Intel Arc Celestial Is Coming
1/11/2024
The Intel Arc graphics celestial architecture is the codename for the third generation of Intel’s discrete gaming graphics cards, which are expected to launch in 2024 or later. The celestial architecture is based on the Xe3 design, which is a successor to the Xe2 design that powers the second generation Arc battlemage cards. The celestial architecture is aimed at the ultra-enthusiast segment, which means it will compete with the highest-end products from NVIDIA and AMD.
According to some sources, the celestial architecture will be manufactured by TSMC using its N3X (3 nm) process node, which is expected to offer significant improvements in performance, power efficiency, and transistor density over the previous nodes. The celestial architecture will also feature a new microarchitecture that will support advanced features such as ray tracing, mesh shading, variable rate shading, and AI-enhanced capabilities.
However, the exact specifications and features of the celestial architecture are still unknown, as Intel has not officially revealed any details about it. There are some rumors and leaks that suggest that the celestial architecture will have up to 1024 execution units (EUs), 32 GB of GDDR7 memory, and PCIe 5.0 support. However, these are not confirmed by Intel and should be taken with a grain of salt.
The celestial architecture is part of Intel’s long-term vision to establish itself as a major player in the gaming graphics market, which has been dominated by NVIDIA and AMD for decades. Intel hopes to offer competitive products across the entire spectrum of gaming graphics, from integrated to discrete, from mobile to desktop, and from entry-level to ultra-enthusiast. The celestial architecture is the culmination of Intel’s efforts to deliver the ultimate gaming graphics experience to its customers.