Recently, a graphics card named Arc B750 unexpectedly surfaced on Intel Japan’s official website, sparking considerable interest among hardware enthusiasts. While there have been rumors of Intel announcing new products at Computex Taipei, these have remained speculative until now. Today, we’ll delve into the available information on the Arc B750, considering recent industry trends and technological advancements.
The initial appearance of the Arc B750 stemmed from a user discovering a page on Intel Japan’s website explicitly listing “Intel Arc B750.” However, clicking the link redirected to the Arc B570’s specifications page, with no specific information regarding the B750. This anomaly has led to two main theories: either Intel made a typographical error, mistakenly labeling the B570 as B750, or the Arc B750 genuinely exists and is being prepared as a new Battlemage series GPU. Given Intel’s recent proactive moves in the GPU sector, the latter remains a strong possibility.
Battlemage Series Overview #
Intel’s Battlemage series represents the second generation of high-performance graphics cards, succeeding the Alchemist architecture. Based on the Xe2-HPG architecture and manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process, Battlemage GPUs offer improved graphics performance and energy efficiency compared to their predecessors. The already released Arc B580 and B570 are positioned for the mid-range market, launched on December 13, 2024, and January 16, 2025, respectively.
The Arc B580 features the BMG-G21 chip, boasting 20 Xe2 cores, 12GB of GDDR6 memory, a 192-bit memory bus, a core frequency of 2670MHz, and a Total Board Power (TBP) of 190W. The Arc B570 is a slightly scaled-down version, equipped with 18 Xe2 cores, 10GB of memory, and a 160-bit memory bus, with a TBP of 150W. Both cards have shown excellent performance in 1440p gaming tests, with the B580 demonstrating an average 24% frame rate increase over the previous-generation Arc A750 and even surpassing the NVIDIA RTX 4060 in some scenarios, showcasing the competitiveness of the Battlemage architecture.
Potential Specifications of Arc B750 #
If the Arc B750 is indeed real, its positioning would likely be between the B580 and the rumored high-end B770 model. As a successor to the Arc A750, the B750 is expected to retain a 256-bit memory bus and feature 16GB of GDDR6 memory to meet the growing memory demands of modern AAA games. Compared to the B580’s 20 Xe2 cores, the B750 might employ a larger GPU chip, with the core count potentially increasing to 24 to 28. Its frequency is anticipated to remain between 2.5GHz and 2.8GHz, and the TBP is projected to be in the 200W to 250W range. Such a configuration could enable its performance to approach or even surpass the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, filling a gap in the Battlemage series within the mid-to-high-end market.
Intel’s Continued Investment in GPUs #
Intel’s plans for the Battlemage series highlight its ongoing commitment to the GPU market. Recently, Intel showcased the Arc Pro B60 and B50 professional graphics cards at Computex 2025, based on the BMG-G21 chip, featuring 24GB and 16GB of memory respectively. These cards are optimized for AI workloads and professional applications, demonstrating significant performance improvements over their predecessors. Furthermore, Intel’s official responses on social media to users’ anticipation for more powerful Battlemage cards have repeatedly used the phrase “stay tuned,” hinting at the possible 2025 debut of models like the B750 or B770. The rumored B770, potentially featuring the BMG-G31 chip with 32 Xe2 cores and 16GB of memory, is rumored to compete with the NVIDIA RTX 5070, indicating Intel’s intention to challenge the high-end market.
Advancements in Xe2 Architecture #
The progress of the Battlemage series is largely attributed to optimizations in the Xe2 architecture. Compared to the Alchemist’s Xe architecture, Xe2 delivers approximately a 70% increase in performance per core and a 50% improvement in performance per watt. Its XMX Matrix Extension units enhance AI computing capabilities and support XeSS 2 super-resolution technology, further boosting game frame rates and visual quality. The throughput of the Ray Tracing Units (RTU) has also significantly increased, making Battlemage more competitive in ray-traced games. These technological advancements provide a solid foundation for the potential performance of the B750.
Challenges and Market Outlook #
Of course, Intel still faces challenges in the GPU market. While the Alchemist series GPUs offered good value, their market share has gradually shrunk since Q2 2024, approaching 0%. The success of the Battlemage series is crucial for Intel; industry analysts suggest that if the B580 and B570 fail to gain sufficient market recognition, Intel might adjust its development strategy for future Celestial (Xe3 architecture) GPUs. Currently, Intel has confirmed that the Celestial and Druid (Xe4 architecture) projects are underway, with Celestial slated for integrated graphics in Panther Lake chips, expected to debut in late 2025 or early 2026.
From an industry perspective, Intel’s Battlemage series launch coincides with intensifying competition in the GPU market. NVIDIA plans to release its RTX 50 series in early 2025, and AMD will also launch RDNA 4 architecture graphics cards. Intel’s decision to release the B580 and B570 at this time, with potential additions like the B750, is likely aimed at capturing the mid-range market through aggressive pricing and high cost-effectiveness. In Geekbench tests, the B580 scored 98,343 in OpenCL and 103,445 in Vulkan, leading the AMD RX 7600 by approximately 20%, showcasing its competitive potential in the mid-range. If the B750 can further enhance performance and maintain reasonable pricing, it could become a preferred choice for budget-conscious gamers.
Driver Optimization and User Experience #
Furthermore, Intel’s driver optimization for Battlemage is noteworthy. Early Alchemist series cards were criticized for driver issues, but Battlemage was released with more mature drivers, reducing compatibility problems. The B580 demonstrated stable frame time performance in tests, particularly in demanding ray-traced games like Cyberpunk 2077, outperforming the RTX 4060 in frame rate stability. If the B750 continues this advantage, it will further enhance the user experience.
The unexpected appearance of the Arc B750 adds a new dimension to Intel’s Battlemage series. While information is currently limited, the B750, with its potentially higher core count and memory capacity, is poised to strengthen Intel’s competitiveness in the mid-range GPU market. Coupled with the technical advantages of the Xe2 architecture and Intel’s ongoing investment, the Battlemage series is gradually emerging from Alchemist’s shadow, offering more choices to gamers. It remains to be seen whether Intel will unveil more details about the B750 or B770 at CES 2025 or Computex 2025 in the coming months. This development not only impacts the success of Intel’s GPU strategy but also influences the competitive landscape of the mid-range graphics card market.