Intel’s upcoming Arc Battlemage graphics cards, slated for a debut in early 2025, are poised to offer an intriguing proposition for budget-conscious PC gamers and those seeking a powerful mid-range GPU. However, the question remains: how will these cards stack up against their predecessors in terms of desktop performance?
Recent insights from Wccftech, based on Geekbench OpenCL benchmark results, provide a glimpse into the capabilities of the ‘Battlemage’ architecture. Specifically, the benchmark focused on the ‘G21’ variant, one of the many Battlemage cards in development. The results show an OpenCL score of 97,943, placing it between the current Intel Arc A750 and just below the flagship Arc A770.
While this score doesn’t represent a groundbreaking leap in performance, it’s important to note that it is based on an engineering sample. This means that in-game performance across various titles and APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan could be significantly different. Furthermore, the benchmarked GPU boasts 20 Xe2 Cores, compared to the A770’s 32 Xe2 Cores, suggesting it could be an entry-level or budget-focused Battlemage card.
For a budget-oriented GPU, the performance is not entirely discouraging, particularly if the price is competitive. The benchmark also indicates a possible mid-range configuration, as the GPU was paired with an Intel Core i5-13600K CPU and 32GB of DDR5-4800 memory. A positive aspect of this particular card is its 12GB of VRAM, an improvement over the Arc A750.
In conclusion, while the early benchmarks suggest a modest performance increase over existing Arc models, it’s crucial to wait for further testing and the final release to gauge the true capabilities and value of Intel’s Arc Battlemage graphics cards. The final verdict will hinge on real-world gaming performance and, of course, the price point.
