Intel is the third player in the duopolistic discrete GPU market. Graphics cards are more powerful than ever, but they're also way more expensive than prior generations. While price bumps are to be expected with new hardware and software improvements, many find it difficult to part with upwards of $1,000 (if not more) to enjoy games with reasonable results. Even more affordable AMD and Nvidia cards will set you back $500 or more. Enter the second generation of Intel Arc GPUs with the mighty B580 leading the way at just $250. But why should you buy an Intel GPU over what AMD and Nvidia will inevitably launch in 2025?
2 Better price to performance
Intel has a lot of ground to cover to catch up with AMD and Nvidia. To help achieve this, the company continues to price its GPUs aggressively, offering excellent deals for gamers looking to enjoy all their favorite games at 1080p or 1440p. This also results in some of the best price-to-performance ratios of their respective classes, especially with the latest Intel Arc B580. This GPU is an absolute monster for 1440p gaming with ray tracing enabled. Intel's XeSS also works magic by allowing the GPU to punch above its weight class.
1 A new player in the discrete GPU space
Competition is great for all involved parties. It keeps companies on their toes and paves the way for innovation. Customers get better deals with more competitive pricing, and the GPU market is generally healthier, benefiting the gaming industry. By supporting the undergo, which has been AMD for a good number of years, you're voting with your wallet on something new, unique, and wanting change. That's not to say the current range of hardware from AMD and Nvidia isn't short of incredible, but they're also out of reach of many.
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You'll have a great time no matter the GPU
What's great about modern graphics cards is the available performance, even with the more affordable models. You won't have any trouble running the latest, most demanding games with AMD, Intel, or Nvidia GPUs, so long as you're not attempting to run Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with ray tracing enabled on an Nvidia RTX 4060. Always spend as much as you can on the GPU, but spend the budget wisely on a graphics card that will provide the best bang for your buck. Intel is certainly up there at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, undercutting both of the established players.