Intel discrete graphics chips confirmed
Monday 22nd January 2007, 12:12:00 PM, written by Tim
Six weeks ago, job descriptions for Intel's Larrabee Development Group caused widespread speculation
that the chip giant would be re-entering the discrete graphics
marketplace. These speculations have now been confirmed with Intel actively recruiting
for its Visual Computing Group, the official name for the Larrabee
project. The page notes that the group will first focus on "developing
discrete graphics products based on a many-core architecture targeting
high-end client platforms," with lower-end products, including graphics
products integrated with CPUs, to follow later. Precisely what this
means--what exactly is a many-core architecture in this context, and
what's the timeframe for the new chips?--is still anyone's guess.
One thing to keep in mind is that Intel's fab utilization has decreased over the past year. Intel would certainly like to use its spare capacity for something, rather than waste money by idling fabs. Considering that it is initially targeting the high-end segment (with its historically higher margins), it would thus seem likely that any future GPUs from Intel would be manufactured in-house, just as the i740 was in days of yore. It will also be interesting to see what, if any, advantage its superior process technologies will give them.
Therefore, after months (if not years!) of rumors, a milestone has been reached. Intel now has, in their own words on their own site, declared, "Look out, NVIDIA and AMD/ATI, here we come!"
[hello slashdot, welcome to beyond3d!]
One thing to keep in mind is that Intel's fab utilization has decreased over the past year. Intel would certainly like to use its spare capacity for something, rather than waste money by idling fabs. Considering that it is initially targeting the high-end segment (with its historically higher margins), it would thus seem likely that any future GPUs from Intel would be manufactured in-house, just as the i740 was in days of yore. It will also be interesting to see what, if any, advantage its superior process technologies will give them.
Therefore, after months (if not years!) of rumors, a milestone has been reached. Intel now has, in their own words on their own site, declared, "Look out, NVIDIA and AMD/ATI, here we come!"
[hello slashdot, welcome to beyond3d!]
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