Intel is clearly not giving up on making waves in the discrete GPU world. Recent shipping manifests hint at Intel’s ongoing efforts in developing a new Battlemage GPU as well as a rather enigmatic SKU.
Intel’s Battlemage "BMG-G31" Project: A Step Towards AI and Professional Use
Intel surprised many last year with the unveiling of two new Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570. They stirred up considerable excitement, largely because NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t released their next-gen solutions yet. Fast forward to now, nearing the end of the second quarter, and Intel hasn’t provided new updates on their desktop GPU plans. This pause in communication led some to think that Intel might be bowing out, but it seems there’s more going on beneath the surface according to fresh shipping details.
A tweet from Haze raised some eyebrows as it hinted at an intriguing development. The shipping manifests show a new presence dubbed "BMG-G31," which appears to be a superior chip compared to the current Battlemage versions. Rumor has it that this variant might pack 24-32 Xe2 cores paired with a 256-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Despite initial whispers about its cancellation, it looks like the BMG-G31 might not be targeting consumers directly. Instead, its classification for "R&D purpose" suggests it’s being prepared for AI and professional workloads.
In addition to the BMG-G31, another cryptic entry has popped up in the shipping info: the BMG "C32." The name itself is puzzling since it combines elements from both Battlemage and Celestial. It’s believed to be part of the Battlemage family and reportedly a "revised" version of the BMG-G31, as noted by @mikdt. This development indicates that Intel is juggling several versions of Battlemage GPUs, though it’s still unclear if they are earmarked for the desktop market.
Given Intel’s ongoing work with the Xe3 "Celestial" architecture, set to be integrated within Panther Lake SoCs, it’s intriguing to consider how Intel will navigate its discrete GPU strategy. With a fresh CEO steering the ship, Intel is seemingly pivoting towards AI priorities. It wouldn’t be surprising if Intel focuses its forthcoming GPU releases on AI-specific use cases, aligning with these new company ambitions.
