What just happened? Intel is expected to unveil its second-gen discrete GPUs before the end of 2024, weeks before the rumored release windows of AMD's and Nvidia's competing chips. As the launch of Intel's Battlemage series approaches, new leaks have revealed most of the specs for one model with the Arc B580 apparently going for $250.
A now-deleted Amazon listing has revealed the name and tech specifications of an upcoming Intel desktop GPU. Although the release date remains unclear, prior reports indicate December.
VideoCardz and HardwareLuxx retrieved enough images before the listing disappeared to confirm that ASRock plans to ship two variants of the Intel Arc B580. Furthermore, a recent Geekbench entry introduces sufficient data to positively identify the B580 as the GPU that appeared on the site in September.
Thus, a fairly clear picture of the card emerges. Its 160 execution units likely indicate 20 Xe2 cores, slightly fewer than the GPU's predecessor, the A580. However, one intriguing detail is the B580's 2,800 MHz boost clock – unprecedented for any graphics card.
Moreover, it features 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 19Gbps. Whether the GPU supports DisplayPort 2.1a remains uncertain, but it can output an 8K signal. Its PCIe 5.0 x8 connector should provide the same bandwidth as a PCIe 4.0 x16 connection but would require a PCIe 5.0 motherboard to utilize fully.
ASRock's lower-tier SKU, dubbed the Challenger, has a reduced boost clock of 2,740 MHz, two fans, and a single 8-pin power connector, which reveals that the B580 draws no more than 225W. The likely more expensive Steel Legend model includes an additional 8-pin connector and a triple-fan design.
Pricing is expected to be around $250, while the A580 debuted at $180, targeting the mainstream and entry-level segments. In our review last year, the GPU traded blows with Nvidia's GTX 3050 and AMD's Radeon RX 6600, but Intel's drivers have since improved substantially, putting any future products on better footing.
The B580 will likely compete with Nvidia's next-gen mainstream card, which is expected to appear in the first quarter of 2025, shortly after the flagship GeForce RTX 5090, the high-end 5080, and the mid-range 5070 debut at CES in January. Rumors also indicate that AMD plans to unveil mid-range Radeon RX 8000 GPUs around the same time.
Intel is preparing other Battlemage cards, but it remains unclear when they might emerge. Moreover, CEO Pat Gelsinger recently suggested that Intel will de-emphasize discrete graphics in the future, lowering the likelihood that the company will release dedicated graphics cards featuring its third planned architecture, Celestial.