Intel Plans to Launch Its Discrete GPU Lineup Starting at $200

Armenius

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TechPowerUp posted up a summary of an interview Raja Koduri did with Russian Youtuber PRO Hi-Tech in which he discusses Intel's market strategy. Seems Raja plans to continue where he left off at AMD, aiming for mainstream gamers. The key quote in the entire thing is the following: "Additionally, he states that Intel's current strategy revolves around price, not performance, providing best possible value to consumers." Seems like a smart business decision to enter the market in a high volume segment than go full ham against NVIDIA for the enthusiast crown, but it also means those who were eager for a competitor in that market segment are going to have to wait a little longer.

https://www.techpowerup.com/257911/intel-plans-to-launch-its-discrete-gpu-lineup-starting-at-usd-200

During interview with Russian YouTube channel called PRO Hi-Tech, Raja Koduri, Intel's chief architect and senior vice president of architecture, software and graphics, talked about his career, why he left AMD, and where Intel is going with its discrete GPU attempts. However, one of the most notable things Mr Koduri said was regarding upcoming GPU lineup code-named Arctic Sound. He noted that Intel plans to release first GPU as a mid-range model at a price of $200, while enterprise solutions that utilize HBM memory will follow that.

Koduri said that he wants to replicate AMD's strategy of capturing high-volume price-points, such as the $199 Radeon RX 480. The plan here is to bring an affordable, good performing GPU to the masses - "GPUs for everyone" as he calls them. Additionally, he states that Intel's current strategy revolves around price, not performance, providing best possible value to consumers. Intel's approach for the next two or three years is to launch a complete lineup of GPUs, with a common architecture being used for everything from iGPUs found inside consumer CPUs to data-center GPUs.


Source video below (Russian):


EDIT: PRO Hi-Tech took the video down and TPU edited their article with the following:

Update: PRO Hi-Tech has posted a snippet of Raja Koduri interview, without the Russian overlay commentary. What he said was actually: "...Eventually our architecture, as publicly said, has to get from mainstream, which is starting at around $100, all the way to data-center class graphics with HBM memory...". This means that the previous speculation about $200 graphics card is false, as he didn't say that. All he said is that Intel wants to enter the "mainstream" GPU market and work its way up to data center.
 
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It's a bit shame that it's only as low as $200 at start so at least Intel won't be putting any pressure whatsoever on AMD & Nvidia and status quo pricing will continue for likely a long time to come still. Stuff like 2070, 2080, 5700 XT and next gen highend offering from AMD needs to come down in price by 70-$100'ish depending on the model to reflect pre-mining boom that gave Nvidia & AMD freepass to sneak in permanent price hike to GPUs (this is still with respect to increasing difficulties, manufacturing or development costs).
 
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I do not think they have any real hope with Raja (It is everyone else's fault) in charge. However, if I am proven wrong, so much the better for all involved, I am just extremely doubtful.
 
It's a bit shame that it's only as low as $200 at start so at least Intel won't be putting any pressure whatsoever on AMD & Nvidia and status quo pricing will continue for likely a long time to come still.

Actually, this is AMDs bread and butter- so they'll have to do better in that space and the space directly above to stay competitive.
 
Actually, this is AMDs bread and butter- so they'll have to do better in that space and the space directly above to stay competitive.
Honestly if they came right out the gate with a $1200 2080TI killer how many people would actually risk it? I mean Intel is huge but their track record for a number of things in the GPU support and graphics arena is OK at best? I would say let them prove themselves in the mainstream arena first. If somebody is going to drop $600+ on a GPU there are certain expectations that need to be met, and it's not like Intel doesn't have a track-record of just folding entire divisions with little to no warning because...... reasons?
 
That would be a large calibre shot across AMDs bow. Hey look we can undercut your pricing too!
 
That would be a large calibre shot across AMDs bow. Hey look we can undercut your pricing too!
They could undercut AMD and even nVidia's pricing but not for long without getting their board of directors and stock holders up in a tizzie, additionally I am not exactly clear on what their supply chain and availability is going to look like for these anyways, they are already running into production troubles and shortages across the board with most of their processes. So if they are going to be doing this at any sort of scale they are likely going to stop manufacturing something, have to upgrade a fab, and maintain profit margin. Unless they contract out the fabrication of the GPU's to somebody else in which case they loose their ability to really undercut anybody and they have to then find a way to not only compete but do so as the under under dog.
 
The big problem I see is that Intel doesn't have all the legacy game support that nvidia/ATi-AMD have worked out over the years. A $200 option would be nice.
 
What about Windows 98 (not SE)??????
Please....This is Intel we are talking about... We're lucky if they are supporting Win 10 at this point forget about all that other stuff that was out there.
 
Removed out of respect. It was a shitty thing to say. I don't think any differently, but thumpers dad is right.
 
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The big problem I see is that Intel doesn't have all the legacy game support that nvidia/ATi-AMD have worked out over the years. A $200 option would be nice.

You'd be surprised...

I'm far less worried about legacy support than I am about AAA-support. With only IGPs, few developers are going to have optimized for an architecture that will never run their games (or other software).

