Introduction
Intel has officially unveiled its first discrete graphics processing units (GPUs) for laptops, representing a major step forward for the company in the dedicated mobile graphics market. Previously, Intel primarily produced integrated graphics solutions for laptops, which are less powerful than discrete GPUs. With the launch of these new next-generation GPUs, Intel aims to provide laptop users with high-end graphics performance and take on competitors like Nvidia and AMD.
Details on the New Discrete GPUs
The new lineup of discrete GPUs from Intel is branded as Arc, and the first products announced are the Arc A-Series GPUs aimed at thin and light laptops. Specifically, Intel revealed the follow models:
- Arc A370M – Entry-level GPU
- Arc A550M – Mid-range GPU
- Arc A770M – High-end GPU
The top-end A770M GPU is claimed by Intel to deliver up to twice the graphics performance of a laptop with Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti mobile GPU.
Some key capabilities and features of the new Arc discrete GPUs include:
- Built on Intel’s Xe HPG microarchitecture
- Support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- AI-driven super sampling called XeSS
- Support for DirectX 12 Ultimate
- Encode/decode acceleration for AV1 and other video codecs
Intel is positioning these GPUs as providing an excellent balance of high performance with efficient power usage, making them well-suited for thin and light laptops.
Availability in Upcoming Laptops
Intel has stated that over 30 new laptop models from leading manufacturers will launch starting in early summer 2022 featuring the new Arc discrete GPUs.
Specific laptops announced so far include:
- Acer Swift X – Will offer Arc A370M GPU option
- Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED – Will offer Arc A370M GPU option
- Lenovo Yoga 7 – Will offer Arc A370M and A550M GPU options
- HP Spectre x360 – Will offer Arc A370M GPU option
- Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro – Will offer Arc A350M GPU option
So there will be a variety of thin, premium laptops on the market later this year taking advantage of Intel’s new GPUs to provide enhanced graphics capabilities.
Implications for the Discrete GPU Market
Intel’s Arc discrete GPU launch represents its first major effort to compete head-to-head with the discrete graphics solutions from rivals Nvidia and AMD in laptops. For many years, Nvidia and AMD have dominated this market segment.
Intel having competitive discrete GPU options for laptops provides more choice for consumers and OEMs. It could also accelerate innovation in mobile graphics as the companies vie for market share.
However, Intel faces an uphill battle to gain share from entrenched competitors. Nvidia and AMD have strong reputations for graphics performance and mature software/driver ecosystems. But some analysts believe Intel has a good chance of carving out a meaningful presence in the market over time with the new Arc GPUs, given its engineering resources and industry reputation.
Conclusion
The launch of the Arc A-Series GPUs represents a pivotal moment for Intel in the discrete laptop graphics arena. By providing high-end graphics capabilities optimized for thin and light laptops, Intel aims to shake up the mobile GPU landscape. While challenging its seasoned competitors won’t be easy, Intel’s entries seem poised to give laptop buyers more choice. It remains to be seen how much market share Intel can wrest away from Nvidia and AMD in this product segment over the next several years with competitive follow-on products. But the company is clearly gearing up to be a serious player here for the long haul.
