Lately, the chatter about Intel stepping away from the discrete GPU market has been dwindling. More substantial proof of their upcoming Arc Celestial "Xe3" and more premium Battlemage "G31" chips is surfacing online.
Intel Steps Up With Xe3 & Xe4 GPU Development
Recently, Intel rolled out their new Battlemage B-Series, including the Arc B580 and Arc B570 graphics cards. Aimed at the mainstream market with prices under $250, these cards are set to take on existing and new offerings from AMD and NVIDIA.
Intel is prioritizing gamers with its Arc Battlemage series, much like AMD with their forthcoming RDNA 4 "Radeon RX 8000" lineup. However, Intel may have a few unexpected tricks up its sleeve.
A recent tweet from Tomasz Gawroński highlighted a significant shipment of Battlemage G31 chips from Malaysia, suggesting that higher-end B-Series graphics cards might hit the market soon.
The Arc B580 and B570 utilize BMG-G21 SoCs, but the G31 is believed to feature an enhanced number of Xe2 cores, likely integrated into SKUs like the B770. Intel’s Tom Petersen has also hinted at more potent Arc B-series cards in the pipeline, which might include these new chips.
Intel Celestial "Xe3" Takes Shape
On the discrete front, Intel’s Celestial or Xe3 products have made it to shipping manifests under the codename "Panther Falls." This internal name is associated with Celestial SKUs, all part of the Arc series, as noted by industry observer @Haze2K1. Intel has confirmed that they’re wrapping up work on Celestial, moving swiftly towards the Druid "Xe4" development.
The Twitter user Haze also announced that C-Series discrete GPUs are in progress. The reveal of the new GPU lineup has been eagerly anticipated, with various qualification samples now listed, including PCBs and complete boards. Interestingly, Tomasz Gawroński spotted another discreet Arc Celestial GPU, possibly a 128 EU or 16 Xe3 model, suggesting a budget-friendly option.
These new insights should put to rest any speculation surrounding the cancellation of the Arc series. Intel’s launch of their second-gen Arc products, along with the confirmation of future lineups, and hints at high-end launches within the Battlemage family, paint a strong picture of their ongoing commitment. We can look forward to further announcements at CES 2025, as Intel’s B580 and B570 continue to establish them as a formidable player in the mainstream sector.
Intel ARC Gaming GPU Lineup Overview
The ARC gaming GPU lineup spans:
- GPU Families: Intel Xe-HPG through Xe Next Next.
- Products: Ranging from ARC Alchemist to ARC E*** GPUs.
- Segments and Generations: Mainstream to high-end gaming across multiple generations, with expectations to reach Gen 16.
- Integrated Graphics: Covering Xe-LPG and Xe3-LPG across different CPU lines.
- Nodes and Specs: Utilizing TSMC’s advanced nodes with various specific designs and memory configurations.
Stay tuned as Intel continues to advance its discrete GPU offerings with an eye on shaking up the competition.
