Intel Arc A770: Intel has entered the graphics processing unit market. After much anticipation, Intel has finally released a graphics card that is competitive with other brands. Both the Arc A770 and the Arc A750 fall within this category. Not up to par with the latest GPUs from NVIDIA or AMD, but enough for many players.
The A770, the more powerful option, has been compared to NVIDIA’s RTX 3060, one of the company’s most popular mid-range options.
Differences and Similarities Between the Intel Arc A770 and the NVIDIA RTX 3060
In terms of technical requirements, for example, there is less of a relationship between the two than would initially appear, and there are also some essential variances.
Okay, let’s start with the new guy. Using TSMC’s 6nm technology, the Intel Arc A770 was introduced in 2022; it features 4,096 shading cores and 32 RT (ray tracing) cores. The GPU features 512 CUs, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, and it operates at a speed of 2,100 MHz.
This bad boy also has 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, and if you’re ready to shell out a little extra cash, you can get a massive 16GB of VRAM. This graphics processing unit (GPU) can drain your power supply by as much as 225W.
Let’s have a look at the RTX 3060 itself now. A more conservative 3,584 shading cores (CUDA cores) and 28 RT (ray tracing) cores are included on this card, which was unveiled in January 2021 and is built on TSMC’s 8nm technology.
In addition to the 112 TMUs and 48 ROPs, it has 112 Tensor cores, which facilitate the implementation of features like DLSS. Also, there is just one VRAM configuration available, with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory.
If you look at these numbers and compare them to those of the RTX 3060, you might be confused as to why the Intel card is being used as an example. After all, the Intel card is more recent and appears to have far greater power at first appearance. It has more of everything—more RT cores, more shading units, more VRAM, etc.
We’ll find out in the following section, but for now, know that Intel is a relative newbie to the GPU market and so has a long way to go before it can compete effectively with NVIDIA. Indeed, this holds true even for cards priced in the middle.
Since NVIDIA has been a major participant for so long, its graphics cards are more refined and powerful. Although Intel will undoubtedly improve in this area in the future, NVIDIA now has this edge.
Analyzing the Performance of the Intel Arc A770 Vs the NVIDIA RTX 3060
We’ll see how they do in the real world now. A video uploaded to YouTube by Testing Games examines the performance of the RTX 3060 and the Intel Arc A770 in a selection of games. It’s possible that the end outcome will come as a shock to you.
The Arc A770 is on par with or even outperforms the RTX 3060 in a wide variety of games. When comparing the Intel and NVIDIA graphics cards, we often observe a 20-frames-per-second (fps) improvement in titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
The fact that both cards are priced similarly (with the Intel card being marginally cheaper) is astounding. Neither card is noticeably better than the other in games like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Cyberpunk 2077.
There are a few titles where the RTX 3060 performs better, such as The Witcher 3 and CS: GO, but they are outliers. These two games place a greater demand on the CPU than the GPU, and the general tendency favors the Intel card.
What this demonstrates further supports our prior claims. Since NVIDIA GPUs have been on the market longer, their drivers have had more time to improve performance in many games. While Intel’s hardware shows promise, the software still needs time to bake, and game creators should keep Intel cards in mind when they design their games.
The card performs almost on par with the RTX 3060 in most games, and in others, you may even see a tempting FPS increase when swapping to the Intel card from the NVIDIA one. In some games, though, the converse is true, so you’ll have to experiment to see what you like.
In a positive sense, it’s a coin toss.
To Which Video Card Should You Upgrade?
The answer is nuanced, but I contend that the Intel GPU is superior to the RTX 3060 for the vast majority of consumers.
Based on raw power alone, it’s evident that Intel designed this card to take on the likes of an RTX 3060 Ti or perhaps an RTX 3070. It’s fantastic, and I mean that in the best possible sense. But at the moment, the RTX 3060 is a more appropriate benchmark.
Even so, it outperforms several competitors and is on par with many more. It’s true that the RTX 3060 is superior in some circumstances, but the Arc A770 still puts up a strong performance.
Then there’s the reality that it’s more affordable. The Intel card can be purchased for $329, whereas most RTX 3060 variants cost between $350.00 and $500.00. Investing in an NVIDIA graphics card may be worthwhile if you plan on playing a select number of games, but the Arc A770 is likely to satisfy the vast majority of gamers’ needs.
In addition, as Intel’s drivers continue to develop, gaming performance should improve over time. It’s a fantastic choice, and it makes us want to see what Intel accomplishes if it becomes a mainstream graphics card maker.
Keep in mind if you’re a lover of older games that, as of this writing, Intel Arc does not support DirectX 9.
Intel’s Arc A770 is the Superior Choice
It’s not easy to top NVIDIA, but Intel looks to have pulled it off. And right away, on the first try! Until a better option from NVIDIA or AMD becomes available, the Arc A770 is the graphics card to get in the mid-range segment at the moment.
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