On the other hand, Intel has come a long way in terms of drivers on Windows, and they're a lead developer on Linux.

My expectation is that they'll need a lot of TLC after release, but stuff by and large will run at release.
 
It's nice to know Raja is using exactly the same failed strategy he was singing about at AMD. I can't see him as anything but an epic failure. Maybe after he's done at Intel I can contact him to teach me how to ace interviews for jobs I'm unqualified for.
FFS, the man reads this forum. Are you trying to make him suicidal?
 
Additionally, he states that Intel's current strategy revolves around price, not performance, providing best possible value to consumers.

Oh boy, we have heard that before. And driver support will be crucial....
 
FFS, the man reads this forum. Are you trying to make him suicidal?
I wouldn't wish that on anyone and I sincerely wish him a good, full and enjoyable life.
My opinions remain, but you raise a good point. I'll try to tone it down a bit. If he knew me he wouldn't take me seriously, no one should.
 
Actually, this is AMDs bread and butter- so they'll have to do better in that space and the space directly above to stay competitive.

This. If AMD does not get back on track soon they will have a tough fight ahead. The RX 5700 is a good start, but they need to have a replacement for it at the minimum within a year to counter the Nvidia RTX 3060/3070 (whatever they may be called). Otherwise they'll only be competing against Nvidias $200-250 offerings.

Hopefully AMD has some good things lined up. They need to at least compete with the **70 cards from Nvidia.
 
I wouldn't wish that on anyone and I sincerely wish him a good, full and enjoyable life.
My opinions remain, but you raise a good point. I'll try to tone it down a bit. If he knew me he wouldn't take me seriously, no one should.

He's got a good sense of humor, I'm sure he'll shrug it off. Not sure if I'm supposed to reveal this, but he goes by the name Azureth around here (mostly posts in GenMay).
 
You'd be surprised...

I'm far less worried about legacy support than I am about AAA-support. With only IGPs, few developers are going to have optimized for an architecture that will never run their games (or other software).

On the other hand, Intel has come a long way in terms of drivers on Windows, and they're a lead developer on Linux.

My expectation is that they'll need a lot of TLC after release, but stuff by and large will run at release.
nVidia works close with developers I hope Intel follows suit. $200 is a great starting point for a Mainstream card I would also like to see what they plan on doing in the $3000+ space for AI and datacenter use. That is currently nVidia’s sweet spot, hit those two segments solid and the pieces will fall into line pretty favourably for them.
 
Look guys another competitor is good. But to be considered a real competitor they need to actually be competitive, and that's not just price point. You want some excitement that 200 dollar part better be competing with the 400 dollar parts that AMD/NVIDIA are making today.

And then enterprise virtualized GPU's are a coming thing. If you can't perform on a singe piece of silicone why would I want to farm out a bad experience to multiple users?
 
Will be nice with RGB competing :D
But i really have to see what team Blue bring, and really they do have to bring it.
 
knowing Intels pricing on things, $200 will probably be getting you something akin to a GT710
Ripping on Intel is super fun and all but I am sure if they came to the game with that weak of a showing heads would roll, GPU's are a huge market and Intel is passing up a lot of money in the datacenter market every year by not being a part of it. The desktop and gaming market is a nice one sure but there are a lot of support characteristics that Intel is going to have to bring to the game to even contemplate competing here. Data centers, Research farms, the big money stuff, that is Intel's wheel house and that is where the future of this stuff is going. Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Tencent, are all gearing up for the virtual gaming stuff. A lot of them are also digging deep into AI, Blockchain, and a slurry of other things that GPU's play a large part in. This is a growing market that could potentially eclipse CPU sales in a few short years. As things currently stand most of those big contracts are going to go to nVidia with very little contest from AMD, their Datacenter game just isn't currently there. Intel would be insane to let that slip past them, we have reached a point where the processors in phones are good enough for more than half the people out there, with Apple gearing up to do their own thing and Microsoft not far behind offering non x86 options Intel needs to look else ware. Seriously if they don't deliver here there will be board room riots, which could be fun in their own right to watch....
 
Intel's approach for the next two or three years is to launch a complete lineup of GPUs, with a common architecture being used for everything from iGPUs found inside consumer CPUs to data-center GPUs.

Wasn't this one of the main problems with AMD's GCN architecture? And Navi is now AMD's "gaming" specific architecture? Or do I have this all wrong?
 
I can't imagine an Intel igpu architecture moving to discrete GPU... They never competed igpu vs AMD even before the ryzen apus. And who could leave out, hopefully it doesn't include the security holes from th CPU side. I have to agree about Raja.. lots of blame, not much game. Thank goodness Lisa Su came in and helled turn things around. I can't imagine what a $200 you from Intel will look like, hopefully it's actually useful but I think they are working more towards AI and compute more than gaming to get more i to servers and stuff. I believe these discrete GPUs aren't meant to compete anytime soon just give them a platform to work towards the future.
 
Have you used their drivers lately? And we're talking GPU drivers, because Intel sets the standard nearly everywhere else.
Their general drivers are solid, stable, and released in a timely fashion. Can they work with developers for Day 0 driver patches for games and proper feature support and still maintain that standard? That will be the test.
 
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