ASUS today announced the ASUS NUC 14 Pro+, an ultracompact PC that offers best-in-class performance thanks to the power of the new Intel Core Ultra processor, which gives it the ability to locally run generative AI workloads. The machine's robust computing capabilities are further boosted by certified Bluetooth dongle-free connectivity, energy-efficient WiFi Sensing, and three AI engines (GPU, NPU, and CPU) that enable high throughput, low power consumption, and fast response. The eye-catching 5 x 4-inch anodized aluminium chassis is perfect for corporate or home office settings, and it features toolless access for fast, safe, and easy upgrades.

Style meets AI-driven performance
Available with Intel Core Ultra 9, 7, or 5 CPUs, the Intel Arc GPU for enhanced graphics, and Intel AI Boost (NPU), the ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ meets most computing needs and combines style with powerful performance. Together, its three AI engines - GPU, NPU, and CPU - enable higher throughput, lower power consumption, and faster response to locally run generative AI workloads. The Intel Core Ultra processors represent Intel's most power-efficient client processors to date. Compared to its predecessor, the NUC 13 Pro Mini PC, the ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ offers significantly enhanced AI processing performance, offering unmatched stability and up to 35% faster local computing, especially noticeable in tasks such as text-to-image generation using stable-diffusion software.

Intel has reportedly chosen the TSMC 4 nm EUV foundry node for its next generation Arc Xe2 discrete GPUs based on the "Battlemage" graphics architecture. This would mark a generational upgrade from the Arc "Alchemist" family, which Intel built on the TSMC 6 nm DUV process. The TSMC N4 node offers significant increases in transistor densities, performance, and power efficiency over the N6, which is allowing Intel to nearly double the Xe cores on its largest "Battlemage" variant in numerical terms. This, coupled with increased IPC, clock speeds, and other features, should make the "Battlemage" contemporary against today's AMD RDNA 3 and NVIDIA Ada gaming GPUs. Interestingly, TSMC N4 isn't the most advanced foundry node that the Xe2 "Battlemage" is being built on. The iGPU powering Intel's Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processor is part of its Compute tile, which Intel is building on the more advanced TSMC N3 (3 nm) node.

Intel very much does intend to make discrete gaming GPUs based on its Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics architecture, which made its debut with the Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake-MX" processor as an iGPU. With its next generation, Intel plans to capture an even bigger share of the gaming graphics market, both on the notebook and desktop platforms. "Battlemage" will be crucial for Intel, as it will be able to make its case with Microsoft and Sony for semi-custom chips, for their next-generation consoles. Intel has all pieces of the console SoC puzzle that AMD does. A Xe2 "Battlemage" discrete GPU sample, codenamed "Churchill Falls," has been spotted making its transit in and out of locations known for Intel SoC development, such as Bangalore in India, and Shanghai in China.

Such shipping manifests tend to be incredibly descriptive, and speak of an Arc "Battlemage" X3 and Arc "Battlemage" X4 SKUs, each with 448 execution units (EU), across 56 Xe cores. Assuming an Xe core continues to have 128 unified shaders in the "Battlemage" architecture, you're looking at 7,168 unified shaders for this GPU, a staggering 75% increase in just the numerical count of the shaders, and not accounting for IPC increase and other architecture-level features. The descriptions also speak of a 256-bit wide memory bus, although they don't specify memory type or speed. Given that at launch, the Arc A770 "Alchemist" was a 1440p-class GPU, we predict Intel might take a crack at a 4K-class GPU. Besides raster 3D performance, Intel is expected to significantly improve the ray tracing and AI performance of its Xe2 discrete GPUs, making them powerful options for creative professionals.

Intel has released its latest version of Arc GPU Graphics drivers for A-series discrete GPUs and Arc Graphics iGPUs, version 101.5594 Beta. The new drivers bring a fix for Citrix Workspace application on both Intel Arc A-Series and Intel Core Ultra CPU with Intel Arc GPUs that have exhibited sluggish behavior when interacting with a virtual desktop.

