Intel Launches DG1 Graphics Card Based On 10nm SuperFin For OEMs

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

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Intel Launches DG1 Graphics Card Based On 10nm SuperFin For OEMs – A Triumph For Xe​

A dream that started well over a few years ago, with then-RTG boss Raja Koduri joining Intel, has borne its first fruit: the OEM-only Intel DG1 Xe Graphics Card. While the DG1 might not be the most powerful card around, it is absolutely critical as a proof of concept and necessary for Intel to get the hang of things before it jumps into the GPU market with full force.

Intel launches Iris Xe desktop graphics cards - ASUS and Colorful models pictured​

Intel is positioning these GPUs for the entry-level market where they will be available as an OEM only offering from (currently) ASUS and Colorful. While the ASUS variant features a no-nonsense, OEM-fare fanless aesthetic that reminds us of the old days, the Colorful variant is your typical dual fan, single-slot design that looks and feels like a proper graphics card.

1611680111057.png


It should be clocked at least 1700 MHz which will mean that it can offer a graphics horsepower of 2.17 TFLOPs - which is more than the original PS4. The TDP is going to be 30 Watts (which is peanuts for a discrete card and why ASUS can get away with a fanless design) and it will be manufactured on Intel's 10nm SuperFin technology. Considering its 5W more power-hungry than the mobility card, we can safely assume its clock speed will be higher than 1700 MHz.


The architecture is, of course, Xe-LP and it features 4GB of vRAM. While we are not sure of the quantity and when and if gamers will be able to get their hands (through OEM prebuilt) on this, it reaffirms Intel's ambition to see itself as the third player in the highly lucrative GPU business. The DG series is Intel's way of beta testing their platform and priming their partners and channels for the main show - which will not happen till 2022. Intel is also poised to release an HPG based graphics card that will be targeted at gamers and should be priced super cheaply as well.

XeDG1-HowitStarted.png
 
Admittedly the left image was a fanciful prototype. Given the evident discrepancy of PCB length between those pictures, "how it started" either suggests very early silicon and layout, or a bigger design that hasn't been announced for release yet.

All of that said, man, I want one of these for my Frankenputer Linux machine.
 
Really interested in seeing some real-world review results. I know they will not be mind blowing compared to even the competition's lower end of offerings, but to have a potential third true brand option in the GPU market is a win-win for us consumers.
 
Maybe a stupid question, but why does the mobility part get the higher number of EUs? (and the MAX designator) I would assume desktop variant would be the better performing part? Kind of confusing, but maybe they are just copying AMD and Nvidia in their confusing naming schemes too...
 
tordogs said:
And it appears that this new card will only work with certain processors and chipsets so it won't be easy to bench without using the pre-built units.

https://www.legitreviews.com/intel-...work-with-select-cpus-and-motherboards_225470
Click to expand...
Good to know, Intel very well could be using some sort of variation of Resizable BAR, direct storage, and possibly some sort of Multi GPU interface to work with the onboard video. I know Intel has access to the tech, just wondering if they will use it or if they have it limited for stability testing since it's their brand new toy.
 
For anyone who didn't read the Legit Reviews link, here's the key quote from Intel: "The Iris Xe discrete add-in card will be paired with 9th gen (Coffee Lake-S) and 10th gen (Comet Lake-S) Intel® Core™ desktop processors and Intel(R) B460, H410, B365, and H310C chipset-based motherboards and sold as part of pre-built systems. These motherboards require a special BIOS that supports Intel Iris Xe, so the cards won’t be compatible with other systems."

Won't run on an overclockable mobo.
 
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