Intel Reportedly Making Next-Gen GPUs At TSMC: Battlemage 4nm In 2H 2024 & Celestial 3nm In 2H 2026

Intel is reportedly going to make its next-generation Battlemage and Celestial GPUs for future Arc families using TSMC's fabs.

The report comes from the Taiwanese media outlet, ctee.com.tw, which has sources close to TSMC and Intel. According to the news outlet, TSMC has won a large order from Intel to produce its next-gen Battlemage and Celestial GPUs. The source reports that while there has been restructuring in the AXG division which is now divided into two group, CCG and DCAI, the core team that made the Arc lineup a reality remains optimistic in the gaming segment with e-sports and AI continued drive for stronger demand of discrete GPUs.

As such, Intel is working ahead to plan two GPUs with TSMC. The first one will be the second-gen Battlemage GPU which will utilize the Xe2 architecture. The Battlemage GPUs are said to land in the second half of 2024 and will utilize the TSMC 4nm process node. Then after Battlemage comes the third-gen Celestial GPUs which will utilize the Xe3 architecture. These GPUs will utilize TSMC's N3X (3nm) process node and arrive in the second half of 2026.

In terms of the development of the existing Arc-based GPU and consumer discrete graphics cards, although Intel is facing the pressure of inventory reduction in the production chain this year and facing greater challenges in operations, GPU R&D will continue as planned. According to industry sources, Intel will launch the second-generation Battlemage graphics chip with the Xe2 architecture in the second half of 2024, and the third-generation Celestial graphics chip with the Xe3 architecture in the second half of 2026.

Although Intel has invested heavily in the construction of 4nm and more advanced process wafer fabs, the GPU product line will still maintain the business model of cooperation with wafer foundries, and TSMC has become the only partner. It is understood that the second-generation Battlemage graphics chip will adopt TSMC’s 4-nanometer process, and it is expected to start production in the first half of 2024. The third-generation Celestial graphics chip will use TSMC’s 3-nanometer N3X process, and it will enter volume in the first half of 2026. Produce.

via Ctee

It's highly likely that this report is credible considering that Intel used TSMC for manufacturing its first-gen GPUs codenamed Alchemist (Xe). These GPUs launched around the mid of 2022 but the actual availability only started in the second half of 2022. All chips utilized TSMC's 6nm process & Battlemage launching two years after that in 2H 2024 doesn't sound that far-fetched. Meanwhile, Intel can refresh its existing lineup under the Alchemist+ family which has also been rumored for a while now.

A recently leaked product plan from an Intel Engineer showed that Battlemage Xe2 and Celestial Xe3 GPUs will come in both HPG and LPG flavors. The Battlemage LPG flavors will be used in the Lunar Lake CPUs while Celestial LPG flavors will be used in the Panther Lake CPUs. The discrete GPUs featured in HPG Arc graphics cards will come sooner than the LPG parts and will target the 75-250W segment.

This is definitely exciting stuff and Intel has mentioned its commitment to future GPUs and the next-gen discrete Arc graphics card lineup on multiple occasions. Intel has spent a lot of effort, fixing its existing Alchemist lineup, and they are only bound to get better by the next launches.

News Source: @dnystedt