Intel registers new IDs for new Battlemage GPU
Intel has entered a new GPU with the model number "BMG-G31" in databases in two places. This indicates a possible Arc B770.
The Battlemage BMG-G21 GPU, shown here on an Arc B580, could soon be succeeded by a larger G31 version.
(Image: c't)
Over the past few days, rumors of a larger Intel GPU than the Battlemage BMG-G21, which has been available since the end of 2024, have gained new fuel. With its graphics processor, the Arc B580 desktop graphics card is Intel's fastest model to date. As with the predecessor of the Alchemist generation, at least one larger chip was previously expected. However, this was long considered to have been canceled by Intel.
In spring, however, the chip manufacturer seems to have changed its plans and since then there has been much talk of a BMG-G31. This GPU should have 32 Xe clusters instead of the 20 of the BMG-20 and be correspondingly faster. Intel itself has also hinted at the future of Battlemage GPUs in recent weeks around the Computex trade fair, but has failed to provide concrete data or even an announcement.
One new GPU, perhaps four graphics cards
However, two weeks after the trade fair, Intel has now confirmed in two places that the company is indeed working on a BMG-G31. Firstly, there are entries in the PCI-SIG device database and secondly in a commit for the Mesa driver. Intel has secured four device IDs for the driver and one for a PCI Express device. This could indicate four different variants, possibly with different shader expansion and memory configuration.
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The fact that the BMG-G31 is a different design to the BMG-G21 is primarily evident from the fact that the new entry in the PCI-SIG describes a PCI Express interface in version 5.0 with 16 lanes. The G21 installed on the Arc B580 and B570 works with PCIe 4.0 and 8 lanes each. Further data, such as memory and clock speeds, are not yet known.
According to a report by Videocardz, which discovered both entries, the market launch is probably still a few months away. Rumors currently see it in the fourth quarter of 2025. It is also unknown whether Intel is really planning gaming graphics cards with the G31, such as a possible Arc B770, or whether the large GPU is intended for workstation products in the Arc Pro series. However, as there are four new IDs in the Mesa driver, both are also possible.
(nie)
