Tech
Intel Arc B570 Review: Excellent Value, Yet Outshined by the Superior Arc B580
2025-04-06 11:10:10
In isolation, this graphics card delivers impressive 1080p performance, but it pales in comparison to the Arc B580.
TechRadar Review Summary
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Intel Arc B570: A Quick Two-Minute Overview
The Intel Arc B570 is the kind of graphics card I desperately want to love, but my tech-addled PC gaming heart belongs to another.
I'm not talking about the recently-announced Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs (though we'll see about those in due time). No, I've fallen for the Intel Arc B580, easily one of the best graphics cards on the market thanks to its fantastic 1440p and 1080p gaming performance. And, unfortunately, its price is so good that it's hard to really recommend the Arc B570 in good conscience.
To be fair, the Intel Arc B570's $219 / £219 (around AU$350) MSRP arguably makes it the best cheap graphics card going right now simply by default. The next cheapest current-gen GPU (as of January 2025) from AMD (the Radeon RX 7600) and Nvidia (the GeForce RTX 4060) are roughly 20% to 25% more expensive, and it's still $30 / £30 (about AU$90) cheaper than the Arc B580.
But the problem is that despite some impressive specs for a card this cheap, and solid 1080p performance, for just a little bit more you can get a far more future-proofed GPU that will let you game without compromise at a higher 1440p resolution if you go for the Arc B580. Of course, that's assuming you can get that card at its normal retail price and not the jacked-up prices being charged online by profiteering retailers and third-party sellers.
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Evaluating the Arc B570 solely based on its performance and disregarding any variable external influences, it’s clear that the Arc B570 stands out as one of the top choices for 1080p graphics cards available on the market, particularly when you factor in its affordability.
At this price price point, you really have to compare the Arc B570 against cards that are several years old, like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 1060 to really put things in perspective. For example, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 had a launch price $30 higher than the Arc B570, and even though I no longer have that card to compare Intel's latest against in a head-to-head matchup like I'd like, it really wasn't that good of a card to justify its price. Say what you will about the Arc B570, but in no universe can you say that you're not getting your money's worth with this GPU.
The disappointment lies in the fact that this card is unfortunately eclipsed by its slightly pricier counterpart. If the Intel Arc B570 were available for $199, it would undoubtedly claim the title for the best budget option. In reality, it still holds merit, but with such a narrow gap between the B570 and the B580, most prospective buyers would be wiser to scrape together a little extra money from a friend, sibling, parent, or even a kind stranger, and opt for the more robust B580.
Intel Arc B570: Price & availability
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How much is it? Starting at $219 / £219 (around AU$350)
When can you get it? You can get it from January 16, 2025
Where is it available? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia
The Intel Arc B570 will be available for purchase in the US, UK, and Australia starting January 16, 2025, with a price tag of $219 / £219 (approximately AU$350).
This makes it approximately $30 / £30 (around AU$90) less expensive than the Intel Arc B580, which was launched in December 2024. However, it is significantly more affordable compared to the rival AMD Radeon RX 7600 and Nvidia RTX 4060, both of which are priced at least 20% higher while offering similar performance levels.
I will explore the performance-to-cost ratio of this graphics card shortly, but I can already say that it ranks among the top options available in the current GPU market. However, it still falls short compared to the Intel Arc B580, which makes it a challenging recommendation unless you're on a tight budget or if the B580 is being sold at an excessively inflated price.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Intel Arc B570: Specifications
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10GB VRAM is a nice-to-have feature
Decently-sized memory bus
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Intel Arc B570 specifications
Price
$219 / £219 (about AU$350)
Process Technology
TSMC N5
Transistors (Billion)
19.6
Compute units
18
Shaders
2,304
AI/Matrix Cores
144
Ray Tracing Cores
18
Render Output Units
80
Texture Mapping Units
144
Boost Clock (MHz)
2,500
VRAM (GB)
12
VRAM Bus Width
160
VRAM Speed (Gbps)
19
Bandwidth (GB/s)
380
TDP (watts)
150
PCIe Interface
PCIe 4.0 x8
Specs: 4 / 5
Intel Arc B570: Performance Analysis
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Great 1080p performance
Doable 1440p (within reason)
Arc B580 is way better for not a whole lot more money
In the end, performance is what truly counts, and the Intel Arc B570 showcases impressive top-line figures for its price range. However, it's primarily designed as a 1080p graphics card. Achieving 1440p resolution is possible, but it requires significant compromises that likely won't justify the effort.
