Next-generation Intel Battlemage GPU leak hints at larger die size

Intel’s Arc graphics card lineup is one of the most impressive first-generation products. Although users have experienced their fair share of issues with the Arc lineup, many have expressed support for Team Blue’s entry into the GPU market. With new leaks on the way, let’s take a look at what we know about Intel’s next-generation Arc GPU lineup, codenamed Battlemage.

New test tool for Intel Battlemage GPU Surface

The latest leak related to the rumored Intel Battlemage Arc GPU lineup was spotted on Intel’s own Design-In Tools website. This store sells tools used for validation, platform testing, debugging, and more to Intel partners. These tools will be provided for existing products as well as future products.

The new testing tools were discovered by a Korean hardware enthusiast (Twitter/@harukz5719) who announced in a tweet that these tools are for two future Intel Battlemage GPU variants, BMG-X2 and BMG-X3. It was stated that there is . The BGA2362-BMG-X2 interposer can be found here, as well as the BGA2727-BMG-X3-6CH interposer .

Please note that these are not actual product names. These are just references to the rumored graphics processor that could be used in future Intel Arc Battlemage GPUs. So what does this latest leak tell us about the rumored successor to Intel’s Arc Alchemist series (which includes GPUs like the Arc A770 and A750) known as Battlemage?

Looking at the BMG-X3 test tool, the socket in focus is BGA-2727 . If you compare this socket to the socket used by the top-of-the-line Intel Arc GPU currently available (Arc A770), the new socket is slightly larger . This leak provides a glimpse into Intel’s initial chip design for the future Intel Arc GPU. However, please note that this is not confirmed to be the final design.

Still, if Intel goes this route, it means it’s currently experimenting with larger die sizes for future Arc GPUs that will be part of the upcoming Intel Battlemage GPU lineup. A larger die size does not necessarily mean a larger internal graphics processor. While that may be true, such design choices may also be associated with changes in the size of the heat spreader .

When will new Intel Battlemage GPUs arrive?

Intel’s next-generation Arc GPUs are not expected to be released immediately this year. Instead, recent leaks point to a Q2 2024 release date . We could see it a little earlier, but development issues lead to a ” very uncertain future .” Famous hardware leaker Moore’s Law Is Dead has shared some interesting details about Intel’s Battlemage Arc graphics. This includes when it will go on sale, along with some details about the specs . These include memory bandwidth, size, and type (leaks suggest GDDR6X for top-end variants). You can see it below.

Intel has continued to push driver updates for older Arc GPUs and provided extensive support to its user base. We also interviewed the Intel Arc Graphics chip designer (Raja Koduri), who is now retired from the company, but whose continued support for Arc has led to Intel’s dedicated graphics business. I have some confidence in the future. Many are excited about Team Blue’s upcoming lineup of graphics cards. It’s definitely exciting to witness what they’ve been working on so far.

Would you consider the upcoming Intel Arc Battlemage GPU? Which GPU brand do you like best? Let us know in the comments below. By the way, check out our comparison of Intel’s XeSS technology with Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR to see which one is better.