Intel Arc “Battlemage”: What We Know So Far
Intel aims to compete with AMD and Nvidia with its next generation of consumer graphics cards, codenamed “Battlemage.” Intel is best known for its work on processors, but in recent years the tech giant has been pushing into the GPU market. Unfortunately, its initial efforts with the first generation of Intel Arc graphics cards failed […]
Intel aims to compete with AMD and Nvidia with its next generation of consumer graphics cards, codenamed “Battlemage.”
Intel is best known for its work on processors, but in recent years the tech giant has been pushing into the GPU market. Unfortunately, its initial efforts with the first generation of Intel Arc graphics cards failed to match the performance or sales figures of AMD or Nvidia.
Intel hasn’t given up yet. The company is pinning its hopes on its next-generation Arc GPU, dubbed “Battlemage,” which promises significant improvements over its predecessor.
Intel has yet to confirm the Battlemage GPU lineup, so much of this information comes from leaks and industry insider reports. As such, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Intel Arc ‘Battlemage’ Release Window Speculations
At Embedded World 2024 in April, industry representatives and professionals at the show said Intel was planning a late 2024 release. The target date was given as Black Friday, which this year will be November 29.
If correct, this would place the launch of Battlemage approximately two years after the release of its predecessor, the Arc Alchemist series.
The BMG-G10 card is expected to be the first to launch, followed later by the BMG-G21 and BMG-G31. However, some unsubstantiated rumors suggest that the BMG-G10 has been canceled and that the BMG-G21 and BMG-G31 – and thus the Battlemage lineup as a whole – have been pushed back to 2025.
Intel Arc ‘Battlemage’ Specs Leaked
According to a leaked Intel roadmap, three cards are planned: the BMG-G10, BMG-G21, and BMG-G31.
The most important specs we have so far concern the BMG-G10, which was initially touted as the high-end flagship chip in the Battlemage lineup.
The available specifications are as follows:
- HPG Xe2 Architecture
- 56 races Xe
- 448 XVE (EU)
- Each XVE unit includes 2 shaders
- 112MB Adamantine Cache
- 16GB 256-bit GDDR6X video memory
- Power consumption up to 225 W
Data acquired from SiSoftware Sandra website by WCCF technology shows that Intel is working on two Xe2 chips for the Battlemage GPU. One of them has 20 Xe-Cores, while the other has 24. Both are listed as having 15GB of VRAM.
Intel, PexelsIn June 2024, Videocardz reported that the BMG-G10 was expected to have 28 Xe-Cores, contrary to previously leaked figures. Reliable Leaker Bionic Squash On Twitter, it was stated that the BMG-G31 will be the largest in the Battlemage lineup, with 32 Xe2 cores.
Reported by a Twitter user and industry insider harukaze5719 This information about the BMG-G31 was briefly published on Intel’s website. It was listed in a document titled “PTT Commitment – BGA3283 – BMG-G31 VRTT Interposer – Prototypes (Internal Only)”.
This document has since been deleted.
Intel Arc “Battlemage” Processor Performance Speculation
On paper, the specifications don’t seem any more impressive than the already existing Alchemist. However, the Battlemage is said to have a core count doubled by Xe-Core. Additionally, Intel will implement a new memory subsystem. This could introduce GDDR7 support, which has great potential for performance improvements.
It’s also worth remembering that firmware and drivers can make a substantial difference to GPU performance. At launch, Intel Arc Alchemist didn’t produce impressive numbers, but some users have since adopted the Arc platform thanks to improvements brought by subsequent firmware and driver updates.
According to leaker Bionic_Squash and reported by Checking the notebookIntel intends to focus on the entry-level and mid-range GPU market. Since Nvidia discontinued the GTX 1630 and 1650, this has left a gap in the price range that Intel could look to take advantage of.
Intel Arc ‘Battlemage’ Features Speculation
When it comes to Nvidia and AMD’s gaming performance, the pendulum is tilting towards Nvidia. This is due to its feature suite, namely DLSS. Intel, however, has its own answer to DLSS.
With its added AI, Nvidia’s DLSS can outperform its AMD counterparts by leveraging features like frame-shifting. This technology inserts extra frames during gameplay to ensure a smooth gaming experience.
Dexerto Intel’s version, called XeSS, uses a technique similar to Nvidia’s called Frame Extrapolation. Frame interpolation, like that used by Nvidia and AMD systems, typically uses two frames of data, one before and one after the inserted frame, to blend the added frames together.
Frame extrapolation, on the other hand, only requires a single frame of data. This means the system has to work harder to fill in the gaps, but it has a crucial advantage: it reduces input lag.
A version of this technology is planned for current Intel Arc GPUs, so upgrades and improved versions are likely planned for Intel’s next generation of graphics cards.
