For many years we have known Intel mainly for its processors and integrated graphics. These have been able to handle common tasks, but they have never been enough for gamers or more demanding users. Only NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon dominated the standalone graphics card market. The turning point came in 2022 when Intel launched its first generation of desktop GPUs under the name Intel Arc Alchemist. It was a bold entry into a world where nothing had changed for years and where only two strong players dominated.
That chapter is now followed by the second generation, Intel Arc Battlemage (Xe2-HPG). Introduced in 2024, it brought noticeable improvements in both performance and efficiency. The new architecture focuses on more powerful ray tracing, the use of artificial intelligence in graphics processing, redesigned caching as well as a more advanced memory system.
With Battlemage, Intel isn’t just trying to appeal to mid-range gamers, it’s also offering models that dare to compete with more powerful cards from NVIDIA and AMD.
What is Intel Arc Battlemage ?
Intel Arc Battlemage, also known as Xe²-Arc or Xe2 HPG, is Intel’s second generation graphics architecture. It is a direct successor to the Alchemist series and forms the basis of the new Arc B series graphics cards. Intel designed it to deliver higher performance, better efficiency while paving the way for advanced graphics technologies.
The chips are manufactured by TSMC on a 5nm manufacturing process. This allows more transistors to be placed in a smaller area, resulting in both higher frequencies and a better power-to-performance ratio. Interestingly, Intel has its own chip manufacturing strategy within Intel Foundry Services, but for Battlemage it reached out to TSMC. Compared to the first generation, the shift is noticeable.
The core building blocks of the Intel Arc Battlemage architecture are Xe-cores – the compute blocks that connect the shaders, GPUs and AI accelerators. The Arc B580, for example, has 20 Xe-cores and therefore 2,560 shader units, while the Arc B570 offers 18 Xe-cores.
The memory part of Intel’s Arc Battlemage architecture builds on GDDR6 VRAM. The flagship Arc B580 has 12 GB of memory connected over a 192-bit bus, while the B570 offers 10 GB of memory on a 160-bit bus. Memory speeds hover around 19 Gbps, delivering high data throughput for modern games and applications. Intel has also increased the cache and redesigned the memory subsystem, which helps make better use of the core’s performance.
Intel Arc Battlemage is also designed for high frequencies. The Arc B580 achieves a boost of around 2,850 MHz, while the B570 hovers at 2,750 MHz. However, power consumption remains within reasonable limits – around 190 W for the B580 and 150 W for the B570.
Overall, the Intel Arc Battlemage features a combination of more compute cores, high operating frequency, and a more efficient memory architecture. Compared to Alchemist, this is a noticeable jump in both performance and efficiency, bringing Intel closer to the competition from NVIDIA and AMD.
Available features and advanced features
Intel Arc Battlemage doesn’t just deliver more performance. The new architecture also delivers features that enhance the visual gaming experience and move Intel’s cards closer to the top of the market.
One of the main highlights is Intel XeSS – an AI-based upscaling technology. Its job is to increase the frame rate without any visible loss of image quality. In practice, this means that the game runs smoother even at higher resolutions. In the Battlemage generation, XeSS moves forward thanks to the new XMX cores – the image is sharper and more natural than in the first generation of Alchemist.
Another important feature of Intel Arc Battlemage is improved ray tracing, which is the realistic processing of light, reflections and shadows. All Battlemage models have dedicated RT cores directly in the Xe-cores that render these effects in hardware. As a result, ray tracing becomes usable even in games that are among the most graphically demanding.
Intel has also worked on the memory subsystem. Larger cache memory and more efficient data management mean lower latency and smoother running games without having to dramatically increase bus width. For gamers, this means more stable performance and better use of available VRAM.
Software and drivers are also important improvements. Intel is gradually optimizing them to improve both stability and performance in games. Users have Arc Control, a tool for graphics card management, monitoring and easy updates. Of course, there is support for modern APIs such as DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan, as well as the latest HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 video standards, which are important for high-resolution, high refresh rate gaming.
Intel Arc Battlemage strengths
- significantly improved performance over the first generation Alchemist
- advanced 5 nm manufacturing process from TSMC → better performance/consumption ratio
- Xe-cores with integrated RT and XMX cores → handles both ray tracing and AI acceleration
- intel XeSS support – quality AI upscaling that increases FPS
- competitive GDDR6 VRAM (10-12 GB) and improved cache system
- high operating frequencies (up to 2,850 MHz) at reasonable power consumption
Intel Arc Battlemage weaknesses
- still weaker ecosystem background compared to NVIDIA and AMD
- ray tracing performance, while better than before, lags behind RTX cards for high-end titles
- performance is more dependent on driver quality – not all games are optimized equally well
- lack of a version that can realistically compete with top models like RTX 4080/4090
- less support from game manufacturers (NVIDIA has stronger partnerships and exclusive technologies)
Graphics card models with Intel Arc Battlemage architecture
Intel has divided the second generation products by target audience. For gamers, the Arc B-series – standalone graphics cards for desktops – are designed. Professionals are addressed by Arc Pro B-series, which are aimed at stability and specialized applications, and finally there is Xe² LPG – integrated graphics in processors, which brings modern technologies to notebooks.
Intel Arc B-series desktop graphics cards
The Arc B-series gaming models are the main driver of the Battlemage architecture. They are designed for gamers looking for good performance at an affordable price. Compared to the first generation Arc Alchemist, they offer more cores, faster memory and significantly better ray tracing.