Unfortunately, there are no further fixes or optimizations as the previous Arc GPU Graphics drivers version 101.5593 Beta already brought optimizations for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail and The First Descendant games. There are still plenty of known issues on Intel Arc A-Series graphics products including ones with games like No Man's Sky, Enshrouded, Doom Eternal and application like Topaz Video AI. There are also known issues with Intel Arc Control Studio as well with corruption of the recording file when the mouse cursor is enabled during HDR capture and issues with schedule updates for drivers.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5594 Beta

Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics drivers for its A-series discrete GPUs and Arc Graphics iGPUs powering its Core Ultra processors. Version 101.5593 Beta comes with optimization for "The First Descendant" and "Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail," which includes support for ray tracing in the former. The company did not fix any issues with this release, but identified a few new ones to fix in future releases. These include application crashes with "No Man's Sky" and "Enshrouded," intermittent flickering and display corruption in the game menu of "Doom Eternal," and Topaz Video AI throwing up errors when exporting videos after using some models for video enhancements. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5593 Beta

During Computex 2024, Intel announced the next-generation compute platform for the notebook segment in the form of the Core Ultra 200V series, codenamed Lunar Lake. Set for release in September 2024, these processors are generating excitement among tech enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. According to the latest leak by VideoCardz, Intel plans to unveil nine variants of Lunar Lake, including Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5 models, with a single high-end Core Ultra 9 variant. While exact specifications remain under wraps, Intel's focus on artificial intelligence capabilities is clear. The company aims to secure a spot in Microsoft's Copilot+ lineup by integrating its fourth-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU), boasting up to 48 TOPS of performance. All Lunar Lake variants are expected to feature a hybrid architecture with four Lion Cove performance cores and four Skymont efficiency cores.

This design targets low-power mobile devices, striking a balance between performance and energy efficiency. For graphics, Intel is incorporating its next-generation Arc technology, dubbed Battlemage GPU, which utilizes the Xe2-LPG architecture. The leaked information suggests that Lunar Lake processors will come with either 16 GB or 32 GB of non-upgradable LPDDR5-8533 memory. Graphics configurations are expected to include seven or eight Xe2 GPU cores, depending on the model. At the entry level, the Core Ultra 5 226V is rumored to offer a 17 W base power and 30 W maximum turbo power, with performance cores clocking up to 4.5 GHz. The top-tier Core Ultra 9 288V is expected to push the envelope with a 30 W base power, performance cores boosting to 5.1 GHz, and an NPU capable of 48 TOPS. You can check out the rest of the SKUs in the table below.

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics drivers. Version 101.5592 WHQL is a minor update over the 101.5590 WHQL drivers that the company released on June 15. It corrects a bug that caused Pugetbench Extended Preset Benchmark to fail on Arc A-series discrete GPUs in certain Adobe Premiere Pro processing tests. The bug had caused the benchmark to fail to complete. The company took the opportunity to identify a handful more issues with certain Vulkan API games such as No Man's Sky, Enshrouded, and Doom Eternal. A bug that causes Topaz Video AI to throw up errors when exporting videos after using some models for video enhancements, has been identified.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5592 WHQL

According to the report from Phoronix, the upcoming Linux 6.11 kernel will introduce initial display support for the highly anticipated Intel Battlemage graphics processors. Battlemage, built on Intel's Xe2 architecture, represents the company's latest effort to challenge established players in the graphics arena. This new line of GPUs is designed to succeed the current DG2/Alchemist hardware, promising enhanced performance and improved power efficiency. The Linux 6.11 kernel will provide the fundamental capability to drive displays connected to Battlemage GPUs. While this initial support is a crucial first step, it lays the groundwork for more comprehensive functionality in future updates. Linux users and developers can look forward to testing and providing feedback on these new graphics solutions.

Intel's focus on power efficiency is evident in the features accompanying Battlemage support. The kernel will introduce Panel Replay functionality, a technology aimed at reducing display power consumption. This aligns with the growing demand for energy-efficient computing solutions, particularly in mobile and laptop segments. However, the work is far from complete. Intel's Linux graphics driver team continues to refine and optimize Battlemage support, with the goal of delivering a seamless experience by the time these GPUs hit the market later this year. The introduction of Battlemage support not only expands options for Linux users but also intensifies competition in the GPU market, potentially driving innovation across the industry. With promises of up to 1.5x over the previous generation Arc GPUs, we are in for a decent upgrade this year.

