Intel Arc, no limiter against cryptocurrency mining for new GPUs

The entrance of Intel in the market of GPU dedicate with solutions Arc “Alchemist“will materialize in 2022, probably first in the mobile segment (first quarter) and then the desktop segment (second quarter).

There is undoubtedly a lot of expectation among GPU enthusiasts, destined for gaming or professional tasks, towards the arrival on the scene of a third force potentially able to change a status quo that has been the same for too long, a duopoly in which NVIDIA has a preponderant weight with AMD constantly in pursuit.

Intel started talking about the architecture of the first Arc GPUs, codenamed Alchemist, illustrating some information about the Xe-Core and XeSS technology, but remained silent for everything else, leaving it to network murmurs and stolen information to put puzzle pieces together. In the meantime, the graphics department heads occasionally share some little new information about their plans, as did Raja Koduri and Roger Chandler in an interview with Gadgets 360.

Roger Chandler, VP and GM of Client Graphics Products and Solutions, has touched on a “hot” topic in recent months, namely the possibility that Intel will follow NVIDIA by inserting a performance limiter in cryptocurrency mining. “It’s hard to answer that question, but what I’ll say is that we’re designing Intel Arc and the Alchemist family of products primarily for gamers and creators,” Chandler explained.

“All the optimizations, the features, everything we are doing, is to make sure we can solve their problems and providing value to players and creators. As for software blocks and such, we are not designing this product or creating features that specifically target miners. As for the actions we take to avoid or block them, a product that will be on the market and people will be able to buy it. Not a priority for us“.

The meaning of the answer is clear enough: Intel is neither working to encourage mining nor to stop it. There is no limiter and therefore we have to wait for the debut of the video cards to see if they will become attractive in that area (and if so, see if Intel will change its mind).

In addition to performance and a thick driver part, the debut of Intel’s dedicated GPUs will have to be accompanied by a good one availability. The first Arc GPUs will be manufactured by TSMC with trial a 6 nanometers and, as now clarified by several parties, the shortage will loosen its grip only in the second half of 2022, consequently Intel could find itself experiencing the same difficulties in covering the demand of NVIDIA and AMD (subject to an initially lower ratio between availability and demand for obvious reasons).

Speaking of which, Intel’s architecture boss Raja Koduri makes no promises: the situation is the one for everyone. “Don’t say I have sufficient availability in a market where there is high demand. I think all my competitors will say the same thing right now,” he explained. In short, have no illusions: if NVIDIA and AMD come out of today’s quagmire, it means that the situation will be improved and that TSMC will be able to produce a good number of chips for Intel as well.

As for the products, the interview touches on another interesting topic, namely the existence of custom projects. In this regard, Intel has already hinted that yes, there will be, and in fact Chandler reiterates that the company is providing OEMs with the reference designs that are required to remove the clutches, so that they accelerate and differentiate themselves from our products. Whether or not this is comparable to what is on the market today, I won’t go into details. “Speaking of” our products “, the executive seems to leave the door open to Intel’s direct marketing of reference solutions, a bit like NVIDIA does. with the Founders Editions.