Intel is clearly not backing down from making a mark in the discrete GPU arena, as recent shipping records have unveiled the development of a new Battlemage model alongside a mysterious new SKU.
Intel Drives Forward with New Battlemage "BMG-G31" Model; Potentially Targeting AI/Professional Applications
Last year, Intel caught us off-guard with the introduction of their Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570. These models sparked quite the buzz, largely because NVIDIA and AMD had yet to release their next-generation solutions. As the second quarter draws to a close, Intel has been quiet on any future desktop GPU plans, leading many to speculate that they may be losing interest. However, recent information from shipping manifests suggests otherwise.
On these manifests, a mention of "BMG-G31" has been made, indicating a silicon that’s more advanced than current Battlemage models. There’s talk of a variant featuring between 24-32 Xe2 cores, paired with a 256-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Despite rumors swirling online about the possible cancellation of BMG-G31, these manifests hint at a different direction. It seems this model might not be heading to the consumer market after all, as it’s marked for "R&D purpose," hinting at it being geared towards AI and professional applications.
Image Credits: @GawroskiT
Adding to the intrigue, another shipping record mentions a peculiar variant named BMG "C32." The naming is a bit puzzling as it combines the Battlemage and Celestial initials. Nevertheless, it’s suggested that this is indeed part of the Battlemage family—possibly a "reworked" version of the "BMG-G31," according to @mikdt. It seems safe to conclude that Intel is crafting several versions within the Battlemage series, though it remains uncertain if these developments are aimed at the desktop market.
As Intel progresses with its discrete GPU roadmap, it will be fascinating to see their strategy unfold. The company is concurrently working on the Xe3 "Celestial" architecture, which will power Panther Lake SoCs. Under the guidance of Intel’s new CEO, there’s a noticeable pivot towards AI, suggesting that Team Blue is likely prioritizing GPUs targeting AI-driven tasks.
