Followingconfirmation by an Intel employeethat Xe-HPG DG2 graphics cards are “right around the corner,” specs for five different cards across mobile and, potentially, desktop have leaked out courtesy ofIgor’s Lab.
The leakconfirms earlier rumorsthat the flagship model of the DG2 range will feature 512 EUs (execution units) and 16GB of GDDR6 video memory on a 256-bit bus. This card — tentatively named the DG2-512EU — isn’t for desktop, though. Reports suggest Intel is focused on the mobile market, and that DG2 chips were originally planned as part of the Tiger Lake-H platform, which isapparently launching next week.
Earlier rumors claim that Intel will use the same design for add-in desktop cards, but the DG2-512EU and two other slimmed-down variants are expected to launch alongsideAlder Lake-Pmobile chips later this year.
The DG2-512EU is based on the BGA2660 package, and it’s the largest and most powerful of the three chips using the same package. In addition to 512 EUs and 16GB of VRAM, the DG2-512EU will have a base clock of 1.1GHz and a boost clock of 1.8GHz, 16MB of cache, and a 100W TDP. Below it is the DG2-384EU, which has 384 EUs, 12GB of VRAM, and a base clock of 600MHz (though identical specs otherwise). Finally, there’s the DG2-256EU, which has 256 EUs, 8GB of VRAM, and a boost clock of 1.4GHz.
There are two SKUs below the three based on the BGA2660 package, but it’s not clear if they’re targeting the mobile or desktop crowd. The top option in this subrange comes with 196 EUs and 4GB of VRAM on a 64-bit bus. Below that is an identical card, except that it has 128 EUs. These models are clearly targeting the entry-level crowd.
The power demands show that Intel is focused on mobile first, as the top three chips feature a TDP of 100 watts, falling in line withmobile RTX 30 series chipsfrom Nvidia.
Intel XE DG2 graphics will feature hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a supersampling technique similar toNvidia DLSS. Current rumors peg the midrange models as costing between $200 and 300 and releasing in late 2021, but given theglobal semiconductor shortage, the cards could cost more and take longer to be released.