If you're looking for a graphics card suitable for creative tasks or AI, this one might not be the best choice. If you're on a tight budget but want something that surpasses a basic gaming GPU, I would recommend considering the RTX 4060.
It's important to point out that its 1080p gaming performance may not rival that of pricier alternatives in many titles. Therefore, if your goal is to find a graphics card that reliably delivers 60fps at 1080p on maximum settings without fail, you might want to consider some of the higher-end options instead.
That said, on average across the several games in my testing suite, including titles like Cyberpunk 2077, F1 2024, Total War: Warhammer III, and others, this card did manage an average 1080p fps of 60. with an average minimum fps of 34.
Of course, it played better on some games more than others, and some games you won't be able to play at max settings for a playable frame rate (like Black Myth Wukong), but over the course of all the titles I played, it's more than passable for 1080p, with the occasionally playable 1440p experience.
Considering its price, it's truly impressive, particularly for offering a card that supports ray-traced gaming. However, for just a bit more investment, you could significantly upgrade to the B580, which provides much better performance.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Is purchasing the Intel Arc B570 a good idea?
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Intel Arc B570 Performance Overview
Value
For the price, it's hard to beat, but if you have any wiggle room in your budget, the B580 is a better option.
4.5 / 5
Specs & features
10GB VRAM is great for this price.
4 / 5
Performance
This is strictly a 1080p graphics card, but there are better options for just a little more money.
3.5 / 5
Final Score
Given its price point, this is an excellent GPU, but for just a bit more investment, you can do a lot better, making this something I can only really recommend for those on a very thin budget.
4 / 5
Consider purchasing the Intel Arc B570 if...
You are working with a limited budget.There aren't many next-gen GPUs offered at this price range, and even among those, this is currently the most affordable option.
Your primary focus is on fundamental 1080p gaming.If you're in the market for an affordable 1080p graphics card that includes some contemporary features such as ray tracing, this model could offer great value at its suggested retail price.
Avoid purchasing it if...
You're looking to play games at a resolution of 1440p.Even with its additional VRAM and a respectable memory bus, it lacks the necessary specifications for reliable 1440p gaming without making significant trade-offs.
You have a bit of flexibility in your budget.If you can stretch your budget just a bit, the Arc B580 becomes a significantly better choice without a substantial increase in cost.
Additionally, take into account
Intel Arc B580Alright, I’ll be straightforward with you: the only other option worth your consideration is the Arc B580. If your budget allows for it, go for this card instead. It offers significantly better performance for just a slight increase in cost.
My Experience Testing the Intel Arc B570
I spent about a week with the Intel Arc B570
I used it primarily as a gaming GPU with some light creative work
I ran the Arc B570 thgouh my revamped testing suite
I tested the Intel Arc B570 using my newly revamped testing suite, including the latest 3DMark tests like Steel Nomad and Solar Bay, as well as the newest gaming benchmarks like Black Myth Wukong and F1 2024.
I utilized the Arc B570 as the main graphics card in my work computer, employing it for everyday productivity tasks, creative projects, and casual gaming during office hours.
For over two years, I've been evaluating GPUs for TechRadar, conducting thorough benchmarks on all the latest models multiple times. This experience has given me a clear understanding of how this card's performance compares to its competitors and how it stacks up in terms of value relative to its price.
Originally reviewed January 2025
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