Intel Continues Its Pursuit of the Desktop GPU Market: New Battlemage Models Appear in Shipping Manifests

Intel remains steadfast in its mission to leave a mark in the dGPU landscape, as recent shipping documents hint at progress on a novel Battlemage model and an intriguing unknown SKU.

Intel Rekindles Development of Battlemage “BMG-G31”; Could Be Targeting AI & Professional Markets

Last year, Intel caught us off guard with the unveiling of the Arc B580 and B570 Battlemage GPUs. These garnered significant attention because NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t yet debuted their next-gen options. Fast forward to the end of Q2, and Intel’s silence regarding updates for their desktop GPU line left many assuming they had no interest in this area. But fresh shipping data suggests a different narrative.

The new shipment listings mention a “BMG-G31,” a more advanced silicon compared to what’s available in current Battlemage offerings. Rumors suggest this version could boast 24-32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory interface, and 16 GB of GDDR6. However, the rumor mill also buzzed with talks of the BMG-G31 being axed, insinuating that Intel might not be targeting mainstream consumers with this model. The manifests categorize this model for “R&D purposes,” hinting that the focus might be on AI and professional tasks.

Additionally, there’s mention of another enigmatic variant dubbed BMG “C32.” The naming convention is a bit perplexing as it merges names from both the Battlemage and Celestial lines. Insider @mikdt suggests that this could be another iteration of the “BMG-G31,” indicating Intel is experimenting with diverse Battlemage models. The real question, though, is whether any of these are intended for the traditional desktop market.

The approach Intel takes with its discrete GPU range will indeed be intriguing, especially with their ongoing work on the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture, set to be implemented in Panther Lake SoCs. With a new CEO steering the ship, Intel is reportedly pivoting towards prioritizing AI, which might mean their focus is leaning heavily on GPUs for AI-centric tasks.