Intel on Friday (14/06) released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.5590 WHQL adds Game On (day-zero) optimization for Destiny 2: The Final Shape, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. For the Arc A-series discrete GPUs, the drivers also enhance performance of a couple of older Direct3D 11 and Direct3D 10 titles. For Chivalry 2, you can expect up to 13% improved performance at 1080p with epic settings; while for the original Crysis (2007), performance can be up by 10% with very high settings. The drivers provide similar performance uplifts for the Arc Series integrated graphics in Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" processors, with up to 16% uplifts for Chivalry 2, and up to 6% for Crysis 2 (2011). An intermittent application crash with No Rest for the Wicked has been fixed.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5590 WHQL

Intel released the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5534 Beta, the latest version of its graphics drivers for Arc graphics cards and integrated graphics. This release brings optimization for F1 24 and MultiVersus, which should improve performance across the line. The company didn't specify its performance improvement numbers. Besides these, the drivers lack the usual load of bug fixes for games or applications, but Intel took the opportunity to list out several issues it identified since the last driver release, so you know the company is working on them. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5534 Beta

ASUS today introduced the NUC 14 Performance, which as its name suggests, is geared for performance. This is essentially a twin of the ROG NUC, but without the flashy ROG styling, and a broader range of hardware options. The top-spec NUC 14 Performance combines an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H "Meteor Lake" processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 desktop GPU, however other processor and graphics options include the Core Ultra 7 155H processor, and RTX 4060 desktop GPU. You can't opt out of a discrete GPU, for that you'll need to opt for the NUC 14 Pro+, which only packs a Core Ultra 185H, and presents its Arc iGPU, but the I/O of that NUC will be significantly different.

Back to the ASUS NUC 14 Performance, and the box measures 270 mm X 180 mm X 50 mm (WxDxH), weighing just 800 g. You're supposed to add your own memory and storage, the NUC features two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory; and an M.2-2280 slot with PCIe Gen 4 x4 wiring. Network connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3; 2.5 GbE wired LAN. The main high-bandwidth I/O connection is Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps), which doubles up as USB4 40 Gbps, with a USB-C port that also supports DisplayPort 1.4 passthrough from the discrete GPU; a couple of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 2.0 ports for input devices, additional DP 1.4 ports from the GPU, and an HDMI 2.1. The NUC 14 Performance comes with a 330 W power brick. The company didn't reveal pricing, but pricing is expected in the USD $2,200 to $2,500 range.

GUNNIR unveiled the Photon Arc A770 and Arc A750 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree special edition graphics cards. The two cards are based on the Arc 7-series Photon OC triple-fan common board design GUNNIR launched in 2023. You get a themed backplate, and gold-colored embellishments on the front-side of the card, such as the three fan hubcaps, and the illuminated brand notch. At this point it's not clear if the special edition package include a copy of the game. The Photon OC Arc A770 is the variant with the 17.5 Gbps 16 GB GDDR6 memory, while the A750 is the one with 8 GB of 16 Gbps GDDR6. It's not clear if this card will be globally available.

Intel has validated and optimized its AI product portfolio across client, edge and data center for several of Microsoft's Phi-3 family of open models. The Phi-3 family of small, open models can run on lower-compute hardware, be more easily fine-tuned to meet specific requirements and enable developers to build applications that run locally. Intel's supported products include Intel Gaudi AI accelerators and Intel Xeon processors for data center applications and Intel Core Ultra processors and Intel Arc graphics for client.

"We provide customers and developers with powerful AI solutions that utilize the industry's latest AI models and software. Our active collaboration with fellow leaders in the AI software ecosystem, like Microsoft, is key to bringing AI everywhere. We're proud to work closely with Microsoft to ensure Intel hardware - spanning data center, edge and client - actively supports several new Phi-3 models," said Pallavi Mahajan, Intel corporate vice president and general manager, Data Center and AI Software.

Intel released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers today. The latest version 101.5522 WHQL brings mostly game ready support for titles like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield May Update, Wuthering Waves, and XDefiant. With the support for Starfield May Update, Intel has prepared performance improvements when the game runs on DirectX 12 API. This brings up to 8% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings and up to 7% average FPS uplift at 1440p with High settings, which is a notable improvement coming only from the driver. You can download the drivers from the link below.DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5522 WHQL.

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.5518 beta comes with optimization for "Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut" and "Homeworld 3." The drivers also fix a couple of issues with this release. To begin with, lower than expected performance with "Dragon's Dogma 2" has been fixed on Arc A-series discrete GPUs. A bug that caused "Dead Space" to experience lower than expected performance on Core Ultra processors with Arc Graphics has been fixed. Grab the latest version of Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5518 Beta

Leading global motherboard manufacturer, ASRock, has successively released its AI QuickSet software tool based on Microsoft Windows 10/11 and Canonical Ubuntu Linux platforms since the end of last year, which can help users quickly download, install and set up many artificial intelligence (AI) applications. It can also be accelerated by ASRock's custom AMD graphics cards, and has received widespread response from the market. Today ASRock continues its efforts and launch the AI QuickSet software tool that supports ASRock's custom Intel Arc A-Series graphics cards, including Intel Arc A770, A750, A580, A380, and A310 models, allowing users to enjoy the fun brought by generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications at their fingertips!

