Reports surfaced that Intel is working on a GPU called Intel DG2 that would integrate a total of 448 Execution Units. So far, an Intel DG2 with 512 Execution Units and another with 384 Execution Units have been leaked, but there is no indication of a DG2 with 448 EU.
Leaked Intel DG2 with 448 EU with performance similar to AMD RX 6700 XT and NVIDIA RTX 3070
The Intel Xe architecture developed by Raja Koduri has the task of securing a place on the market. Currently, Xe solutions are already integrated into Rocket Lake processors for desktops and notebooks. Intel is expected to launch its own dedicated graphics cards, although there is no date for this yet.
Going back to this 448 Execution Units Intel DG2 graphics card, APISAK has revealed that this GPU would run at a frequency of 1.8GHz. The benchmark shows that this GPU would be 8% worse than the RX 6700 XT and 5% worse than the RTX 3070. The problem is that we don’t know what software or game this new Intel graphics card was tested under.
APISAK has also mentioned a graphics card, apparently Intel DG2 with 128 Executions Units running at a frequency of 1.9GHz. According to the leak, this graphics card would be 12% more powerful than the NVIDIA GTX 1650. We also don’t know what software is used to test this second graphics card and if it is a desktop model or if it is integrated into a processor.
Note that earlier this month Raja Koduri posted on social media a GPU that had DG2-512 written on it. This silicon would already be a Xe-HPG with a clear focus on gaming and could be equipped with up to 16 GB of GDDR6. We also knew about the existence of the DG2-384 and DG2-128, now joined by this DG2-448, all based on the same architecture. The forecast is that at least the DG2-512 will be launched in the first quarter of 2022.
There is still a lot to learn about Intel’s dedicated graphics cards. The DG1 solutions based on the Xe architecture currently offer interesting gaming performance. If Intel wants to compete in the graphics card market, it should not only offer good performance under 4K resolution and high graphics quality, it needs more. Intel needs to offer RayTracing support if it wants to compete with NVIDIA and something similar to DLSS, which in the latter case would use AMD’s FSR technology.
Whether these graphics cards will be successful will depend on three factors: Price, performance, and assembler support. Performance and price will be critical for users to choose Intel’s solutions. Intel also requires a wide range of graphics card manufacturers with different types of cooling and overclocking systems.
Intel’s entry into the graphics card market will be positive because of the more competition, the better the prices. Moreover, for future moments like the current one, with a great lack of supplies, they will surely be a relief for the market. Intel’s strength is that they make their own GPUs, they don’t depend on third-party vendors to make the silicon for their graphics cards.