Intel has decided to re-organize its Max series of Data Center GPUs (codenamed Ponte Vecchio), as revealed to Tom's Hardware this week, with a particular model - the Data Center Max GPU 1350 set for removal from the lineup. Industry experts are puzzled by this decision, given that the 1350 has been officially "available" on the market since January 2023, following soon after the announcement of the entire Max range in November 2022. Intel has removed listings and entries for the Data Center GPU Max 1350 from its various web presences.

A (sort of) successor is in the works, Intel has lined up the Data Center Max GPU 1450 for release later in the year. This model will have a trimmed I/O bandwidth - this modification is likely targeting companies in China, where performance standards are capped at a certain level (via U.S. sanctions on GPU exports). An Intel spokesperson provided further details and reasons for rearranging the Max product range: "We launched the Intel Data Center Max GPU 1550 (600 W), which was initially targeted for liquid-cooled solutions only. We have since expanded our support by offering Intel Data Center Max GPU 1550 (600 W) to include air-cooled solutions."The Intel spokesperson continues with the explanation: "As a result, we are streamlining our product offerings by removing the Intel Data Center Max GPU 1350 (450 W), which was geared for air-cooled solutions. We will introduce the Data Center GPU Max 1450 SKU later in 2023, which has lower IO bandwidth for different markets and will be able to use air- and liquid-cooling solutions. Rounding out our product portfolio, we will introduce the Data Center GPU Max 1100 SKU, which is a 300 W PCIe card (Gen 5) for broad market deployments."

Intel has not provided full specifications for the new Data Center GPU Max 1450, but it is speculated that air and liquid cooling solutions will be on offer. It will likely share the, now nixed, 1350 model's 450 W TDP rating, and is expected to be based on a cutback version of the existing Data Center Max GPU 1550 - if you read between the lines of the spokesperson's statement.


Intel's AXG division has undergone major changes in recent times, including the the reassigning and eventual departure of its former chief architect last month. The company announced that its Rialto Bridge GPU architecture was no longer in development earlier this year. Rialto Bridge was set to succeed Ponte Vecchio (as featured in the current Max GPU 1000-series Data Center lineup), but the silicon giant had decided to spread out its product release dates with a newly established biennial schedule.Intel seemed to be very confident in the Max series' prospects when it was announced last year: "We're pleased to announce and spotlight our newest GPU, the Intel Data Center GPU Max Series. Formerly codenamed Ponte Vecchio, Intel Data Center GPU Max Series offers the industry's highest-density processor with more than 100 billion transistors on 47 active tiles and up to 128 Xe-HPC cores. Enjoy this close-up trailer to see how it looks."