Intel isn’t backing down in its quest to make waves in the discrete GPU market, as shown by shipping documents hinting at developments in the Battlemage series and some intriguing new models.
Intel’s Ongoing Development of Battlemage "BMG-G31": Eyeing AI and Professional Workspaces
Last year, Intel caught many by surprise when it introduced two Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570. They generated considerable buzz, primarily because NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t released their next-gen solutions yet. As we near the end of Q2, Intel has been quiet about its plans for desktop GPUs, leading some to think Team Blue wasn’t keen on this segment. However, recently uncovered shipping logs suggest that Intel is indeed busy behind the scenes.
Highlighted in these manifests is the "BMG-G31," a powerful chip compared to existing Battlemage models. Speculation suggests that a variant of this design might boast 24-32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. But rumors surfaced online alleging the BMG-G31 was scrapped, with claims surfacing that Intel has no plans to roll it out for consumers. Interestingly, these shipping notes classify the BMG-G31 under "R&D purpose," indicating it might be targeted more towards AI and professional settings.
Moreover, there’s mention of an enigmatic BMG "C32" in another manifest. The naming here is puzzling, blending terms from both the Battlemage and Celestial series. Still, it’s believed this model belongs to the Battlemage family and is possibly a "reworked" version of the "BMG-G31," as suggested by @mikdt. Clearly, Intel has several Battlemage variants in development, but whether these will hit the consumer desktop market remains to be seen.
Given that Intel is currently focusing on the Xe3 "Celestial" architecture to power future Panther Lake SoCs, it will be fascinating to observe their strategy for discrete graphics. With a new CEO at the helm, the company is shifting its focus toward AI, making it likely that Team Blue’s next GPUs will cater to AI-heavy tasks.
