Intel making GPU
Intel - leaping into your PCI-E slot.
A job posting on the Intel website has all the gory details:
Intel's Visual Computing Group (VCG) has the mission to establish the future of computing for high-throughput workloads. We are focused on developing discrete graphics products based on a many-core architecture targeting high-end client platforms. Our vision is that the resulting ingredients and technology will extend to mobile clients, servers, and embedded platforms over time. VCG will initially focus on discrete graphics products but will also expand the previous charter to include developing plans for accelerated CPU integration.
You can check out the full thing over on the Visual Computing Group webpage at Intel, which has the tagline - Create next-gen graphics and gaming experiences.
Of course, Intel is already the lead supplier of graphics chips in the industry - in the shape of its integrated motherboard chipsets that are in so many laptops. But whilst it has a massive share of the market overall, it has zero share in the discrete market for add-in boards.
The move is obviously a play against AMD, which now makes GPUs in the form of its ATI business unit. AMD can now put out GPUs, CPUs and chipsets - and now, with this new graphics division, Intel will be able to do the same.
Can Intel move in and kick the butts of NVIDIA and ATI? Given the massive amount of resources and engineering expertise the company has, we wouldn't bet against it. Let us know your thoughts over in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyWould be great to have another big player in the game, especially with a monstrosity like Intel backing it
Well, competition is great for us, and intel certainly has the money.
This can only be a good thing. And clearly isnt aimed at purely the workstation market.
More competition is always good, drives tech forward a bit faster, wouldn't mind seeing a C2D megagrafix edition :p
But think of all the extra money that will go into R&D for graphics. I wonder what the performance differences will be between the Intel QX9x9XXX (To continue naming trends) on AMD and Intel CPU's.
EDIT: What do you think the naming convention will be for these?
I don't like it at all...
I hate the idea that, I've gone and picked up a top of the range Nvidia grafix card, only to see the new game is "Intel Insided!" or something. Much like the ATI vs Nvida days of Quake, HL2, etc..
hmm seeing as they are applying for engineers maybe Nvidia engineers will see where this is heading and move over to Intel? then intel could Buy out Nvidia when there is not much of it left.
i do however think that this is good news for smaller devices as the GPU CPU could be put onto one chip making for improved efficiencies etc (not that it really interests me all that much i just want my phone to call people)
Could mean the death of choice, but it could also mean a market driven forward by a big company adding their skills to the mix.
Time will tell I suppose :)
That, or they're going to use them to drive monitors? Just maybe?
Would be nice to have another big name in the game. And I honestly don't think nVidia will go bankrupt because of Intel's move. They seem to be big enough to compete.
Erm they hold a majority share of integrated graphics solution, I'm fairly sure they know how to make a gpu :) The Dual-Core Itanium 2 due to be released next year I think, has about 1.7 billion transistors integrated thats the same as 5 7800 GTX's. If intel want a share of the market it would be easy for them to take it they've got the facilities, manpower, expertise and perhaps most importantly the money.
Exactly my point. Intel embedded solutions are a world apart from ATI and nVidia discrete solutions as far as performance is concerned, especially as far as working towards full DX10 compliance ;)
i think.
Sam
Ha
Ha
These weren't complete boards capable of graphics output. And I realize they are not going to be making next gen video cards on a board the size of a sound card.
I was just saying the order was kind of interesting and then I saw this article. I really have no idea what they were for, just an interesting coincidence.
The story agian and again is that most industries can only have two big names and the day you become third best, you die. nVidia's best bet is to be bought up by Intel and hope for the best.
do business in the way it has forever...
not to mention the endusers who look for
Intel CPUs and NEVER video cards or audio add-ons
intuition says to me that it is a good idea for
Intel to expand offerings into the add-on arena
but business sense says why make the investment
when leadership in the market is in place
AND
smaller computing machines are likely to become
more popular with integration of video and audio
more and more the standard configuration...
IMHO
AMD and ATi are playing catch up with Intel
finding ways to integrate high performance video
utility onto AMD boards since the video wars were
won by Nvidia, AMD was the consolation prize...
and good luck to the money losing monster AMD/ATi
Intel needs some real compettion to force a more
creative and innovative approach to development of
new products
seems the consumer is happy with whatever Intel offers
as is business so basic technologies aren't moving
very quickly...and they should be, opportunities are there
maybe agreeing on standards slow the process
but there is room for improvement of the PC
no, not that kind, or the Vista/rehash kind either.
Microsoft suffers horribly from a lack of competition, and like
M$, I fear Intel will have to be shaken up before it puts on
a thinking cap.
L J