A prototype discrete GPU based on the Intel Arc "Battlemage" graphics architecture was recently discovered in a public boot log by the Intel GFX Continuous Integration group. It appears that the group is currently testing this prototype GPU with a Linux driver. During boot, the operating system loads the driver, which generates several messages in the boot log. Notably, the log explicitly references the GPU as "Battlemage" or BMG, and provides details such as a memory size of 12 GB, memory speed of 19 Gbps, and a memory bus width of 192-bit.
Based on these specifications, it is likely that this GPU belongs to the mid-tier of the series, with the top-tier variant potentially featuring a 256-bit memory interface. This aligns with Intel's strategy of focusing on the mainstream gaming graphics market rather than targeting the enthusiast class. The new "Battlemage" architecture is expected to position Intel competitively against rival architectures like NVIDIA's "Ada" and AMD's RDNA 3. However, its performance against the upcoming NVIDIA "Blackwell" and AMD RDNA 4 architectures remains to be seen.
