Arc A580 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
On raw speed the Arc A580 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 45% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. That said, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the smarter buy on value — $125 EUR less for the performance on offer.
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Comparable or lower specs
Arc A580 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Arc A580 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
The Arc A580 is dramatically faster, around 45% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Arc A580 is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is better matched to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB currently lists from $254 EUR, $125 EUR less than the Arc A580 at $379 EUR. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Arc A580 still sits about $200 EUR above its $179 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the gentler choice at 130W versus 175W. The Arc A580 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 175W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. Its more modern Alchemist architecture on a TSMC N6 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the Arc A580 brings Intel XeSS upscaling and AV1 encoding, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.
Which should you buy: Arc A580 or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Choose the Arc A580 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Arc A580 better than the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Arc A580 or the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Is the Arc A580 worth the extra $125 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Which should you buy: Arc A580 or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Arc A580 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Alchemist | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC N6 | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (Shading Units / CUDA Cores) | 3,072✓ | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 24✓ | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 384✓ | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Arc A580 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,700 MHz✓ | 1,552 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,000 MHz✓ | 1,777 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | Arc A580 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 16 Gbps✓ | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 512 GB/s✓ | 224 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Arc A580 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 175 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Oct 2023 | Jan 2022 |
Related Reading
Intel Arc A580: The Reality of Budget Gaming in 2026
Between aggressive price cuts and the arrival of the Battlemage generation, is the Arc A580 still a realistic choice for 1080p gaming?
Intel Arc Alchemist in 2026: Is a Used A580, A750 or A770 Still Worth Buying?
Every Arc Alchemist card is discontinued, and Battlemage replaced them. So what does a used A580, A750 or A770 still buy you — and at what price does it beat a new Arc B580? An honest retrospective on Intel's first discrete GPUs.