Wednesday, April 6th 2022

Intel Readies Third DG2 "Alchemist" ASIC with 256 EU

Intel's recently announced Arc "Alchemist" line of discrete gaming graphics processors consists of at least five mobile SKUs across the Arc 3, Arc 5, and Arc 7 lines; with desktop SKUs expected later this year. These are based on one of two ASICs—the DG2-128 (ACM-G11) and the DG2-512 (ACM-G10), both built on the TSMC N6 (6 nm) silicon fabrication process. Coelacanth's Dream discovered a third ASIC when digging through Intel Graphics Compiler code on GitHub, referred to as the "ACM-G12."

This silicon has exactly half the amount of number-crunching machinery as the DG2-512, and features 256 execution units (EU), or 16 Xe cores, working out to 2,048 unified shaders—double that of the DG2-128, but half that of the DG2-512. Interestingly, the Arc 5 A550M mobile GPU announced last week has specifications corresponding to this silicon, even though it was announced to be a heavily cut-down DG2-512. Intel probably figures that at some point making A550M GPUs using DG2-512 could mean cutting down perfectly functional silicon, and so it makes sense to manufacture physically smaller dies (more dies per wafer). There are no other known specs of the ACM-G12. It's quite likely given the rest of its alignment with the A550M's specs that it could feature a 128-bit wide GDDR6 memory interface.
Sources: Coelacanth’s Dream, Intel Graphics (Github), VideoCardz
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6 Comments on Intel Readies Third DG2 "Alchemist" ASIC with 256 EU

#1
Bloax
If this is an actual 256 EU die, as opposed to a cut-down and binned (for power efficiency) 512 EU one, then it is likely an addition to the lineup as a result of DG2 originally having a 2021 release and already being produced a while ago.

otherwise, well yes there were whispers of 256 EU models
Posted on Reply
#2
Chrispy_
I hate to sound like a broken record but Intel has been "readying" DG2 for three years already. Until there's a tangible product in the hands of a consumer, via a retail outlet, it's still just vapourware and Intel's hype department.
Posted on Reply
#3
mechtech
ASIC……so strictly for mining ;)
Posted on Reply
#4
Vayra86
So what is this phase then? Eyeliner, foundation, and the rest? Deodorant finish?!

Where them benchmarks at?
Posted on Reply
#5
defaultluser
Still waiting. By the time these are released in retail, it will fending off Lovelace
Posted on Reply
#6
Bloax
defaultluserStill waiting. By the time these are released in retail, it will fending off Lovelace
Yes - fantastic news for anyone waiting for a [H]ot Deal on new hardware that should've-could've been released 12+ months prior ;)
Posted on Reply
May 29th, 2024 07:13 EDT change timezone

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