Intel has officially announced its new Arc B-Series graphics cards, codenamed Battlemage. The new Intel Arc B580 and B570 GPUs aim to deliver high-quality gaming experiences, offering powerful features such as XeSS 2 AI upscaling, second-generation ray tracing, and advanced AI capabilities, making them ideal for modern gaming and content creation.
The Arc B-Series GPUs are built on Intel’s latest Xe2 architecture, which brings improvements in performance and efficiency. The second-generation Xe-cores offer enhanced compute power, and are paired with high-performance XMX AI engines. These new cores are complemented by more capable ray tracing units and better support for graphics functions, which significantly improve performance with the latest game engines.
Introducing XeSS 2 technology
One of the key features of the Arc B-Series GPUs is the introduction of XeSS 2, which includes three advanced technologies designed to boost performance and visual quality:
- XeSS Super Resolution: This technology provides AI-powered upscaling, supported by over 150 games, to enhance visuals without losing performance.
- XeSS Frame Generation: It uses AI to add interpolated frames, increasing fluidity and delivering smoother gameplay.
- Xe Low Latency: This feature integrates directly with game engines to reduce input lag, improving responsiveness for gamers.
Together, these technologies enable XeSS 2 to significantly enhance frames-per-second (FPS) output, delivering up to 3.9 times more performance in demanding AAA games.
Key features and specifications
Compared to the previous generation, the Intel Arc B-Series GPUs deliver up to 70% better performance per Xe-core and 50% more performance per watt. The Arc B580 GPU, for instance, provides an average of 24% better performance at 1440p and is up to 78% faster in certain games compared to its predecessor, the Arc A750. When compared to competitors, the Arc B580 GPU offers up to 32% better performance per dollar.
The Intel Arc B580 features 12GB of GDDR6 memory, while the Arc B570 comes with 10GB. Both cards are designed to offer high-performance gaming at 1440p ultra settings, enhanced by the power of XeSS 2. Additionally, Intel’s new graphics software enables users to fine-tune display settings, including colour modes and variable refresh rate (VRR) support, along with advanced performance controls like overclocking and low-latency modes.
The Arc B-Series GPUs also include Intel’s Xe Media engine, which supports faster and higher-quality video transcoding for content creators. The GPUs are compatible with several video codecs, including AV1, H.265, and VP9. Furthermore, Intel’s AI Playground allows users to run generative AI workloads, offering tools for tasks such as text-to-image generation, photo editing, and even customising chatbots with personal data.
Pricing and availability
The Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition graphics card will be available from December 13, priced at $249 (approximately Rs. 21,000). It will be sold by Intel’s add-in board partners, including Acer, ASRock, GUNNIR, ONIX Technology, MAXSUN, and Sparkle. The Intel Arc B570 will follow, with availability starting on January 16, 2025, and a price tag of $219 (roughly Rs. 19,000).
With these new GPUs, Intel is positioning itself as a strong contender in the graphics card market, offering gamers and creators powerful, feature-rich options at competitive prices.
