Intel has unveiled its new Arc GPUs, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and codenamed “Battlemage,” aiming to shake up the entry-level to mid-range GPU market, in competition with the RTX 4060 series.
The Arc B580, based on the BGM-G21, boasts 20 Xe2-Cores and comes with 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit memory bus. It can reach speeds up to 2.67 GHz, with potential for higher performance in custom versions from board partners, and requires 190W of power.
Intel asserts that the B580 outperforms the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 by an average of 10% at 1440p resolution and is 24% faster than its own Arc A750 at the same resolution.
Additionally, Intel is releasing a scaled-down version, the Arc B570, with 18 Xe2-Cores and 10GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit memory bus, leading to a reduced memory bandwidth compared to the B580 and a lower power requirement of 150W.
Both models feature a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and DisplayPort 2.1 connectors (UHBR13.5).
The B580 is set to retail at USD249 (~RM1,112), available from 13 December, while the B570 will cost USD219 (~RM978), with a release date of 16 January 2025.
Intel XeSS 2 and XeSS Frame Generation
The company has announced an upgrade to its upscaling technology, evolving from XeSS to XeSS 2.
Additionally, they have introduced a new technology akin to Nvidia Reflex and AMD Anti-Lag2. XeSS Low Latency aims to minimise the lag introduced by Frame Generation, which should result in latency comparable to XeSS 1.3 without this feature.
Intel states that both Frame Generation and Low Latency must be integrated into games, though Low Latency can be manually activated.
The latest XeSS2 technology reportedly delivers 2.8x to 3.9x improved performance on the Arc B580 graphics card over the baseline without XeSS.
Intel’s XeSS will be featured in several games, such as the forthcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Marvel Rivals, Killing Floors 3, and more.
