Intel is once again stirring up interest in the discrete GPU market as new shipping manifests shed light on developments in their Battlemage series and a mysterious new SKU.
Intel Back on Track with Battlemage “BMG-G31” Model; Potential AI/Professional Market Target
Last year, Intel caught us off guard by unveiling two fresh Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570. These GPUs grabbed attention, especially since NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t yet rolled out their next-gen offerings. However, as we near the close of the second quarter, Intel’s silence regarding their plans for desktop GPUs led many to assume that they were losing interest. New details from shipping manifests tell a different story altogether.
You might have spotted a tweet from Haze that’s been making rounds online, sparking curiosity about Intel’s next move. The reveals in these manifests focus on “BMG-G31,” a more advanced silicon compared to current Battlemage models. It’s rumored that variants of this chip will boast 24-32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Yet, there have been whispers of the BMG-G31 getting scrapped, with suggestions that Intel isn’t planning on marketing it to consumers. The shipping data categorizes the BMG-G31 as for “R&D purpose,” hinting that this model might be geared more towards AI or professional tasks.
In parallel, things get even more intriguing with a separate mention of a curious variant, the BMG “C32.” This naming convention has raised eyebrows due to its mix of Battlemage and Celestial initials. Despite the confusion, word on the street is that it’s part of the Battlemage family, possibly a “reworked” version of the BMG-G31, according to sources like @mikdt. It seems Intel is experimenting with multiple Battlemage iterations, though it’s uncertain if these will hit the desktop scene.
Intel’s approach to their discrete GPU lineup is something to watch, particularly as they work on the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture destined for the upcoming Panther Lake SoCs. With a new CEO steering Intel’s ship, there’s a noticeable pivot towards AI, suggesting that Team Blue might be gearing up to release GPUs specifically tailored for AI-driven workloads.
