NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super vs Intel Arc B580: Which GPU Wins in 2025?

Design & Build

The RTX 4070 Super follows NVIDIA's established Ada Lovelace architecture in a compact two-slot design. It draws 220W and requires PCIe 4.0 x16. According to Tom's Hardware, thermals peak at 90°C under load while maintaining quiet operation. The power connector situation is less elegant, requiring an adapter that reviewers note "adds unnecessary friction" for builders with older PSUs.

Intel's Arc B580 is even more compact at 190W TDP, making it friendlier for budget builds with less robust power supplies. It uses PCIe 4.0 x8, which theoretically limits bandwidth but doesn't impact real-world gaming performance at this tier. The card runs cool and fits easily into smaller cases. Both cards output via HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort, though Intel's DP 2.1 support is technically more future-proof than NVIDIA's DP 1.4a.

Physically, the 4070 Super feels like the premium product it is. Better materials, more refined cooling solutions, and that NVIDIA build quality you're paying extra for. The Arc B580 doesn't feel cheap, but it's clearly built to a price point.

Section winner: RTX 4070 Super. Better thermals, quieter operation, and superior build quality justify the premium here.

Performance

This is where the price gap shows up in frame rates. The RTX 4070 Super delivers approximately 15% better performance than the base 4070, occasionally matching the RTX 3080 Ti at 1440p according to reviewers. PC Gamer's testing shows consistent high-refresh gaming at native 1440p resolution without breaking a sweat. The 2.5 GHz boost clock and GDDR6X memory provide the horsepower for demanding AAA titles.

The Arc B580, running at 2.7 GHz with standard GDDR6, targets a different performance bracket entirely. Tom's Hardware found it beats the RTX 4060 in rasterization workloads while costing $100 less. For 1080p gaming, it crushes everything at high settings. At 1440p, reviewers report smooth gameplay in esports titles and most modern games, though you'll need to dial back settings in the most demanding AAA releases.

Raw benchmark numbers tell the story: the 4070 Super is significantly faster across the board. It's not close. You're getting 40-50% more performance in most titles, more in ray-traced workloads. The Arc B580 performs admirably for its price, but it's playing in a different league.

Section winner: RTX 4070 Super. Not even a contest. You're paying more and getting substantially more performance.

Ray Tracing & Upscaling

DLSS 3 support is a massive advantage for the RTX 4070 Super. According to our editorial analysis, "DLSS 3 support scales performance meaningfully in supported titles." Frame generation technology effectively doubles frame rates in compatible games, and DLSS adoption is widespread across modern AAA releases. Ray tracing performance is strong, making features like path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 actually playable.

Intel's Arc B580 struggles here. Reviewers consistently note that "ray tracing performance is weak and uncompetitive." XeSS upscaling exists but lags far behind DLSS in both adoption and image quality. HowToGeek found XeSS works well when supported, but that's the problem: support is limited. You can't rely on upscaling to extend this card's lifespan the way you can with DLSS.

For gamers who care about ray tracing and next-gen graphics features, this isn't even a discussion. The 4070 Super has mature, widely-supported technology. The B580 has promising but underbaked alternatives.

Section winner: RTX 4070 Super. DLSS 3 and superior ray tracing performance are killer features you can't get elsewhere.

Memory & Future-Proofing

Both cards pack 12GB of memory, which is genuinely generous at these price points. The RTX 4070 Super uses faster GDDR6X, while the Arc B580 uses standard GDDR6. However, our analysis notes a concern: "12GB VRAM is a bottleneck for future-proofing and 4K gaming" on the 4070 Super.

Here's the nuance: 12GB is plenty for 1440p gaming today and likely for the next few years. The Arc B580's 12GB is a "legitimate differentiator against Nvidia's 8GB offerings" according to reviewers, giving budget builders more headroom than competing cards like the RTX 4060.

For 4K gaming, neither card is ideal. The 4070 Super can handle it with DLSS but isn't really designed for native 4K. The B580 has "no 4K viability without heavy compromises." If you're planning to upgrade to a 4K monitor in the next year, you'll want more GPU than either of these provides.

