2 wk. ago • 91%

Upgrading my GPU (intel or amd?)

Hi there, I am currently looking for a replacement for my GTX1060.

existing hardware

CPU AMD Ryzen 7 5800x
RAM 16GB DDR4 @3600mHz
Motherboard MSI b550a-pro
PSU 750W

Usecase: Unreal Engine 5 and Jedi Fallen Order are the most expensive things I can think of
Budget ~300€
OS Linux Mint (Linux Kernel 6.8)

I was originally thinking about going with an AMD RX7600 since it's cheap and meets the recommended specs for Unreal Engine 5 (8GB VRAM, Raytracing).

Asking in other forums the intel Arc B580 was recommended. It looks promising, but since Arc GPUs are quite new, I am worried about compatibility and stability.

Are any of you using an Arc GPU at the moment and what are your experiences in Linux, primarily with productivity?

How stable are the drivers in your experience?

Could you recommend going with intel or sticking to AMD for the best experience?

14 comments

I would probably take a gamble on the battlemage
https://www.phoronix.com/review/intel-arc-b580-graphics-linux

You would want a newer kernel though

16
- Intel does seem to be catching up. The Arc B580 performance:price ratio is already competitive, and Intel is apparently not done improving their driver.
  
  In my area, the Arc B580 is roughly the same price as an RX 7600, but with 50% more RAM. That's likely to keep it useful for longer.
  
  In OP's position, I think I might buy the Intel model, try it with the games I wanted to play, and return it if I couldn't get it working with them. (New kernel, firmware, and Mesa drivers would likely be important for such a new GPU.)
  
  9
- 6.12 to go now, 6.13 would be ideal
  
  4
Love or hate them. But performance wise, LTT had a glowing review of the new battlemage GPUs.

9
- Fwiw both GamersNexus and HardwareUnboxed also posted positive reviews.
  
  7
- I generally find Linus Sebastian's judgment and analysis to be of low quality, but Battlemage could still be good. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
  
  2
  
  Yeah, I'm a bit mixed with them for sure. But the numbers definitely look good.
  
  1
Can you wait a month? Maybe AMD will have something good. Now, usually they roll out some higher tier stuff first, but they have committed to mainstream this time around.

You can always buy the Battlemage if Nvidia and AMD don't put out a good value card at your price range

6
I have a similar setup but a older cpu and moved from a GTX 1660 to the RX7600. I feel happy with it and its handled all I've thrown at it but I wasn't after anything cutting edge.

4
- This will be the safe option if you don't need more performance Intel is the gamble if you want to play in higher resolutions as drivers aren't quite smoothed out yet are they?
  
  4
If I were in your position, I'd go Intel.

If you were aiming at, say, a 7800 XT, then I'd just stick with it. But Arc is very competitive against 7600/4060.

Edit: actually given the state of the Linux driver for Arc, that might be enough to suggest sticking with AMD at this time.

4
Even on a gtx 1660 super I upgraded to an arc a770

You should go for an intel b580

2
- How reliable is your gpu in linux, and what are you usually using it for, if you don't mind me asking?
  
  1
  
  could be better
  
  ATLEAST Wayland doesn't suck ass on it
  
  Otherwise, I do gaming, you would likely get better FPS on windows with the drivers at hand generally being behind but that would improve with adoption and time
  
  Either way, it wouldn't be a total disaster but since it has less market share issues with it would be exasperated, so don't be too cutting edge with arch
  
  Although it's fine with opensuse tumbleweed on my end
  
  1

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