As many as three potentially new Intel Arc graphics cards based on the latest Battlemage tech have been spotted in the recent official Intel Linux patch. But are they the affordable RTX 4070 alternatives we all desire? Here’s the query.
A user named Tomasz Gawroński spotted a trio of purportedly new E21x device IDs that supplement the existing E20x Battlemage IDs. These are associated with the Arc B570 and B580 cards. Speculation is rife that these new cards might be built on an alternate GPU die entirely.
“Intel added 3 new Battlemage IDs. New Battlemage GPU incoming?”
“Intel added 3 new Battlemage ID. New Battlemage GPU incoming?”
The Intel Arc B570 and B580 currently operate using the G21 die. However, rumors of a larger, more powerful G31 Battlemage die have been circulating for some time. Thus, the new IDs could potentially support upcoming B750 and B770 cards that are based on the G31, and possibly even a budget B380 variant.
The anticipated G31 chip is suggested to feature 32 execution units (EUs). In contrast, the B580 has 20 EUs. This implies that a graphics card leveraging the G31 might deliver approximately 50% more power than the B580.
Given favorable scaling and driver quality, it could place it in the same realm as the RTX 4070. Furthermore, considering the modest improvements Nvidia has promised for the RTX 5070, a G31-based Intel Arc card could find itself in direct competition with that model. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Unfortunately, the probabilities hinge on whether the G31 GPU is real, Intel has sorted out its driver issues, and the pricing is indeed reasonable. A lot of factors must align for this to happen.
It’s also worth noting that some yet-to-be-released Arc cards, based on the current G21 chip but sporting 24GB of memory in a clamshell design, have been noted in recent shipping records. Thus, it’s quite possible those Linux device IDs refer to new G21-based Intel Arc Pro cards, along with a low-end B380 offering.
In other words, there’s no strong current indication that these new IDs suggest something particularly exciting based on G31. It’s precisely what we’re hoping for, but there are no definite signs in either direction. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
