Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) vs Intel AI Boost NPU (Core Ultra 100)
Intel AI Boost NPU (Core Ultra 100) is the more capable pick; Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) is the cheaper one - which wins comes down to the job below.
The verdict
- Plex
- Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) transcodes video; Intel AI Boost NPU (Core Ultra 100) is detection-only (no transcode).
- Frigate
- Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) handles more cameras (~25 vs ~13).
Which wins for each job
| Job | Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) | Intel AI Boost NPU (Core Ultra 100) |
|---|---|---|
| Plex transcode | ~8 streams win | none |
| Frigate NVR | ~25 cameras win | ~13 cameras |
| Local LLM | none | none |
| Fits a mini-PC | built into a CPU | built into a CPU |
Approximate - capacity estimates from curated specs, the same logic as the recommender. Verify against your exact setup. Prices move; check the retailer.
Full specs
| Spec | Intel Arc iGPU (Core Ultra) | Intel AI Boost NPU (Core Ultra 100) |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | - | - |
| Type | igpu | npu |
| Interface | built-in | built-in |
| Transcode | H.264/HEVC/AV1 encode | - |
| Frigate detector | OpenVINO | OpenVINO |
| TOPS | - | 11 |
| VRAM (GB) | - | - |
| Low profile | no | no |
| GPU sharing | sr-iov | - |
| Power (W) | 0 | 0 |