Intel’s next-gen GPU has already been spotted in shipping
We've seen leaks for Intel's Battlemage GPUs for over a year now, but some shipping documentation hints that a launch is right around the corner.
JimMin
Intel’s next-gen Battlemage graphics cards have already been caught in shipping — but not to actual customers. Prolific hardware leaker @momomo_us shared shipping manifests that list two Battlemage GPUs sent through the mail at the “Pre QS” stage of development. Still, it’s definitely a sign that Intel’s hotly-anticipated Battlemage GPUs are moving along.
— 188号 (@momomo_us) March 28, 2024
We already knew that Battlemage GPUs were coming, and normally, shipping details for pre-production GPUs aren’t worth noting. However, Intel has a lot going on in the near future. In just a week, Intel is set to give a keynote at Intel Vision in Arizona, and in June, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will give a keynote at Computex in Taipei.
That’s a lot of opportunities to talk about Battlemage. At the beginning of the year, Intel confirmed that the hardware team had already moved onto “the next thing” and that about 30% of Intel’s graphics engineers are working on software for Battlemage. It appears Battlemage GPUs are entering the final stages of validation, setting up a launch later in the year.
Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Early last year, YouTube leaker RedGamingTech claimed that Intel would talk about the flagship Battlemage GPU between April and June of this year. The flagship card is said to come with 64 Xe Cores, double what’s available on the Arc A770, and use semiconductor manufacturer TSMC’s 4nm node. Perhaps most exciting is that the leaker claimed the die would be about the size of Nvidia’s AD103 — the GPU at the heart of RTX 4080 Super.
It’ll be interesting once we have Intel’s Battlemage GPUs in hand. It’s been a year and a half since Intel’s first Arc graphics cards released, and in that time, Intel has consistently worked to fix performance issues with its first-gen GPUs. Now, they’re an excellent buy for gamers on a budget, and that certainly wasn’t the case when they released. With driver issues mostly fixed, this is Intel’s first real shot at the competition.
It shouldn’t be long before we know more. Based on speaking with Intel’s graphics team, the company is aware of the storied history that caused the launch of first-gen Arc GPUs to be rife with issues. With Battlemage, Intel seems to be holding its cards close to the chest. With more leaks surfacing, however, it appears we’re reaching an inflection point where Intel will finally show what it’s been working on with Battlemage.
Editors' Recommendations
Don’t buy a cheap GPU in 2024 AMD vs. Intel: the rivalry has never been more fierce Nvidia is the ‘GPU cartel,’ says former AMD Radeon manager How Intel could win the GPU war this year Using an RTX 3060? Here’s the GPU to upgrade to next
Jacob Roach is a writer covering computing and gaming at Digital Trends. After realizing Crysis wouldn't run on a laptop, he…
GPU prices and availability (Q1 2024): How much are GPUs today?
The GPU shortage is over, and gamers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief. For those in the market for one of the best graphics cards, we looked closely at graphics card prices and availability to determine where the GPU market is headed and the best time to buy.
If you're looking for a cheap GPU deal, now is the time to buy. Cards from AMD and Nvidia usually hover around the recommended list price, but some models are actually priced well below that, and the same goes for Intel GPUs.
This limited-edition SteelSeries keyboard could have been so much better
I'm not mad, just disappointed. SteelSeries has a limited edition run of its Apex Pro Mini keyboard, and it's absolutely gorgeous. The aptly named White Gold Edition features an entirely white body, a brass plate, and a hefty brass weight, along with a lovely white coiled cable with golden accents. It feels immediately premium, and it looks stunning. It's just a shame the keyboard itself isn't very good.
That might shock you to hear, considering the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini was a keyboard I said "might be the best gaming keyboard you can buy" nearly two years ago. A lot has changed in that time, though, and the typing experience of this limited edition run doesn't live up to its beautiful aesthetic.
AMD has a lot to prove this year
AMD has clawed its way up from many disasters. Always chasing Nvidia and Intel, the so-called Team Red stayed strong over the years and found its niche in the PC market, a niche that has seemingly worked well, especially over the past few years.
Despite these valiant efforts, this past year has made me worry about the future of AMD, and the beginning of the year so far has only confirmed some of my worries.
Processing the past
