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Intel Arc is the new name for their upcoming high-performance graphics cards for desktop and notebook computers. Intel Arc, like other Intel brands, will offer a variety of Intel hardware, software, and services aimed at enthusiast graphics users. Until now, Intel’s upcoming desktop graphics card based on the Xe high-performance graphics microarchitecture had only been referred to as the “DG2.” It will be known as “Alchemist” from now on, and it will be the first generation of the Arc graphics card line.
The codenames Battlemage, Celestial, and Druid have been revealed for future generations of Intel’s discrete GPU roadmap. Desktops and notebooks with the new Intel Arc graphics solutions are expected to hit the market in Q1 2022, according to reports.
“Today is a watershed moment in our graphic design journey, which began only a few years ago. Intel’s deep and ongoing commitment to gamers and creators worldwide is reflected in the launch of the Intel Arc brand and the announcement of future hardware generations. When these products are available early next year, we have teams working tirelessly to ensure we deliver first-class and frictionless experiences,” said Roger Chandler, Intel vice president, and general manager of Client Graphics Products and Solutions.
RUMOURED INTEL ARC DG2 SPECIFICATIONS
Multiple SKUs have been suggested for Intel DG2 graphics, with the top SKU sporting 512 Execution Units clocked at a base frequency of 1.1 GHz and a Turbo frequency of 1.8 GHz, according to rumors. This means that the top SKU would have approximately 4096 Shaders. Mobile GPUs are expected to have a TDP of 100-120W, while desktop GPUs will have more headroom. In terms of memory, we’re looking at a 16 GB GDDR6 video buffer with a 256-bit wide bus.
RAY-TRACING AND SUPER SAMPLING WITH INTEL ARC
The Intel Arc graphics cards will support AI-driven supersampling and hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, according to Intel. NVIDIA RTX and Microsoft’s DXR are two hardware-accelerated ray-tracing technologies that NVIDIA and AMD both support. NVIDIA, on the other hand, is the only company with AI-driven supersampling in the form of DLSS. According to reports, Intel Arc will support the entire DirectX 12 feature set.
RELEASE DATE FOR INTEL ARC GRAPHICS CARDS
The Intel Arc family of desktop and notebook graphics solutions will be available in Q1 2022, with more information on these new GPUs to be released in Q3/Q4 2021. Intel has been sampling its Intel Arc “DG2/Alchemist” GPUs for some time, and the Q1 2022 launch window suggests a public unveiling at CES 2022 in Las Vegas.