Intel Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" Not Coming to Mobile AICs, Possibly First PCIe Gen 5 GPU

[btarunr]

Intel is planning to launch its next-generation Arc "Battlemage" GPUs in 2024. When they come out, they could possibly be the first to implement a PCIe Gen 5 host interface, with the BCM-G10 silicon powering the top SKUs reportedly featuring PCI-Express 5.0 x16. Given how sensitive current generation Arc GPUs are to host interface features such as resizable BAR, the GPUs might possibly need not just the added bandwidth, but also features Gen 5 introduces, such as memory coherency. It might not just be a move aimed at sprucing up the specs sheet.

The Moore's Law is Dead report behind this leak also says that with the Arc Xe2 generation, Intel might not release mobile AIC cards like it does with the current generation. Now, this does not mean that there won't be mobile SKUs, it's just that they'll be sold to laptop OEMs to hardwired onto their laptop mainboards—as it's done on the majority of laptops with discrete GPUs. Besides laptop GPUs in trays, Intel will also develop desktop PCIe add-on graphics cards based on the new GPUs.



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[Onasi]

Obviously, this is just a rumor, and from a somewhat dubious source at that, but suppose it’s true. This would be, IMO, a fairly bad play on Intels part if the card will actually REQUIRE Gen5 to work properly. Not just “loses 1-2% performance at Gen4”, but straight up needs it to function akin to ReBAR on Alchemist. That’s a significant chunk of potential market gone right there. Not everyone is on a Gen5 capable platform, far from it. And for a new player who desperately needs to grow market and mind-share this would be a catastrophically bad move. Thus my doubts. Intel isn’t THAT stupid.

 

[TumbleGeorge]

When they come out, they could possibly be the first to implement a PCIe Gen 5

Maybe if launch before AMD/Nvidia which also will come with PCIe 5(rumors).

 

[Tomorrow]

It would not be the first card using Gen5. A Chinese card from Moore Threads is already using Gen5 interface.
The correct way would be to say this is Intel's first card using Gen5.

Although ultimately it's unnecessary considering the fact that it wont be a high end card.
The bigger question is will it be x8 or full x16.

Because producing x8 Gen5 card means that it will run at the same x8 link at Gen4 and Gen3 speeds. Tho i doubt too many people running Gen3 are even considering buying a new card. Gen4 motherboards were released five years ago already so Gen4 should be widespread and cheap.

 

[ZoneDymo]

more mlid garbage, pls include it in the title so I know its of no value and can skip it.

just a simple "according to mlid" is enough

 

[Tomorrow]

more mlid garbage, pls include it in the title so I know its of no value and can skip it.

just a simple "according to mlid" is enough

Ah i see. And how is Intel doing? Arc was severely delayed. Arc+ never materialized. Raja and Shrout left the company. Battlemage is in limbo.
I see everything as going according to plan?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ah i see. And how is Intel doing? Arc was severely delayed. Arc+ never materialized. Raja and Shrout left the company. Battlemage is in limbo.
I see everything as going according to plan?

What you're blatantly ignoring is the overall success the ARC GPU's have been. And they're only getting better with every refinement applied to the drivers.

Who would have thought that Intel would be a market underdog??

 

[Onasi]

@lexluthermiester
Yeah, dogpiling on Intel is all well and good, but you can’t deny the absolute titanic work they have done in only a year. From an incredibly janky GPU that barely worked with older titles, somewhat poorly with DX11 and only really showed itself in low-level APIs, not to mention having a driver suite that was as buggy as a Bethesda game, to an actually respectable mid-tier performer in most situations with solid, if not perfect yet, drivers.
I think people underestimate just how bloody hard something like that is in such a short timespan. NV and AMD has been in this game for decades (ATI included here). Yes, Intel has massive resources, but no amount of those can replace real experience. I can only hope that the shareholders understand that this will take time to flourish and won’t shut down the program instantly because “muh profits”.

 

[Luke357]

Although ultimately it's unnecessary considering the fact that it wont be a high end card.
The bigger question is will it be x8 or full x16.

Because producing x8 Gen5 card means that it will run at the same x8 link at Gen4 and Gen3 speeds. Tho i doubt too many people running Gen3 are even considering buying a new card. Gen4 motherboards were released five years ago already so Gen4 should be widespread and cheap.

If you have a higher end 10th or 9th gen machine you might want a need card. If you have an older AM4 board you will still be on PCIe3 too. Most Gen3 systems probably wouldn't benefit from a new card but there are times my 3080Ti bottlenecks my 10850k. Just because you don't have a use case doesn't mean others won't

 

[ZoneDymo]

Ah i see. And how is Intel doing? Arc was severely delayed. Arc+ never materialized. Raja and Shrout left the company. Battlemage is in limbo.
I see everything as going according to plan?

what? were you meant to respond to someone else?

 

[Tomorrow]

what? were you meant to respond to someone else?

No. I replied to your post specifically because people seem to have forgotten what was said by him years ago.

Also people hating on someone who is literally trying to predict the future is amusing, considering that everyone who predicts the future in some form or shape is often wrong. At least he puts his name and face on video. Same can't be said for some anonymous forum posters with anime profile pics, who "leak" things.

 

[lexluthermiester]

what? were you meant to respond to someone else?

No, they're just thread trolling..

 

[Minus Infinity]

Even if true I could care less about discrete mobile parts. Strix Halo will kill any need for discrete mobile parts up to bout 4050/4060 mobile level.

All I care about is real competition in the 4070 Ti/7900XT level for 75% of the price. If they can get the drivers right they should do well on desktop. We need moar competition for consumers and to put a rocket up AMD's and Nvidia's arse.

 

[Onasi]

All I care about is real competition in the 4070 Ti/7900XT level for 75% of the price. If they can get the drivers right they should do well on desktop. We need moar competition for consumers and to put a rocket up AMD's and Nvidia's arse.

That would require a chip that would be more than double the performance of the current DG2-512. I don’t think that’s happening with Battlemage. We would be lucky to see a 50% gen-on-gen improvement. Sure, they can also go for a bigger, more expensive die for the high-end market, but I sorta don’t see them going that way for now.

 

[Jism]

If you have a higher end 10th or 9th gen machine you might want a need card. If you have an older AM4 board you will still be on PCIe3 too. Most Gen3 systems probably wouldn't benefit from a new card but there are times my 3080Ti bottlenecks my 10850k. Just because you don't have a use case doesn't mean others won't

All you need in order to activate PCI-E 4.0 on AM4 boards is a CPU at minimum 3x00 series. Your talking nonsense about Gen3 on AM4 boards.

 

[Luke357]

All you need in order to activate PCI-E 4.0 on AM4 boards is a CPU at minimum 3x00 series. Your talking nonsense about Gen3 on AM4 boards.

If you have a B450 or lesser you can't have Gen4 PCIe.