Intel Arc Battlemage GPU surfaces — BMG-G31 silicon reportedly wields 32 Xe2 Cores

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Intel appears to be producing a third die for Battlemage.

Intel GPU progress
(Image credit: Intel)

An Intel designer tools webpage has confirmed the existence of a BMG-G31 discrete GPU die. Inevitably, this GPU is one of the company's upcoming dies for its Battlemage discrete GPU lineup. Leaks about Intel's G10 and G21 GPU dies have already surfaced multiple times, but this is the first time we've seen mentions of Intel's G31 die.

The webpage where the G31 die was revealed is specifically aimed at design engineers. The site leads to technical specifications for VRTT interposer prototypes aimed at the BMG-G31 die. However, only certain people with the proper credentials can see the technical specs of this specific component.

If Intel follows the same route as its Arc Alchemist GPUs, this new die will most certainly be the entry-level die for Intel's Battlemage discrete GPUs (consisting of gaming, mobile, and workstation GPUs). With the Arc A-series, the top die used the smallest number, while the lower-end dies used a more significant number, similar to AMD's Navi GPU nomenclature (Navi 31, 32, and 33). Hardware enthusiast Bionic_Squash believes the G31 silicon could potentially house 32 Xe2 cores.

(Image credit: Intel)

The fact that we are seeing a third die this time around begs the question of whether Intel will be delivering a high-end Battlemage gaming GPU. We cannot be sure. There's no evidence that Intel will compete with the next generation of the RTX 5090 or even the RTX 5080. But, interestingly, a third GPU die has cropped up for Battlemage.

Realistically, Intel is probably targeting the entry-level and mid-range markets with all three Battlemage dies. G31 could be a super low-end die that might not even make it to the desktop market, being withheld to mobile duty exclusively. G10 and G21 could possibly target the entry-level desktop and mid-range markets.

Battlemage looks on track to arrive at the tail end of this year or by early 2025. Battlemage's G10 and G21 silicon is already in the pre-qualification phase, which means the chips are going through functionality and reliability testing before getting ready to hit the market. The same is probably true of G31 as well.

The architecture has undergone massive tweaks over Arc Alchemist to boost performance. In iGPU form, Battlemage boasts a 1.5x performance improvement over Meteor Lake's Arc Alchemist integrated graphics chips, thanks to next-generation Xe2 cores, larger XMX AI engines, more capable vector engines, better ray tracing capabilities, and bigger caches.

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Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

22 Comments Comment from the forums
  • oofdragon
    Dont care. Give us 8800XT news!
    Reply
  • The site leads to technical specifications for VRTT interposer prototypes aimed at the BMG-G31 die. However, only certain people with the proper credentials can see the technical specs of this specific component.

    Full tech specs aside, at least it does tell us that the die sports the BGA 3283 format. 3283 pins, which means the chip has a larger footprint than the other Battlemage chips, and previous gen Alchemist lineup.
    ACM-G10: BGA 2660 (Alchemist)BMG-G21: BGA 2362 (Battlemage)BMG-G10: BGA 2727 (Battlemage)BMG-G31: BGA 3283 (Battlemage)
    Admin said:
    The new die is suspected to be Intel's least-powerful die in the lineup, aimed at entry-level GPU solutions.

    If Intel follows the same route as its Arc Alchemist GPUs, this new die will most certainly be the entry-level die for Intel's Battlemage discrete GPUs (consisting of gaming, mobile, and workstation GPUs).

    this is the first time we've seen mentions of Intel's G31 die.

    Well, as per Intel's logic it should be the smallest die, but it could be the other way as well ? Maybe we are looking at a top-end part here, because it sports 32 cores as per rumors ?

    RedGamingTech shared a video few months back, unveiling some details on Battlemage GPU SKUs and the BMG-G31 chip.

    As per the leaker, while the G31 die features 32 Xe2 cores and a 256-bit interface, the Battlemage BMG-G21 die will reportedly feature 20 Xe cores across a 192-bit bus interface.

    So assuming this info is accurate, what will the top high-end G30 die sport ? 64 Xe2 Cores (assuming Intel has plans to go for a bigger/stronger die) ? Because, if we go by ARC Alchemist lineup, the top die "Arc ACM-G10" came with 32 cores.

    Also, Intel has apparently cancelled the G10 variant. So either this G31 is the mid-range die, with the G21 being the lowest SKU in the lineup.

    **thinks, thinks, thinks**

    G10 and G21 could possibly target the entry-level desktop and mid-range markets.