Section winner: Tie. Both offer adequate memory for their target resolutions. The faster GDDR6X on the 4070 Super is offset by the fact that 12GB limits both cards similarly at higher resolutions.

Driver Stability & Software

NVIDIA's driver maturity is a significant, often underappreciated advantage. Game support is universal, updates are reliable, and you don't think about compatibility. It just works. The GeForce Experience software is polished, and features like automatic optimal settings actually function properly.

Intel's driver situation has improved dramatically but remains a work in progress. Reviewers note "driver support still maturing, game compatibility varies." Some games have occasional issues. Updates are frequent, which is good for fixing problems but also suggests the platform isn't fully baked. Our editorial review warns of "occasional driver issues" that can frustrate less technical users.

If you want to install a GPU and forget about it, NVIDIA's ecosystem is simply more reliable. If you're comfortable troubleshooting occasional quirks and waiting for driver updates, the Arc B580 is manageable. But it's a real consideration.

Section winner: RTX 4070 Super. Mature drivers and universal game compatibility matter more than enthusiasts often admit.

Value for Money

Here's where things get complicated. At MSRP, the RTX 4070 Super costs $599, which Tom's Hardware calls "a reasonable price" for its performance tier. The problem? Street prices around $900 make the "value proposition nearly indefensible" according to our analysis. You're paying 50% more than you should be.

The Arc B580 at $249 MSRP (currently $300 on Amazon) is what HowToGeek calls "the best budget GPU of 2025." It beats the $350+ RTX 4060 while costing substantially less. For 1080p and 1440p gaming on a budget, the value is exceptional. You're getting 12GB of VRAM and solid performance for less than half the cost of competing options.

But value isn't just about dollars per frame. It's about what you're trying to accomplish. If you need DLSS 3, reliable drivers, and strong ray tracing, the 4070 Super's premium buys you features the B580 simply can't match. If you're playing esports titles and indie games at 1440p, spending $600 extra is wasteful.

The Arc B580 wins the pure value calculation. But the RTX 4070 Super delivers premium features that justify the cost for the right buyer.

Section winner: Intel Arc B580. Best performance per dollar, especially at current street prices.

Who Should Buy What?

Buy the Intel Arc B580 if you're building a 1080p or 1440p gaming PC on a tight budget, primarily play esports titles or less demanding games, don't care about ray tracing or cutting-edge graphics features, and are comfortable with occasionally troubleshooting driver quirks. At $250-300, it's the best value in the budget GPU market right now.

Buy the RTX 4070 Super if you want strong 1440p performance with high refresh rates, care about ray tracing and DLSS 3 support, need reliable drivers and universal game compatibility, and can actually find one near MSRP (or accept paying the current premium). It's the better overall GPU for serious gamers who can afford the investment.

Don't buy either if you're targeting native 4K gaming. Both cards are limited at that resolution. The 4070 Super can manage it with DLSS, but you'd be better served by a 4070 Ti Super or 4080 if 4K is your priority.

Final Verdict

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super wins this comparison, but not by knockout. It's the better GPU in almost every measurable way: faster performance, superior ray tracing, mature drivers, and DLSS 3 support that genuinely extends the card's capabilities. PC Gamer's assessment as "the best GPU for most gamers right now" reflects its well-rounded excellence.

The Arc B580 is a phenomenal budget option that delivers shocking value at $249. It wins on price-to-performance and offers a compelling entry point for budget builders. But it can't match the 4070 Super's overall performance, feature set, or ecosystem maturity.

Here's the bottom line: if you're spending $900 on a graphics card today, the RTX 4070 Super is what you should buy. It's the more capable, more reliable, more future-proof option. The premium you're paying buys you real advantages that matter for serious gaming. The Arc B580 is an excellent budget alternative, but it's not competing for the same buyer. The 4070 Super is the better GPU, period, even if it's not the better value.