Recently, it was discovered that Intel has added support for the Battlemage GPU, codenamed “BMG-G31”, in Compute Runtime, introducing four device IDs. This progress indicates that Intel is accelerating the development of its new generation of graphics cards. The Battlemage series, as the second generation of Intel Arc graphics cards, provides a cost-effective option for gamers. Below, we will take a closer look at the specific progress.
The Battlemage GPU is Intel’s new generation of graphics processors following the Alchemist series. The BMG-G31 is a more powerful model in this series. Previously, Intel successfully launched the Arc B580 and Arc B570 gaming graphics cards based on the BMG-G21 chip, as well as the Arc Pro B60 and Arc Pro B50 products for AI workstations. These products have received a good response in the market due to their reasonable performance and price positioning. The development of BMG-G31 further expands the application range of the Battlemage series, aiming to provide more powerful computing capabilities to meet the needs of high-end gaming and professional graphics processing.
According to the latest information, Intel has added support for BMG-G31 in Compute Runtime version 25.27.34303.5, specifically including four device IDs: 0xE220, 0xE221, 0xE222, and 0xE223. The addition of these IDs means that the development of BMG-G31 has entered a relatively mature stage, and relevant drivers and software support are gradually being improved. Compared to BMG-G21, BMG-G31 has significant improvements in hardware specifications. It is speculated that this chip will be equipped with 32 Xe2 cores, a 60% increase compared to the BMG-G21’s 20 Xe2 cores. In addition, the BMG-G31 may adopt a 256-bit memory bus, with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, a memory speed of 19 Gbps, and a total bandwidth of up to 608 GB/s. In contrast, the Arc B580 has 12 GB of memory, a 192-bit bus width, and a bandwidth of 456 GB/s. The increase in memory capacity and bandwidth for BMG-G31 lays the foundation for higher-performance graphics processing.
From the perspective of manufacturing process, BMG-G31 is expected to continue to use TSMC’s 5-nanometer process, consistent with BMG-G21, but an improvement over the previous-generation Alchemist series Arc A770 (which used TSMC’s 6-nanometer process). The 5-nanometer process can bring higher transistor density and energy efficiency, helping to improve chip performance and power consumption control. Although the chip size and specific power consumption data of BMG-G31 have not yet been announced, referring to the Arc B580’s 190-watt power consumption and the Arc A770’s 225-watt power consumption, the BMG-G31’s power consumption may be between 200 watts and 250 watts, depending on the final clock frequency and optimization scheme.
In terms of performance, the target market positioning of BMG-G31 is clear. Based on its 32 Xe2 cores and higher memory bandwidth, the BMG-G31’s performance is expected to be comparable to NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 Ti and AMD’s RX 9060 XT. The pricing of BMG-G31 may be between $329 and $349. If Intel can continue the cost-effectiveness advantage of the Arc B580 in terms of price, the BMG-G31 is expected to become a strong competitor in the mid-range market.
Intel Arc graphics cards have shown noteworthy performance in the market in recent years. Since the launch of the first-generation Alchemist series in 2022, Intel has gradually optimized its drivers and software ecosystem, making significant progress in game performance and compatibility.
The current GPU market is in a stage of rapid development. With the increasing complexity of game graphics and the growing demand for AI computing, graphics card manufacturers are continuously launching higher-performance products. NVIDIA and AMD dominate the high-end market, but Intel has found a breakthrough in the mid-range market through the Arc series. The launch of BMG-G31 will further enrich Intel’s graphics card product line, covering multiple market segments from entry-level to mid-to-high end. In addition, Intel’s continuous investment in open-source drivers and compute runtime provides solid support for its graphics card ecosystem.
BMG-G31 and related products are estimated to be launched before the end of 2025. This timeline aligns with Intel’s product release rhythm in recent years and is consistent with the GPU industry’s technology update cycle. At that time, BMG-G31 may appear as an Arc B7XX series graphics card, offering new choices for gamers and professional users. However, unless it can offer extreme cost-effectiveness, this timing may be a bit too late.