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| Intel launched the first arc gaming GPU |
Intel chose the name Intel Arc for its high-performance consumer graphics products. The new brand covers the hardware and software aspects of the company's advanced discrete GPU, as well as multi-generation hardware and services.
The first of them, formerly known as DG2, is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2022 under the code name Alchemist.
Alchemist GPUs based on Arc will be available on desktop and laptop computers in early 2022. It seems that the American company's goal here is to compete with AMD and Nvidia.
We do not yet know the performance of the first chemical GPU. Intel has released a teaser video showing off prototypes of the chips that support PUBG, Psychonauts 2, Metro Exodus, and more.
The Arc-GPU is capable of using grid shaders, variable modulation shaders, video zoom, and real-time ray tracing.
The company has also promised AI-accelerated super sampling, which means the company has its own competitor in NVIDIA's deep learning technology for super sampling.
Additionally, in June, AMD released FidelityFX Super Resolution, in response to NVIDIA's deep learning supersampling technology.
However, FidelityFX Super Resolution uses spatial augmentation technology rather than AI based time augmentation.
Additionally, all of these technologies are designed to upgrade games from lower resolutions to deliver smoother frame rates without sacrificing image quality.
Intel enters the field of gaming GPUs
“The introduction of the Intel Arc brand and the next generation of hardware demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to gamers and content creators around the world,” said Intel's Director of Customer Graphics Processing.
"Our team is committed to ensuring that these products provide a great experience when they launch early next year," he added.
The company has mocked the Arc GPU branding, revealing that Battlemage, Celestial and Druid are code names for its future generations of Arc GPUs. More details will be announced during 2021.
So far, Intel has released the first Iris-Xe graphics card, codenamed DG1, which uses the company's Xe-LP architecture.
Therefore, these low-power cards are primarily designed for off-the-shelf workstations. Instead of a dedicated gaming platform.
The future Arc GPU is based on the company's Xe-HPG microarchitecture. This is a combination of the work the company has done on its Xe-LP, HP and HPC microarchitectures.