Intel Arc A550M vs GeForce GTX 980

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Intel Arc A550M and GTX 980 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

Intel Arc A550M outperforms GTX 980 by ~8% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+8%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Higher catalog score: Intel Arc A550M (~25%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider Intel Arc A550M

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • More graphics memory
  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Higher catalog value index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 3.0 · XeSS

Reasons to consider GTX 980

  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 5.2 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
4037
Efficiency
10075
Price / performance
5845
Memory capacity
6856
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 45–50of 411
Intel Arc A550M#47position in the GPU ranking
GTX 980not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

GeForce GTX 980

161 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
40Better
37
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
35Better
33
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
33Better
31
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
75
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
50Better
40

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

SpecificationIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
Release date
Upscaling
HDMI
DisplayPort
Max resolution
Max monitors
USB Type-C
Recommended PSU
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Architecture
Memory type
Compute API
Launch price
Shader units / cores
Interface
Thickness
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidth
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Transistor countBetter
Device class
Power connector

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares Intel Arc A550M and GTX 980 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.

Intel Arc A550MGTX 980
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
195 FPS
185 FPS
1080p Ultra
137 FPS
130 FPS
1440p Ultra
91 FPS
72 FPS
4K Ultra
27 FPS
25 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2Intel Arc A550M195 FPSGTX 980185 FPSIntel Arc A550M137 FPSGTX 980130 FPSIntel Arc A550M91 FPSGTX 98072 FPSIntel Arc A550M27 FPSGTX 98025 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077Intel Arc A550M126 FPSGTX 980119 FPSIntel Arc A550M108 FPSGTX 980103 FPSIntel Arc A550M66 FPSGTX 98053 FPSIntel Arc A550M18 FPSGTX 98017 FPS
Forza Horizon 5Intel Arc A550M159 FPSGTX 980150 FPSIntel Arc A550M103 FPSGTX 98097 FPSIntel Arc A550M82 FPSGTX 98065 FPSIntel Arc A550M39 FPSGTX 98036 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyIntel Arc A550M103 FPSGTX 98097 FPSIntel Arc A550M86 FPSGTX 98081 FPSIntel Arc A550M59 FPSGTX 98047 FPSIntel Arc A550M18 FPSGTX 98017 FPS
Average FPSIntel Arc A550M146 FPSGTX 980138 FPSIntel Arc A550M109 FPSGTX 980103 FPSIntel Arc A550M75 FPSGTX 98059 FPSIntel Arc A550M26 FPSGTX 98024 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexIntel Arc A550MGTX 980Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10040378%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100484018%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100484213%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100685619%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001007529%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

H2H AI workload indices

Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.

IndexIntel Arc A550MGTX 980Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100534516%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100514415%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100484213%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100564717%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100484311%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
DirectX12.212.1
Vulkan1.41.4
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingXeSSNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 3.0OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 5.2

Architecture and release

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
ArchitectureXe HPG (Alchemist)Maxwell 2.0
Process node6 nmBetter28 nm
Release date20222014
Device classMobileDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
Transistor count21700 millionBetter5200 million
Die size406 mm²398 mm²Better
Shader units / cores20482048
Base clock900 MHz1126 MHzBetter
Boost clock2050 MHzBetter1216 MHz

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 3x16
LengthOEM dependent267 mm
ThicknessIGPDual-slot
Recommended PSUOEM dependent450 W
Power connectorIntegrated laptop power6+6 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
HDMIOEM dependentHDMI 2.0
DisplayPortOEM dependentDisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-COEM dependentNo
Max monitorsOEM dependent5
Max resolutionDepends on host system7680 × 4320

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsIntel Arc A550MGTX 980
VRAM8 GB GDDR6Better4 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory bus128 bit256 bitBetter
TFLOPS8.397Better4.981

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device AIntel Arc A550M50
Device BGTX 98040
What AI will explain

Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.

Evidence details

Data coverage

Verified gaming results
0
Verified synthetic results
0
Games with verified results
0
Verified community results
0
Estimated / unverified results
32
Specifications
0 / 69

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

Calculated scores · How is this calculated?

Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.

clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)
Price evidence · View sources (3)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (4)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record changed: product_prices
  3. · Record updated: products
  4. · Record updated: products

Why you can trust this comparison

Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.

Report incorrect data

Owner experiences

Real builds, results, and community feedback.

Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges

Frequently asked comparison questions

Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.

01Which is better for gaming: Intel Arc A550M or GTX 980?

Intel Arc A550M has the higher overall gaming score, while Intel Arc A550M offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GTX 980 is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.

03Which is better for Blender?

GTX 980 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

Intel Arc A550M offers more overall performance, while Intel Arc A550M offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GTX 980 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

Intel Arc A550M is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

Intel Arc A550M leads in combined 1440p performance. Intel Arc A550M can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

Intel Arc A550M is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

Intel Arc A550M is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.

10Which is better without replacing the power supply?

Intel Arc A550M is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.

11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?

Consider upgrading to Intel Arc A550M if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.