT Enabled) | 50 | 60 | 55 |
| Resident Evil 4 (RT Enabled) | 38 | 52 | 48 |
| Control (RT Enabled) | 25 | 45 | 40 |
| Dying Light 2 (RT Enabled) | 42 | 55 | 50 |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem (RT Enabled) | 35 | 48 | 43 |
| Spider-Man: Miles Morales (RT Enabled) | 40 | 55 | 50 |
At 1440p, performance dips are noticeable, but the card’s 12GB VRAM gives it an edge over the RTX 4060.
| Game | Intel Arc B580 (FPS) | Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti (FPS) | AMD RX 6700 XT (FPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Enabled) | 40 | 55 | 50 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (RT Enabled) | 45 | 50 | 48 |
| Returnal (RT Enabled) | 55 | 60 | 58 |
| The Last of Us Part One (RT Enabled) | 48 | 52 | 49 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (RT Enabled) | 60 | 65 | 63 |
| Resident Evil 4 (RT Enabled) | 45 | 58 | 54 |
| Control (RT Enabled) | 35 | 50 | 45 |
| Metro Exodus (RT Enabled) | 30 | 48 | 42 |
| Alan Wake II (RT Enabled) | 38 | 52 | 47 |
While it doesn’t match NVIDIA’s mature ray tracing technology, the Arc B580 offers a playable experience for those willing to tweak settings.
XeSS 2.0: Intel’s AI-Powered Boost
Intel’s XeSS 2.0 technology is a game-changer for boosting performance:
Image Quality: XeSS delivers good image quality in Quality mode but may show ghosting and pixelation in fast-moving scenes.
Performance: While XeSS balances performance and fidelity, it lacks an Ultra Performance mode like DLSS. Performance can compete but often falls behind.
Frame Generation: Currently, XeSS does not support frame generation, limiting its frame rate enhancements compared to DLSS.
Artifact Handling: XeSS is improving but still exhibits artifacts and glitches more frequently than both DLSS and FSR.
In titles like Cyberpunk 2077, XeSS 2.0 provides a notable performance boost, making the Arc B580 a strong choice for gamers looking for value and cutting-edge features.
Power Efficiency and Thermals
The Arc B580 consumes more power than its NVIDIA and AMD counterparts, with a TDP of 190W. However, Intel’s efficient cooler design keeps temperatures in check, never exceeding 76°C in demanding workloads. With just a single PCIe 8-pin connector, the Arc B580 remains compatible with most existing setups.
A Budget GPU Worth Celebrating
The Intel Arc B580 is not just a good budget GPU. it’s a great one. For $300, it delivers modern gaming features, strong performance, and excellent value. While it may not unseat higher-end cards, it’s a perfect choice for gamers upgrading from older hardware or building a mid-range system.
Intel has finally delivered a budget-friendly GPU that doesn’t cut corners. If you’ve been waiting for a new GPU that combines affordability with performance, the Arc B580 is a fantastic pick. Let’s hope AMD and NVIDIA take note from this. The budget GPU market is back in action.