ASRock AI QuickSet software tool v1.0.3i supports Microsoft Windows 10/11 64-bit operating system, allowing users to easily install Stable Diffusion web UI OpenVINO without delving into complex configuration settings. This Stable Diffusion Web UI artificial intelligence (AI) image generation tool optimized through the Intel OpenVINO tool suite can be used with ASRock's own Intel Arc A series graphics cards (including Intel Arc A770, A750, A580, A380, A310 model)'s powerful computing capabilities provide excellent operational performance. This once again demonstrates ASRock's strong software and hardware R&D capabilities and its spirit of considering users. It also makes ASRock's AI QuickSet software tool once again a premium choice for consumers to quickly experience the fun of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications!

Recently, MINISFORUM officially starts showing the AtomMan X7 Ti on its website, which is the world's first Intel Ultra 9 AI Mini PC equipped with a dynamic screen. The X7 Ti pre-sale will begin at 19:00 PST on May 20th in the MINISFORUM official store. AtomMan is MINISFORUM's new high-end brand dedicated to developing cutting-edge and high-performance tech products. Currently, the AtomMan brand consists of two sub-series: X Series (Exploration/AI) and G Series (Gaming).

The AtomMan X7 Ti features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, built on Intel's 4 nm process technology. It boasts 22 threads, 16 cores, a maximum frequency of 5.1 GHz, 24 MB of L3 cache, and a TDP of 65 W. The integrated Arc Iris Xe graphics come with 8 Xe cores and 8 additional ray tracing units, supporting AV1 encoding and decoding. With 128 execution units (FP32 cores), it also supports XeSS sampling technology, significantly enhancing 3D rendering, video editing, and live streaming workflows, making it ideal for playing AAA games.

Intel released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Released today is the 101.5445 WHQL, which is a minor update over the 101.5444 Beta drivers from last weekend. It comes with Game On optimization for "Manor Lords." It includes all the DirectX 11 game-specific performance uplifts referenced in the change-log of the 101.5444 Beta drivers, and its fixed issues; but fixes an additional issue on top—lower than expected performance with "A Plague Tale: Requiem." Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5445 WHQL

Aetina, a leading Edge AI solution provider, announced the launch of the Aetina IA380E-QUFL at Embedded World 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany. This groundbreaking product is a small form factor PCIe graphics card powered by the high-performance Intel Arc A380E GPU.

Unmatched Power in a Compact Design
The Aetina IA380E-QUFL delivers workstation-level performance packed into a low-profile, single-slot form factor. This innovative solution consumes only 50 W, making it ideal for space and power-constrained edge computing environments. Embedded system manufacturers and integrators can leverage the power of 4.096 TFLOPs peak FP32 performance delivered by the Intel Arc A380E GPU.

Intel's next-generation Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics architecture is expected to introduce a significant update to the display engine over the current Xe "Alchemist." The display engine handles the various display I/O of the GPU. For most users with a single display that's running at or under 4K @ 60 Hz, this is irrelevant, however, as your resolution, refresh-rates, color bit-depth, and dynamic-range go up, some of the newer display connector formats become relevant. Intel beat both NVIDIA and AMD to be the first GPU maker to implement DisplayPort 2.1 albeit with a UHBR10 link layer (which is needed for DP 2.1). The DP 2.1 spec prescribes certain optional higher link layer bit-rates, such as UHBR13.5 and UHBR20. AMD was the first to implement UHBR13.5 and UHBR20 with the Radiance display engine in its RDNA 3 GPUs, and we're learning that Intel wants to catch up.

Driver patch notes unearthed by Phoronix find references to Arc "Battlemage" GPUs supporting UHBR13.5. These drivers are believed to have previously supported UHBR20, but support for the higher bit-rate was removed from the current version of drivers. It indicates that Intel is still evaluating the higher bit-rates on its unreleased GPUs, and production-ready versions could implement at least UHBR13.5. DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR13.5 (13.5 Gbps per lane), over a DP80-ready DisplayPort cable yields a maximum resolution of uncompressed 8K @ 60 Hz with HDR, or 4K @ 240 Hz with HDR. Intel is expected to debut "Battlemage" with its Core Ultra 200-series "Lunar Lake" mobile processors, later this year.