    The G10 SKU has been dropped from Intel's pipeline, as per reliable internal gossip/rumors, which leaves only the G21 and 31 dies as of now.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Battlemage BMG-G21 die will reportedly feature 20 Xe cores across a 192-bit bus interface.
    Makes sense if Intel is aiming for $250-300 as it did with the A750. 8GB is kind of low for that price range and would get Intel crucified for VRAM stinginess even worse than AMD and Nvidia as the complete GPU under-dog that it is. 192bits for 12GB would be the sweet spot. And they can still axe 32-64bits for $200-ish models if they want to.
    Reply
  • The Battlemage GPU die codename is weird to say the least ! Confusing with odd numbers, G10 , G21, and now this new G31.

    Alchemist had the following, ACM-G10, G11 and G12. G1* SKUs. But with Battlemage, we now have 1, 2 and 3 as the initial starting digits, lol. 🙄


    But anyway, there are already tools which were being used for verification and testing purposes for other Battlemage discrete GPUs though.

    Two test tools for Battlemage GPUs were previously listed on the same Intel DesigninTools webpage. BGA2362-BMG-X2 and the BGA2727-BMG-X3-6CH (this link is currently not working).

    The X2 tool features a 2362 BGA array, and the X3 tool feature a 2727 BGA array. For reference:: ACM-G10: BGA 2660 (Alchemist).

    So these should correspond to the following chips:
    BMG-G21: BGA 2362 (Battlemage)BMG-G10: BGA 2727 (Battlemage). But this seems to be have been dropped from production/testing.
    https://i.imgur.com/f7I943v.png
    https://i.imgur.com/lSFmHy2.png
    Reply
  • Amdlova
    I want ditch my 4060ti 16gb for a Intel graphics but mid range for midrange can't do it... need moar powa baby. Something hitting a 4070 super or better
    Reply
  • Admin said:
    The new die is suspected to be Intel's least-powerful die in the lineup, aimed at entry-level GPU solutions.

    If Intel follows the same route as its Arc Alchemist GPUs, this new die will most certainly be the entry-level die for Intel's Battlemage discrete GPUs (consisting of gaming, mobile, and workstation GPUs).

    this is the first time we've seen mentions of Intel's G31 die.

    Well, maybe NO, maybe Yes. But most likely this time things might turn out to be different. To further clarify my previous first post/OP entry, and your claim as well.

    Assuming, the G31 is indeed the smallest entry-level die, then why is the BGA 3283 array package being used for it ?

    Because if BMG-G10 is the bigger silicon, as we assume, then why does it support the BGA 2727 array instead, with only 2727 pins (see above post of mine)?

    Confusing much, eh ? 🤐
    Reply
  • InvalidError said:
    And they can still axe 32-64bits for $200-ish models if they want to.

    You mean cutting on the memory Bus width to 160 or 128 bits ? Then that would also cripple its overall performance as well. For a 12GB GPU, a 192 bits bus width would be the most optimal choice.

    But of course, Intel can make other variants with lower bus width with a different VRAM config, if there is a need, but this will also lead to more 'segmentation' in the same GPU market, upper mainstream, and/or mid-range, or whichever category we need to put these into.

    And the price also needs to adjusted accordingly based on the then active/current market trend.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Alchemist had the following, ACM-G10, G11 and G12. G1* SKUs. But with Battlemage, we now have 1, 2 and 3 as the initial starting digits, lol. 🙄
    I have two thoughts on this:
    Intel has decided to be rational and go bigger number = better
    These could be die revisions and changing SKU configurations so 3 would be the newest die
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Well, maybe NO, maybe Yes. But most likely this time things might turn out to be different. To further clarify my previous first post/OP entry, and your claim as well.

    Assuming, the G31 is indeed the smallest entry-level die, then why is the BGA 3283 array package being used for it ?

    Because if BMG-G10 is the bigger silicon, as we assume, then why does it support the BGA 2727 array instead, with only 2727 pins (see above post of mine)?

    Confusing much, eh ? 🤐
    Unless there's more GPU die we don't know about there's certainly no way that the biggest package is going to anything but the biggest chip. Alchemist was already a silicon/socket loser monetarily speaking so I cannot fathom them doing it again.
    Reply
  • TechyIT223
    32 cores on the lowest end GPU die this time? Strange!
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    Intel doesn't have to compete with the Titan level 5090 or high end 5080, the margins are high but they're never going to lure people away from nVidia until they establish themselves. What they need is a $450 16GB card that competes with the mid range 5070 and sub-$250 8GB card that competes with the entry level 5060, much like AMD did with the HD 4870 and then HD 5870. They may not make much money but once they prove themselves viable then game studios will start taking them seriously.
    Reply