Recent benchmark listings on SiSoftware have revealed two new Intel GPUs, each equipped with 10 and 12 Xe cores and featuring 12GB of VRAM. These GPUs could potentially be part of Intel's upcoming Battlemage lineup, though their specifications, including clock speeds and L2 cache sizes, have sparked discussions about their exact nature. They could also represent alternative configurations of the Alchemist series, prototypes, or even new integrated graphics solutions. Battlemage, anticipated as the successor to the Arc Alchemist series, aims to cater to the dedicated graphics card sector and is expected to be integrated into future Intel CPU architectures, such as Lunar Lake. Speculations suggest a Q3 2024 launch for Battlemage, aligning with the timing of these leaks.

The SiSoftware entries indicate modest specifications for the new GPUs, with the less powerful variant featuring 1440 shader Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) and the more powerful one housing 1728 shader ALUs. This places them between the Arc A380, with 1024 shaders, and the Arc A580, which boasts 3456 shaders. The actual number of Xe-cores could range from 10 and 12 to potentially 20 and 24, depending on the shader distribution per Xe-core. The reported clock speed for both GPUs is 1.8GHz, possibly indicative of early development stages. Both units come with 12GB of VRAM, surpassing the 8GB found in the mid-range A580 and A750 GPUs, although the memory interface and chip configuration may differ. The 8MB L2 cache reported is unusual for a 12GB card, deviating from the cache allocations seen in the Alchemist series, and raising questions about the architectural choices for these GPUs. This might suggest a departure from traditional cache-to-memory interface ratios, potentially hinting at innovations in the Battlemage architecture or different design considerations for these units. Comparative analysis with existing Arc Alchemist GPUs shows these new units have higher shader counts than the A380 but significantly fewer than the A580. This positions them possibly as budget to mid-range solutions, though their final classification will depend on comprehensive specifications and performance benchmarks.

The performance data from SiSoftware, while not definitive, suggests these GPUs could offer competitive performance within their segment, especially if the shader counts and clock speeds are indicative of their final configurations. With the potential for substantial improvement in clock speeds and Xe-core counts, these GPUs might position Intel as a contender in the GPU market, provided the final products align with these early indicators. Intel's strategy appears to involve leveraging larger caches to enhance GPU performance, a lesson echoed by competitors AMD and Nvidia. Although the 8MB L2 cache might seem modest, the presence of an unreported L3 cache could alter performance dynamics significantly.

As the industry anticipates the arrival of Battlemage, these leaks offer a tantalizing preview of what Intel may have in store for the GPU market. However, the true impact of these GPUs will only be clear once more detailed specifications and performance benchmarks become available.

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Source: tomshardware