Intel Battlemage Rumors: Is a Higher-End Arc B770 Coming?
Just when we were beginning to believe the Intel Battlemage desktop series was settling down with the mid-tier Arc B570 and B580, whispers suggest that Team Blue may have another trick up its sleeve. A yet more powerful Arc B770 could be in the pipeline to stir the competition.
Uncovering the Hints: The BMG-G31 Silicon
The latest buzz revolves around a silicon die tagged as "BMG-G31". This identifier was found recently in shipping lists, which were said to be going to an Intel plant in Vietnam. Why Vietnam. That particular plant is famous for producing Intel's own "Limited Edition" reference models of their graphics cards, such as the earlier Arc A770 and B580 models.
This has gotten many speculating that Intel is gearing up for production of a higher-end Battlemage card, one they are likely positioning as the Arc B770. Intel did cover the mid-market (comparing cards like the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT), but there is still a void further up their product stack, especially now that new challenger cards are on the horizon.
From Rumors of Cancellation to Rekindled Expectation
It hasn't been a peach of a ride. There were rumors towards the end of 2024 that work on additional premium Battlemage models might have been shelved due to shifts in Intel's strategy. But all these recent silicon sightings, along with further import/export activity on this BMG-G31 die, suggest perhaps the work is resumed or perhaps was never in fact discontinued.
Gas to the fire was poured by highly regarded leaker OneRaichu, who also hinted that the Battlemage B770 project is still alive and that we can expect to see some activity in the near term. This convergence of hardware rumors and insider leaks is an encouraging situation.
What Could the Arc B770 Offer (Speculation Time)
Official specs aren't yet available, but based on the likely positioning and potential of the BMG-G31 silicon, here's what the rumor mill suggests:
- Around 24 to 32 Xe2 cores (GPU's core).
- 256-bit memory bus (wider than the B580).
- Up to 16GB of GDDR6 memory.
In terms of performance, if all of these specifications hold true, then the Arc B770 could possibly squeeze itself in between NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti. Pricing, of course, will be the only consideration. If Intel can deliver at an enticing price point, then the B770 could prove a very interesting option for mass-market gamers.
It's also worth noting that this BMG-G31 silicon might find its way into pro or AI-based GPUs, so the look does not necessarily equate to a gaming card, but the signs are pointing very strongly in that direction.
Eyes on Computex 2025
With the Computex trade show just weeks away, Intel might be prepping a surprise announcement. It's the perfect spot to do so. We'll just have to wait and see what officially comes out of Intel, but the possibility of a new Battlemage rival is certainly compelling news for the GPU community.
Source based on gazlog.
