Would Intel have the idea of offering new Alchemist graphics cards before the release of Battlemage GPUs, its second generation?
In recent weeks, Intel’s ARC range has been making headlines thanks to the regular updating of its drivers or the marketing – finally – of the long-awaited ARC A580 card.
Thanks to the publication of new Linux drivers, ARC is once again at the heart of the news, at least that of the graphics card. Indeed, several new references raise questions.
A total of 20 ARC references
Shared between desktop and mobile references, the Intel ARC range has so far included a total of 15 products, the releases of which have also been widely spaced.
Noticed by Phoronix and then relayed by VideoCardz, the publication of new Linux drivers reports five additional references bringing the total to 20 references. Here is the complete list with cards that you know well and others less.
- 0x56B0 – new reference
- 0x56BA – new reference
- 0x56BB – new reference
- 0x56BC – new reference
- 0x56BD – new reference
- 0x56A0 – ARC A770
- 0x56A1 – ARC A750
- 5x56A2 – ARC A580
- 0x56A5 – ARC A380
- 0x56A6-ARC A310
- 0x56B3 – ARC Pro A60
- 0x56B1- ARC Pro A50
- 0x56B1 – ARC Pro A40
- 0x5690 – ARC A770M
- 0x5691 – ARC A730M
- 0x5692 – ARC A550M
- 0x5696 – ARC A570M
- 0x5697 – ARC A530M
- 0x5693 – ARC A370M
- 0x5694 – ARC A350M
As pointed out VideoCardzthe new references do not seem linked to previous cards, models already marketed.
Alchemist refresh or Battlemage?
Note that it is also very difficult to give any meaning to the coding of these references which are only IDs in the database of a new driver. These IDs, however, echo persistent rumors, a few months ago, to evoke an update of the Alchemist GPUs.
At the time, there was talk of such a refresh during the third or fourth quarter of 2023. Even if Intel has already practiced the “refresh” and is preparing to do so with Raptor Lake, the thing seems all the same having rather strange timing… and already late since the month of October is now well underway.
In any case, while Intel would be well advised to make progress on Battlemage – the true successor to Alchemist – these five references should undoubtedly be seen as variants rather than new GPUs.
Source : Phoronix, VideoCardz
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