Intel’s Arc B570 graphics card is now available, but the reviews have been a mixed bag. While the slightly more advanced B580 is flying off the shelves thanks to its attractive price point, many reviewers are suggesting that spending an additional $30 might be a worthwhile investment.
Back in 2022, Intel dipped its toes into the world of gaming GPUs with the Arc Alchemist series, led by the A770. Although those models didn’t quite make the cut as top-tier graphics cards, they offered budget-conscious gamers a viable option during a period when PC gaming costs were high. Now, Intel’s back in the ring with their Battlemage lineup, and as of now, it’s been getting praise all-around for significant improvements in performance and stability over past generations.
Yet, even with its 10GB of VRAM and an enticingly low price, critiques are emerging around the B570’s potential. It’s hard to ignore the fact that the B580 is available for $249.99, making the slightly cheaper B570, at $219.99, seem like a less compelling choice.
Take Club386, for instance. They awarded the B570 a 2.5 out of 5 stars, suggesting that if the price were just a hair lower, they’d recommend it for budget-conscious builders. However, the B580’s impressive capabilities at under $250 are proving too strong an argument against choosing the lesser model this time around.
Nonetheless, the B570 does have its fans. The card’s 10GB VRAM gives it a 2GB edge over the Nvidia RTX 4060 and AMD RX 7600, putting Intel’s budget-friendly option on competitive footing with its class counterparts. Gamer’s Nexus conducted tests, including one with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D running Resident Evil 4 Remake at 1080p, where Intel’s offering came out on top against the competition.
Their video showcases the B570 Guardian by Sparkle achieving an average of 110 fps in the same game, compared to the RX 7600’s 108.5 fps and the RTX 4060’s 107.9 fps. Not to be outdone, though, the RTX 3060 Ti with 12GB pulled ahead with 122.2 fps.
In tests with lower-end systems prepped by Gamers Nexus, the B580 faced challenges with older CPUs like the Intel 12400. However, the B570 seemed to bypass this issue, marking it as a sensible choice for those assembling a budget-friendly PC.
Another voice in the discussion is ETA Prime, a YouTuber known for delving into mini PCs and low-end gaming, who described it as “the best budget graphics [card] you can get.” In their demonstration, they showcased the B570 cruising through Doom Eternal at Ultra settings, 1440p, with an i7 14700K, achieving up to 160fps, noting that the game tends to perform well across various platforms.
It’s worth mentioning the perspective from Short Circuit, the Linus Tech Tips adjacent channel, which has pointed out price as a critical consideration. The small $30 difference between the B570 and the B580 seems to tip the scales toward the more robust B580 in several opinions.
We’ll be drawing our own conclusions about Intel’s latest creations in the weeks ahead, though at present, our resources are dedicated to testing some of the more powerful offerings coming soon from competing manufacturers.
Intel appears to be navigating a peculiar phase right now, as their success in the GPU arena contrasts with the challenges in their processor market. Previously known for their excellent gaming CPUs, recent generations have struggled with issues like performance hiccups and even self-destructive incidents. The coming year could be pivotal for Intel as they work to rekindle their former prowess.
