Intel’s Arc Alchemist GPUs rumored to launch in March, will tackle the RTX 3060 and 3070

In context: The PC neighborhood has lengthy awaited the launch of Intel’s first true devoted gaming GPUs, and now, that day is simply across the nook. With competitors from AMD and Nvidia prone to arrive later the identical yr, an early 2022 launch window for the primary era of Intel’s upcoming Arc GPUs (codenamed Alchemist) appears doubtless. However how will Alchemist GPUs examine to current competitors?

Due to new rumors allegedly revealed on the ExpReview boards, we would lastly have a solution to that query. ExpReview, for the unaware, is a Chinese language tech information website that emphasizes PC {hardware} protection, together with evaluations, benchmarks, and leaks.

Based on the location, Intel’s Alchemist structure is about to launch with a number of fashions someday in March 2022 — a January launch was reportedly deliberate, nevertheless it needed to be pushed again by a few months. In any case, Q1 remains to be on the desk, apparently.

Intel’s deliberate choices embrace three discrete desktop GPUs, and 5 laptop computer GPUs (principally variants of the desktop playing cards).

The desktop line-up will home the Intel Xe HPG 512 EU, the 384 EU, and the 128 EU.

The 128 EU is rumored to launch with 1024 ALUs, 6GB of VRAM, a 75W TGP, and a 96-bit reminiscence bus. Intel is hoping the 128 EU will be capable of tackle the Nvidia’s GTX 1650, however with RT help — one thing the 1650 and 1650 Tremendous are each missing. Understandably so, given the efficiency hit that comes with turning such options on. Base clock speeds will in all probability cap out at 2.5Ghz right here.

The 512 EU is about to ship with as much as 16GB of VRAM, 4096 ALUs, a 256-bit reminiscence bus, a TGP of 225W, and rumored clock speeds additionally maxing out at round 2.5Ghz. The Blue Crew is positioning this mannequin as a competitor to Nvidia’s RTX 3070 and 3070 Ti.

The 384 EU, then again, will tackle the lower-end 3060 and 3060 Ti with a 192-bit reminiscence bus, as much as 12GB of VRAM, a TGP of round 200W, and 3072 ALUs.

The laptop computer model of the 128 EU drops the VRAM to a measly 4GB, and reduces energy draw to about 30W. The opposite low-end laptop computer chip, the 96 EU, downgrades the ALU rely to 768, whereas protecting every part else roughly the identical.

Intel’s high-end Alchemist laptop computer GPUs differ from their desktop counterparts primarily in energy draw, with decrease TGP throughout the board (as much as 150W for the 512 EU and as much as 120W for the 384 EU). The mid-range 256 EU is a laptop-only card with 2048 ALUs, 8GB of VRAM, a 128-bit bus, and as much as an 80W TGP.

As you’ll be able to see, Intel is primarily focusing on AMD and Nvidia’s current-gen playing cards with its first gaming GPU launch. As such, Blue Crew followers will doubtless want to attend for the corporate’s subsequent GPU structure — codenamed “Battlemage” — for an Intel various to AMD’s RDNA3 and Nvidia’s Lovelace playing cards.