With 40+ years of experience in computer industry, SPARKLE is launching a series of graphics cards based on the recently launched Intel Arc GPU for edge and provide longevity support up to 5 years.

SPARKLE graphic cards feature high-efficiency AI, visual computing and media processing. GPU cards from SPARKLE are edge-focused form factors with long life and optimizations for embedded use conditions and improves development and operating efficiency based on an open ecosystem by leveraging AI inferencing software, OpenVINO which automatically distributes workloads across CPU and GPU. SPARKLE has prepared and showcased the full series of SPARKLE Intel Arc graphics cards targeted for the edge, based on Intel Arc A750E, A580E, A380E, A310E, A370E and A350E GPUs. These graphics cards come solid longevity support up to 5 years.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is excited to introduce the all-new Intel Arc A380 ST graphics card. Engineered for the modern user, the Arc A380 ST is the pinnacle of performance and efficiency in the world of digital entertainment and casual gaming. Featuring the cutting-edge Intel Arc A380 ST Graphics Engine and built on the PCIe 4.0 interface, the Arc A380 ST reigns supreme in its category. With DirectX 12 Ultimate and OpenGL 4.6 support, the BIOSTAR Arc A380 ST graphics card promises unparalleled visual fidelity, allowing users to immerse themselves in the latest gaming titles and multimedia content with extraordinary clarity and detail.

With a robust 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 96-bit memory interface clocked at 15.5 Gbps, the Arc A380 ST provides the bandwidth and speed necessary for seamless gaming and multitasking. The card's energy-efficient design does not compromise performance, boasting a graphics clock of 2000 MHz while maintaining a low total board power of 75 W.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is thrilled to introduce the brand-new Intel Arc A750 OC Graphics card. BIOSTAR proudly presents the Arc A750 OC graphics card, a true game-changer for content creators and professional gamers. It is meticulously designed to cater to a wide range of computing needs, seamlessly accommodating content creation and gaming at every level. The Arc A750 OC graphics card harnesses the cutting-edge Intel Arc graphics technology, offering a unique blend of unmatched performance and innovative features that sets it apart in the competitive market.

With its impressive 28 Xe-Cores and a graphics clock speed of 2200 MHz, the BIOSTAR Arc A750 OC is a powerhouse designed to deliver robust gaming and content creation performance. It comes packed with a substantial 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, operating at a lightning-fast speed of 16 Gbps, and utilizes a 256-bit memory interface for efficient data transfer and processing. With a total board power (TBP) of 225 W, this graphics card is engineered to balance power consumption with high-end performance, making it an exciting option for users looking for a powerful yet efficient GPU solution.

The industrial grade A380E graphics card features an exceptional cost/performance ratio, high reliability and low power consumption (50 W). As with all ADLINK industrial products, it delivers on longevity with availability guaranteed for a minimum of five years. In addition, the A380E graphics card is slim and compact with a single slot design, measuring only 69 mm x 156 mm.

Flexible application
Although the core market is likely to be commercial gaming, the A380E graphics card is also suited to industrial Edge AI applications such as Industrial IoT and retail analytics. Video wall graphics and media processing and delivery are examples of the many other potential uses.

According to the latest report from ComputerBase, Intel had a strong presence at the recently concluded Embedded World 2024 conference. The company officially showcased its Arc series of GPUs for the embedded market, based on the existing Alchemist chips rebranded as the "E series." However, industry whispers hint at a more significant development—the impending launch of Intel's second-generation Arc Xe² GPUs, codenamed "Battlemage," potentially before the lucrative Black Friday shopping season. While Alchemist serves as Intel's current offering for embedded applications, many companies in attendance expressed keen interest in Battlemage, the successor to Alchemist. These firms often cover a broad spectrum, from servers and desktops to notebooks and embedded systems, necessitating a hardware platform that caters to this diverse range of applications.

Officially, Intel had previously stated that Battlemage would "hopefully" arrive before CES 2025, implying a 2024 launch. However, rumors from the trade show floor suggest a more ambitious target—a release before Black Friday, which falls on November 29th this year. This timeline aligns with Intel's historical launch patterns, as the original Arc A380 and notebook GPUs debuted in early October 2022, albeit with a staggered and limited rollout. Intel's struggles with the Alchemist launch serve as a learning experience for the company. Early promises and performance claims for the first-generation Arc GPUs failed to materialize, leading to a stuttering market introduction. This time, Intel has adopted a more reserved approach, avoiding premature and grandiose proclamations about Battlemage's capabilities.