In a recent report by Digitimes, it was revealed that Intel’s upcoming Battlemage gaming GPU will be manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm silicon, known as N4. This is a step up from the 6nm node used for Intel’s existing Alchemist GPUs. However, the shift to N4 raises questions about potential competition with AMD and Nvidia, who already use similar TSMC silicon for their GPUs.
While N5 and N4 nodes are closely related, the industry is now moving towards TSMC’s N3 nodes, with Apple and Intel already utilizing N3 silicon. In the competitive landscape, both AMD and Nvidia are preparing for next-generation GPUs, while Intel’s Battlemage GPUs have yet to be released and may not appear until next year.
The choice of production node is crucial as it impacts the generation of the GPU, including transistor count and clock speeds. While Intel’s Battlemage GPUs on TSMC’s N4 node may compete well in terms of transistor count with AMD and Nvidia GPUs launching later, the ultimate performance comparison will depend on the architecture and features of each GPU.
The timing of Battlemage’s release is key, as it could potentially put Intel at a disadvantage if AMD and Nvidia release more advanced GPUs before Battlemage hits the market. If both companies opt for a full node jump to TSMC’s N3 silicon, Intel may struggle to compete with more feature-rich GPUs. However, if AMD and Nvidia also choose N4 due to concerns about N3 readiness, Battlemage could still have a chance at competing with their upcoming models.
The delay in Battlemage’s release could work in Intel’s favor if it aligns with AMD and Nvidia’s choice of node. A year-long delay might not be detrimental if competing against GPUs on the N4 node, but facing GPUs on the more advanced N3 node could pose challenges for Intel.
Overall, the industry awaits the release of Intel’s Battlemage GPUs to see how they stack up against AMD and Nvidia’s offerings. A third player in the market could lead to increased competitiveness and potentially better pricing for consumers. The outcome will depend on Intel’s ability to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving GPU market.
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https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/graphics-cards/why-tsmcs-4nm-silicon-will-make-or-break-intels-new-battlemage-gpus/