I'm considering an Arc B580 for a Ryzen 5 3600 system, with a possible CPU upgrade later. The 12 GB of VRAM looks appealing for the price. What are the main downsides?
Why do some people recommend against the Intel Arc B580?
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Nolven-2x
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A lot of the criticism comes down to price, not the card being terrible. At its $250 launch MSRP, the B580 can be a good deal. If it's priced much higher, compare it with whatever AMD and Nvidia cards are actually available near you, including used options if you're comfortable with them.
The 12 GB is nice, but VRAM alone doesn't determine how fast a card is. A used RTX 3080 or RX 6700 XT might make sense at the right price, though local prices and availability vary.
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Your Ryzen 5 3600 is relevant here. Arc drivers have had higher CPU overhead than competing cards, so a slower CPU can hold the B580 back in some games. Driver updates have improved things, but the CPU upgrade could still make a difference.
I'd look for benchmarks using a similar CPU and the games you play, rather than relying only on tests with a high-end processor.
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Driver support is the other concern. Arc has improved, but some people still report stability or display issues. That doesn't mean every system will have them, just that there's a bit more uncertainty than some buyers want to deal with.
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There are good reasons to like it too. The 12 GB is useful for the money, and it can be a solid option for 1080p gaming or 1440p with settings adjusted. Whether it's the best buy depends on the games, the actual price and what else you can get.
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Nolven-2x:
A used card makes me a little nervous. Buying new with a warranty is part of the appeal.
9c+spoolhandle_271:
That's a reasonable thing to factor in. A cheaper used card isn't automatically the better deal if the warranty and condition matter to you.