Rumor has it that Intel will probably be unveiling its second-generation desktop graphics card subsequent month, nicely forward of the anticipated arrival of competing next-gen GPUs from AMD and Nvidia. The Intel Arc Battlemage graphics playing cards are stated to be “performing brilliantly subsequent month,” in response to one supply of leaked info.
The primary technology of Intel Arc desktop GPUs didn’t precisely shake up our greatest graphics card information, as we present in our Intel Arc A770 assessment, however ultimately, after many driver updates, they’ve come to be seen as first rate entry-level choices. In the meantime, rumors in regards to the vastly superior efficiency of its second technology of playing cards have swirled for years now. If these rumors are in any respect true, and Intel is about to launch its new playing cards in time for the vacation season, it might critically shake up the GPU market.
The rumor comes from common tech leak supply Golden Pig Improve, in a put up on Chinese language social community, Weibo. In a (translated) put up, Golden Pig Improve says that they’re “trying ahead to the great efficiency of Battlemage (desktop restrict) subsequent month.”
Assuming there’s any validity to this leak, it may very well be interpreted in a number of methods. Firstly, it might trace at Battlemage GPUs truly launching subsequent month, with reviewers and presumably even patrons with the ability to see that “great efficiency” for themselves. This appears unlikely however remains to be doable.
The second choice is that Intel will probably be asserting the playing cards subsequent month, and exhibiting off its personal efficiency figures. That is more likely, as Intel might do a so-called smooth launch and never even have merchandise available for purchase for months. As a substitute, it might simply be trying to construct hype for its GPUs forward of the anticipated unveiling of latest AMD and Nvidia GPUs on the CES commerce present in January 2025.
The third choice is that Golden Pig Improve is solely speaking about them with the ability to both pay money for a Battlemage GPU themselves or have entry to efficiency information from one other supply subsequent month. If a January launch for the playing cards is on the… playing cards, then distribution of the GPUs may very well be ramping up round now, resulting in extra availability of leaked information.
Golden Pig Improve has first rate kind in relation to tech leaks so there’s cause to be hopeful that any of the above choices will come to go in December. Nevertheless, there’s completely no assure, so take this suggestion with a grain of salt. It’s additionally price taking into consideration that “subsequent month” might imply December 31, which might solely be seven days earlier than CES 2025 kicks off anyway.
As for the Intel Arc Battlemage specs we are able to count on, rumors from as way back as March 2024 present some doable figures for the variety of Xe Cores and the Vector Engines (the bits that do the quantity crunching), together with clock speeds, L2 cache, and VRAM quantities. Nevertheless, these leaked specs, and the benchmark figures that additionally leaked with them, counsel these are low-end playing cards, not flagship choices.
| Arc Battlemage GPU #1 | Arc Battlemage GPU #2 | |
| Xe Cores | 24 | 20 |
| Vector Engines | 192 | 160 |
| L2 cache | 8MB | 8MB |
| VRAM | 11.6GB (12GB) | 11.6GB (12GB) |
| Clock pace | 1.8GHz | 1.8GHz |
For extra on what we’re anticipating from AMD and Nvidia’s large GPU launches early subsequent 12 months, try our RTX 5090 information and our AMD RDNA 4 information for all the most recent.