To begin my ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend review, I must say that the GPU is the perfect pick for casual gamers who don’t want to break the bank. The new series performs significantly better than the first generation of products.
It’s not all perfect, as you might assume, but it’s the right competitor appearing at the best time, bringing the perfect performance to 1080p and 1440p and challenging both AMD and Nvidia. Plus, it does all that for an MSRP of $250!
The current state of the GPU market is awful. The lack of strong competition allows Nvidia to control the market, as no other company offers anything comparable to what the brand offers in the high-end market.
Even the budget GPUs have become unnecessarily expensive, turning gaming into an expensive hobby. Luckily, out of all the brands that one could think of, Intel has stepped in with its Arc Series to try and make things interesting.
After a tough launch of its A series GPUs, Intel returned in December 2024 and won the hearts of gamers on a budget. Its new Battlemage series arrived ready to tackle the entry segment and drive prices lower.
I honestly have to say that it was the perfect timing, as I was building a new PC! The best part is the ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend that caught my eye, I thought it would be the perfect pair for my X870 Steel Legend motherboard by ASRock.
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ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend Specs
| GPU | Intel Arc B580 |
| GPU Clock | 2800 MHz |
| Memory Size | 12 GB 192-bit GDDR6 |
| Memory Clock | 19 Gbps |
| TDP | 190W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin |
| Ports | 3x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.1a |
| Intel Super Sampling Technology | Intel Xess 2 |
| Bus Standard | PCI Express 4.0 x8 |
| Recommended PSU | 650W |
| Dimensions | 298 x 131 x 51 mm, 2.6-slot |
Design and Build Quality
Opening the box was an amazing experience for me, as the last time I did this with a new card was when I got RX 5700 in 2020, one week before the lockdown. Almost 5 years later, here I was with a great budget GPU that looked nothing like a budget GPU.
The B580 Steel Legend has amazing build quality. The triple fan design looks amazing and does a wonderful job of keeping the card cool under load. The stylish metal backplate promises that the GPU will look incredible in any case.
The whole construction is sturdy, and despite the GPU’s weight of almost 1 kilogram, I noticed no sagging after installing it.
Although the card features a great-looking ARGB setup, there’s a simple switch to turn it off if you prefer it that way. On the other hand, there’s also an ARGB header that lets you add more lights and control their lighting through the Polychrome Sync software.
The ASRock Interl Arc B580 Steel Legend design is great. If you’re looking for a stylish white GPU, this should definitely be on your radar, especially if you’re looking for a great value product.
Intel Arc B580 Gaming Performance
Right from the start, my goal was to build a mid-range machine. That’s why I chose this GPU and paired it with a Ryzen 5 9600X. They seem like the perfect match for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
My gaming library is modest, but it does include modern games that are relevant for testing. I explore Intel Arc B580’s performance in the following titles:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Diablo 4
- Witcher 3
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Helldivers II
- Fortnite
I tested a couple of other titles, but these are not relevant to the majority of players. This is just a list of additional games that I’ve purchased in the past and wanted to try out. Before we go on, here are the full system specs:
| Case | NZXT H5 Flow RGB |
| Motherboard | ASRock X870 Steel Legend |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 9600X (running in 65W mode) |
| RAM | Kingston Fury Beast 64 GB 6400 MT/s CL 32 |
| Storage | Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB |
| GPU | ASRock Intel Arc B580 running on stock settings |
| PSU | NZXT C1200 Gold |
Cyberpunk 2077
One of the games that I bought immediately on release was Cyberpunk 2077, and I wanted to give it a go as soon as I picked up the GPU. Overall, I like how B580 handled Cyberpunk as I was able to run it on ultra settings in both 1080p and 1440p at over 60 fps. Here’s the detailed performance rundown.
| Cyberpunk 2077 Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 91.2 FPS – 1% 71 FPS – 0.1% 65 FPS |
| 1440p | 65.1 FPS – 1% 53.1 FPS – 0.1% 48.3 FPS |
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 is a game that requires plenty of power. The B580 held up well at maximum settings, with RT off, but the gameplay experience was not optimal. Even though the game kept performing above 50 FPS on average on both 1080p and 1440p, the 1% and 0.1% lows were quite low. Have a look.
