Intel Arc B580 Price Climbs to ¥3,200 as EOL Rumors Swirl
The Intel Arc B580, once treated by players as a clean value pick in the mid-range GPU segment, is now facing a situation that mirrors NVIDIA’s RTX 5090. Launched in December 2024 at ¥2,049 (~$290) with 12GB of VRAM as a high-value gaming card, the B580 is now selling for roughly ¥3,200 (~$450) through online retail channels, with its original launch price almost entirely gone from storefronts.
According to leaker Haze2K1, Intel may be marking the B580 as an end-of-life (EOL) product while redirecting resources toward the Arc Pro line of professional graphics cards. The BMG-G21 chip inside the B580 is also used in professional products such as the Arc Pro B50 and B60, which target AI inference customers. While that same chip is priced at $249 (~¥1,780) on the consumer side, its profit margins on the professional side are described as extremely generous.
This path closely resembles what NVIDIA has already done. NVIDIA reportedly shifted GB202 chip production capacity away from the RTX 5090 toward the more profitable RTX Pro series. Partners holding existing orders were unable to secure stock smoothly, and the tight supply situation has not eased despite official statements. Intel now appears to be following a similar logic, prioritizing higher-margin professional silicon over consumer gaming cards during a period of constrained supply.
Intel publicly denied rumors of an Arc desktop graphics card discontinuation in June 2026, reaffirming its commitment to the GPU product line and calling Arc very important to its PC business. Responding to B580 stock shortages, an Intel community support representative stated that an inventory shortage does not necessarily mean the B580 has been discontinued, suggesting the issue may stem from supply or board partners instead. For budget-conscious PC builders, this is a frustrating turn — the card that once defined value is now priced well beyond its launch positioning.
