Intel's new offering in the Battlemage lineup is supposedly a budget GPU, which should be succeeding the Arc A380.
Intel Adds 0xE209 PCI ID with BMG G21 to Both Linux Kernel and Mesa; Hints at the Entry-Level Arc B380 GPU With Specs Retained From Arc B50 PRO
The whereabouts of the Arc B770 might be unknown at the moment, but it appears that Intel may not just be working on a faster mainstream consumer Arc Battlemage GPU but also on an entry-level card. What we are seeing is Intel preparing a new GPU, as was spotted recently in the Linux Kernel driver patches with the PCI ID 0xE209.
This new PCI ID represents a new Arc Battlemage GPU, but for the mainstream consumer lineup. As per the new kernel patches, the newly added PCI ID should now help the driver recognize the new GPU, and the patch appears to be from yesterday. Not only the Linux Kernel, but this ID was mentioned in the Mesa PCI ID table as well, clearly mentioning the "BMG G21", indicating it's not the B770.
Mesa provides the open-source userspace drivers for handling rendering, compute, and display. With the addition of new PCI ID 0xE209, 3D rendering support for the new GPU is now enabled, and it will also help in running Vulkan and OpenGL apps on the GPU. As per the user @LasseKrkkinen, this new GPU is supposedly the Intel Arc B50 PRO's consumer variant and could possibly be the Arc B380. B380 will be the successor to the Alchemist-based Arc A380, but it will be much superior in specifications.
While the Arc A380 brings 8 Xe cores, the B380, if based on the B50 PRO's specs, will feature 16 Xe2 cores. This is only two Xe2 cores fewer than the Arc B570, a budget GPU in the Battlemage lineup, which could mean that the Arc B380 might be closer to the B570's performance. Once again, take this with a grain of salt since this is just speculation based on the leaker's report.
That said, considering if it really brings 16 Xe2 cores, then it could be a fantastic entry-level GPU, provided that Intel prices it at <$150. The Arc A380 was launched at $149, and the Arc BA380 could offer an excellent option to gamers at this price tag, since the $100-$200 is often ignored by GPU manufacturers these days.
News Source: @LasseKrkkinen
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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