| Diablo 4 Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 52.3 FPS – 1% 33.2 FPS – 0.1% 14.7 FPS |
| 1440p | 52.5FPS – 1% 33 FPS – 0.1% 2.7 FPS |
Witcher 3 (DX11 & DX12)
Witcher 3 gave mixed signals when it comes to performance. Even though numbers can be deceiving, in terms of DX11 giving a higher average FPS, I found that the DX12 offered a much smoother experience thanks to better 1% and 0.1% lows. At least that was the impression I got from testing the game – I played for about 10 minutes in each of these resolutions from the table below.
| Witcher 3 Resolution | DX11 FPS – Average – 1% – 0.1% | DX12 FPS – Average – 1% – 0.1% |
| 1080p | 162.7 FPS – 1% 136.6 FPS – 0.1% 12.8 FPS | 97.7 FPS – 1% 70 FPS – 0.1% 27 FPS |
| 1440p | 111.7 FPS – 1% 9.6 FPS – 0.1% 3.8 FPS | 66.7 FPS – 1% 59.7 FPS – 18.7 FPS |
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 is an intensive game with pretty high requirements. Intel Arc B580 handled it well. However, I did notice some issues with this game. The framerates you see in the table are with the highest preset set to Ultra+.
The game runs well for about 15 minutes, and then VRAM goes above the 12 GB that the card has and becomes unplayable. So, keeping the settings on high is necessary. If this problem can be solved through drivers or a game update, you can get the performance below.
If not, stick to the high preset for stability and an overall better experience, you’ll also get higher framerates than the ones in the table below.
| Warhammer 40,000 Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 64.4 FPS – 1% 38.7 FPS – 0.1% – 31 FPS |
| 1440p | 48.7 FPS – 1% 30.8 FPS – 0.1% 24.7 FPS |
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is another CPU-intensive game that also strains the GPU. I am happy to say that the ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend handled it without a hitch. Out of all the games tested in this list, it performed among the best in terms of 1% lows and 0.1% lows. The result is smooth gameplay that stays that way at all times.
| Hogwarts Legacy Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 84.1 FPS – 1% 46.6 FPS – 0.1% 42 FPS |
| 1440p | 60.6 FPS – 1% 37.8 FPS – 0.1% 34.6 FPS |
Helldivers II
Helldivers II was an impulse buy on my side as I saw hundreds of TikToks about this game. I bought it when it was popular, but being a dad didn’t let me have all the fun with my friends.
Still, it’s a good benchmark for determining what to expect if you’re a fan of this game and want to upgrade from an older GPU.
Like in Hogwarts Legacy and Space Marine 2, B580 puts on a great fight with astonishing 1% lows. The gameplay was a butter-smooth experience.
| Helldivers II Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 75.2 FPS – 1% 65 FPS – 0.1% 55.9 FPS |
| 1440p | 44.2 FPS – 1% 32.1 FPS – 0.1% 31.1 FPS |
Metro 2033 Exodus Enhanced Edition
Based on the best-selling novel, this game offers amazing graphics despite its age. It also features ray tracing, which I turned on to see how the B580 would handle it. Here are the results.
| Metro 2033 Exodus Enhanced Edition Resolution | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 91.1 FPS – 1% 74.6 FPS – 0.1% 67.9 FPS |
| 1440p | 74.7 FPS – 1% 50 FPS – 0.1% 47.8 FPS |
Fortnite
If you’re planning to compete with others in Fortnite, a B580 is a viable option. It can offer an average of over 200 FPS on 1080p with a medium settings preset.
If you’re rocking a 1440p 144hz monitor, the Intel Arc B580 averages over 150 FPS in that resolution at medium settings.
| Fortnite Resolution – Medium Preset | FPS – Average – 1% Low – 0.1% Low |
| 1080p | 226.9 FPS – 1% 156.5 FPS – 0.1% 88.1 FPS |
| 1440p | 156.4 FPS – 1% 125.2 FPS – 0.1% 110.3 FPS |
Other Games in my Library I Tested
I have some older games in my library that I’ve tested. I tried most of them in 4K at max settings to see how B580 would behave. Here are the results.
| Game | Intel Arc B580 Performance at 4K resolution |
| Mass Effect Legendary Edition | 152 FPS – 1% 94 FPS – 0.1% 43.6 FPS |
| Black Mesa | 188.4 FPS – 1% 125 FPS – 0.1% 114.4 FPS |
| Death Stranding | 157 FPS – 1% 111 FPS – 0.1% 91 FPS |
| Diablo 2 Resurrected | 110 FPS on average |
Before we discuss the card’s other features, please let me know if you’d like me to test a specific game. I might have it in the library.
