Intel once had highly ambitious plans for its second-generation Arc “Battlemage” GPUs—ranging from larger high-end Xe2 chips and 192–256-bit memory buses to a cutting-edge 3D-stacked “Adamantine” cache system and an associated Halo SoC. Due to shifting leadership priorities and financial pressures, these plans were eventually scrapped. Only prototype boards and internal leaks now hint at what the Battlemage lineup could have been.
Battlemage: The Original Ambition #
After Alchemist (Arc A-series) established Intel’s foundational GPU architecture and software stack, Battlemage was intended to be the true breakout generation. Intel aimed for:
- Significantly larger GPUs
- Up to 40 Xe2 cores
- High-end memory configurations
- 3D stacked cache up to 512 MB
- Integration into an advanced Arrow Lake Halo SoC
These plans have surfaced through prototypes shared by X user @GOKForFree, who revealed photos in May 2025 of a previously unknown Intel GPU PCB—later identified as a high-end Battlemage board.
The High-End Battlemage GPU That Never Shipped #
Analysis of the prototype board shows several clues:
Larger GPU Package #
The PCB accommodates a BGA 2727 GPU—much larger than the midrange Battlemage BMG-G21. This aligns with internal descriptions of the BMG-G10 flagship chip.
Memory and Power Configuration #
The prototype features:
- Six GDDR6 slots → 192-bit bus
- Dual 8-pin power connectors
- A robust VRM design
These characteristics point to a board built for significantly higher performance than released Arc B-series products.
Two Planned High-End SKUs #
According to leaker Bionic_Squash, Intel planned two configurations:
- BMG-G10 X3 – 28 Xe cores
- BMG-G10 X4 – 40 Xe cores
For comparison:
The shipping Arc B580 tops out at 20 Xe cores, half of the canceled X4 variant.
Adamantine Cache: 3D Stacked and Up to 512 MB #
One of Battlemage’s most ambitious features was Adamantine cache, a vertically stacked 3D cache structure:
- Up to 512 MB of on-package cache
- GPU module mounted on top of the cache
- Similar integration concept as Clearwater Forest
This would have dramatically improved bandwidth and latency—positioning Battlemage as a unique competitor in the GPU market.
Halo SoC: Another Casualty of Intel’s Restructuring #
Intel also planned to use the same high-end Battlemage GPU block and 3D cache in the Arrow Lake Halo SoC, a premium-tier design meant to compete with Apple’s and NVIDIA’s high-performance client SoCs.
However, the Arrow Lake Halo project was canceled. Intel now plans its first Halo SoC under the Nova Lake generation, which will use a Xe3P GPU and may support modular GPU blocks from both Intel and NVIDIA.
Memory Bus, I/O, and Architecture #
The canceled high-end Battlemage designs included:
- BMG-G10 X3 → 192-bit bus
- BMG-G10 X4 → 256-bit bus
- Full PCIe Gen5 support
These specs suggest Intel was preparing a far more competitive GPU than what ultimately launched.
The Road Ahead for Arc #
Despite the cancellations, Intel’s graphics division continues to show strong momentum:
- Driver quality has improved dramatically.
- XeSS 3 MFG and new rendering features were showcased at Tech Tour 2025.
- Intel is reportedly developing a new high-end Battlemage GPU: Arc B770.
- Nova Lake will feature Xe3P, indicating continued architectural evolution.
While the original Battlemage vision was never realized, Intel still appears committed to advancing its GPU roadmap—and the next generation may incorporate lessons from these abandoned designs.
Let’s look forward to Intel’s next major GPU reveal.