- Intel Arc B580 – mid-range flagship. It has 20 Xe-cores (2,560 shader units), 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus, and a boost frequency of around 2.85 GHz. Consumption is around 190 W. Ideal choice for gaming in both Full HD and 1440p.
- Intel Arc B570 – a more affordable model with 18 Xe-cores (2,304 shader units), 10 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 160-bit bus, and a boost frequency up to 2.75 GHz. Power consumption is approximately 150 W. It will interest gamers looking for the best price/performance ratio.
In addition to these models, there is already information about upcoming cards:
- Arc B770 and Arc B750 – higher-performance variants with more cores and higher memory throughput. They are expected to rival higher-end models from NVIDIA and AMD.
Intel Arc Pro B-series professional graphics cards
Intel isn’t forgetting about professionals either. Arc Pro B-series are designed for workstations and are focused on stability rather than maximum FPS. They are used in CAD applications, 3D modeling, rendering and AI computing. These cards offer long-term reliability, certifications and optimized support for specialized software.
- Intel Arc Pro B580
The flagship of the professional series. Features 20 Xe-cores (2,560 shader units), 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus, and high precision computing. Optimized for demanding applications such as CAD, 3D rendering and AI modeling. - Intel Arc Pro B570
Mid-range, designed for smaller studios and creative professionals. Includes 18 Xe-cores (2,304 shader units) and 10GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The ideal compromise between performance and power in workstations. - Intel Arc Pro B550
A more affordable card for entering the professional segment. Compared to the B570, it has fewer cores and VRAM, but still handles most of the early applications, graphics work or medium computation. - Intel Arc Pro B500
The lowest model in the Pro series, designed for basic professional tasks, visualization and CAD projects. Focuses on low power consumption and long-term reliability, making it suitable for corporate work PCs.
Intel Xe² LPG – integrated graphics
Intel’s Arc Battlemage architecture is also making its way into laptops and ultra-thin devices under the Xe² LPG designation. These are integrated graphics cores directly in the processors. Although they don’t compete with standalone cards in terms of performance, they bring advanced technologies, supporting ray tracing, XeSS and the latest image standards, all at low power consumption.
- Xe² LPG in Intel Lunar Lake processors – optimized integrated graphics that handle multimedia, everyday work and less demanding games.
Intel Arc Battlemage architecture comparison with competitors
To better see where the Intel Arc Battlemage architecture has moved, we’ve selected three mid-range graphics cards for comparison. We pitted the Intel Arc B580 against its closest competitors – the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT. These are models that target a similar group of gamers in terms of price and performance, so they show how Intel’s new generation stacks up against the established pair.
| Specs | Intel Arc B580 (Battlemage) | NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti (Ada Lovelace) | AMD RX 7600 XT (RDNA 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Battlemage (Xe² HPG) – 2nd gen Intel GPU | emphasis on AI and VRAM | Ada Lovelace – proven design | top software support | RDNA 3 – efficient architecture| good rasterization performance |
| Performance (1080p) | keeps up with RTX 4060 Ti -often slightly weaker | very stable, the best | similar to B580, slightly above it |
| Performance (1440p) | benefits from 12GB VRAM and a wider 192-bit bus | powerfully powerful, but 8GB/16GB VRAM on a 128-bit bus can be limiting | 16 GB VRAM, 128-bit-also less throughput |
| Ray Tracing | big improvement over 1st generation | still best RT performance in this class thanks to DLSS 3 | weaker than both B580 and RTX 4060 Ti |
| Upscaling/AI | XeSS 1.2 – quality noticeably improved but less support | DLSS 3 Frame Generation – market leader, best quality and performance | FSR 2/3 – works almost everywhere, but visually weaker result |
| Memory | 12 GB GDDR6, 192-bit – a clear advantage over the competition | 8 GB / 16 GB GDDR6, 128-bit – lower memory throughput | 16 GB GDDR6, 128-bit – more VRAM but narrower bus |
| Consumption | ~190 W – higher, needs good cooling | ~160 W – balanced power/consumption ratio | ~190 W – similar to B580 |
The comparison shows that the Intel Arc Battlemage architecture (Xe² HPG) brings a competitive product to the mid-range for the first time. With higher VRAM capacity, a wider memory bus and improved ray tracing, the B580 is able to stand up to models that Intel didn’t have a chance to threaten just a few years ago.
You can see from the table that Intel Arc Battlemage focuses on memory throughput and more efficient core utilization, areas where Intel has been catching up to the competition. At the same time, it is clear that the ecosystem of technologies such as XeSS or Arc Control drivers are still evolving, reflecting the young architecture and its gradual maturation.
In other words – Intel Arc Battlemage shows that Intel can design an architecture that not only keeps up, but in some areas (VRAM, cache, memory bus) even offers advantages over the established NVIDIA – AMD pair.
What can we expect in the future?
The Intel Arc Battlemage architecture has shown that Intel has become a true third player in the graphics card field. In the mid-range it can already offer performance, VRAM and technology that puts it next to NVIDIA and AMD. This is positive news for the market – more competition means better prices and faster development.
Going forward, we can expect Intel to expand Battlemage further and prepare even more powerful generations. For gamers and content creators alike, this is good news as they finally have another real option in their choice of graphics.