Some benchmarks that I am planning to do include titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Wukong Benchmark, Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and PUBG. I’ll add these to the review as I finish testing them.
Features and Cooling
Notable ASRock Intel Arc B580 features that have made this GPU so appealing are the 12 GB VRAM size, XeSS 2, and great cooling solutions. Let’s take a closer look at each.
The 12 GB VRAM size is a great value proposition, and it allows the GPU to be competitive at 1080p and 1440p. This is also important in terms of future-proofing. More games will require GPUs to pack more VRAM, and the B580 will be ready to meet those demands.
XeSS is where things get a bit complicated. Although the super sampling technology is now supported by more than 150 titles, XeSS 2, which is supported by Battlemage GPUs, is only available in two games: Marvel Rivals and F1 2024.
Although more titles are coming, the adoption has been slow. Intel will have to make a better effort with this feature, as AMD and Nvidia are far ahead with broader adoption. If you’re advertising a feature with your product, make sure that it’s actually available. Otherwise, people will just pick your competitors.
What I really like about this card is its cooling system. The triple fan setup remains idle most of the time, and the fans only start spinning once the GPU is under heavier load. On that note, the highest temperature I got when the GPU was under load was around 62-65 degrees Celsius. I didn’t see the temperature go above that point.
Also, the power draw remained around 110W. This slightly changed with the latest driver release, which often pushes the card to 120W-130W, adding a slightly better experience.
The amazing cooling system leaves plenty of headroom to overclocking. While I didn’t do any overclocking myself, some Redditors have amazing results, managing to squeeze out an additional 8-9% from their B580s. Most importantly, aside from a slightly higher power draw, the GPUs remain relatively cool, which is important for their longevity.
Also, if you’re considering overclocking your Intel Arc B580, you’ll love that you can do it right from the brand’s software.
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great overclocking potential | Unpredictable driver updates |
| Effective triple-cooling setup | Inconsistent performance with older titles |
| Amazing value | |
| 12GB VRAM |
Competitor Comparison
When set against its competitors, the ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend competes with the RTX 4060, RX 7600, and its predecessor, the Intel Arc A770. In numerous titles, it manages to either even out or perform better than the others.
The best part is that it does all that for a lower price. On average, the GPU is cheaper than its competitors, around $50-$75, depending on stock and discounts at Amazon and Newegg.
Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s all perfect. Intel has a long way of improving its drivers. Each update is a gamble, and it’s best to stay on a version that runs smoothly at the moment. See what those brave enough to immediately update their drivers have to share on Reddit.
Once the driver ecosystem becomes better, the GPU’s price point will offer even more value! The same goes for XeSS 2 adoption.
Pricing and Value
ASRock Intel Arc B580 price is where the brand is hitting its competitors the hardest. In the sub $300 category, you won’t find plenty of other cards with this value. The Intel Limited edition cards are sold at an MSRP of $250 if you’re lucky enough to strike when it’s in stock.
The model I bought, the ASRock B580 Steel Legend, retails for $279 and is sometimes discounted to $259. It is very affordable, especially because it comes with 12 GB of VRAM. With this much memory, it can easily run modern titles in 1440p and some older ones in 4K.
Conclusion
Overall, Intel is onto something here. It has managed to break into the market segment with the highest percentage of users globally. Remember that the 4060 is the most popular GPU used by gamers, and taking that portion of the market is a viable strategy.
The ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend offers amazing value to all gamers who aren’t looking to spend a fortune to play games. Pairing this GPU with a mid-range CPU will allow you to game on either 1080p or 1440p.
Most of the games will run at the highest settings, some will even be playable will RT is turned on. But keep in mind that this is a budget card. Don’t expect it to perform miracles because it will not. What it will do, however, is give you over 60 FPS in the most popular titles and multiplayer games without having to spend a fortune.
So far, my experience with this card has been amazing. One small reminder for all of you considering buying it—the internet is a great place, please research how well this GPU pairs with older CPUs and how it performs in games that you’re most interested in.
I’ll finish this ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend review on a positive note, Intel has managed to give something to gamers that others have not—a great 1080p and 1440p gaming experience under $300.
