The rumors turn out to be true! Intel’s upcoming Arc Battlemage graphics cards will arrive this year, and thanks to two premature listings on Amazon, they got a sneak peek at the ASRock Arc B580 graphics cards.
The Amazon listing for the ASRock B580 Steel Legend model (via VideoCardz) confirms that it is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture, with factory overclocking at 2,8 GHz. It is equipped with 12 GB GDDR6 memory operating at 19 Gbpsthus offering an increase in capacity compared to the current Arc A580.
While the listing doesn’t specify core counts or DisplayPort 2.1 support, it guarantees 8K (7680 x 4320) resolution. The images also show that Intel is retaining dual-clamp power connectors of 8 instead of adopting the new standard to 16 pliers. A Challenger model was also briefly listed on Amazon and then removed. However, several users have managed to save the images, revealing that this card has a power connector to 8 pinindicating a TDP not exceeding 225W.
Further analysis of the leaked images reveals another interesting detail: the B580 uses a PCIe interface 5.0×8. Inspecting the images of the PCIe interface, we notice that about half of the connectors do not appear equipped. Although the x8 configuration may seem restrictive, it offers the same bandwidth as PCIe 4.0 x16currently used by the Arc A580.
Connectivity and compatibility
This indicates that you will need a PCIe compatible motherboard 5.0 to unlock the full potential of the B580. However, one advantage is that using a B580 graphics card could free up PCIe lanes for other devices, given that most motherboards suffer from limitations regarding PCIe 5.0 connectivity. Recently, Intel updated its driver site with a new section dedicated to Battlemage, announcing a full reveal that appears imminent.
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The question of prices
One question remains unanswered with these registrations: that of prices. The A580 was launched at 179 $ (environ 170 €) with higher memory bandwidth, but only 8 Go de VRAM. Intel’s pricing strategy for these new graphics cards could be a crucial issue for their success in the market.
While waiting to see how Intel will position itself, the B580 seems promising with its modern characteristics. Architecture development and feature enhancements highlight Intel’s commitment to competing in the GPU space. Future gamers and professionals can expect to benefit from improved performance, ready to dominate high-definition screens.
