Rumors are swirling about Intel’s potential new addition to its graphics card lineup, the “Big Battlemage” Arc GPU. This speculation arises from a glimpse into the AI Playground utility, where an intriguing 32 GB VRAM was spotted.
Intel’s Surprise in AI Playground v3.0.0
Recently, Intel rolled out the v3.0.0 version of its AI Playground software (Alpha). While the update itself is significant for its new features and support for the Arc GPU family, particularly the Panther Lake series with Xe3 architecture, the real buzz is about an unexpected detail in the User’s Guide. An unnamed Arc GPU boasting 32 GB of VRAM was identified within the guide, sparking excitement among enthusiasts.
This GPU, utilized to create an AI-generated image, stands out because Intel has yet to release a 32 GB card in its Arc A-series or B-series, with the current maximum being 24 GB for the Arc Pro B60 and 48 GB for dual-die solutions. Could this be the much-anticipated Big Battlemage graphics card featuring the BMG-G31 GPU? It is speculated to come with a 256-bit bus interface, which suggests 16 GB or 32 GB variants.
Potential Configurations and Possibilities
Sources indicate at least four SKUs are in development, hinting that consumer gaming models might offer 16 GB VRAM, while professional versions could boast the 32 GB capacity. This would put Intel on par with NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 in terms of VRAM. Alternatively, Intel’s GPU memory override feature could be in play, potentially allocating system memory to reach the 32 GB figure, especially in high-memory Panther Lake laptops.
With CES 2026 on the horizon, expectations are high for Intel to unveil more details, particularly given the recent additions in support for the BMG-G31 chip. Whether this latest find is indeed the Big Battlemage or not, it’s clear that Intel is preparing significant updates in its GPU offerings.
Intel Arc Battlemage Graphics Card “Rumored” Specs:
| Graphics Card Variant | Arc B7XX | Arc B580 | Arc A770 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU Die | Arc BMG-G31 | Arc BMG-G21 | Arc ACM-G10 |
| Process Node | TSMC 5nm | TSMC 5nm | TSMC 6nm |
| Die Size | TBD | 272mm2 | 406mm2 |
| Shading Units (Cores) | 4096 (32 Xe2-Cores) | 2560 (20 Xe2-Cores) | 4096 (32 Xe-Cores) |
| GPU Clock (Graphics) | TBD | 2.67 GHz | 2.10 GHz |
| Memory Capacity | 16 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 19 Gbps | 17.5 Gbps |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| Bandwidth | 608 GB/s | 456 GB/s | 560 GB/s |
| TGP | 300W | 190W | 225W |
| Price (at launch) | TBD | $249 | $349 |