Intel's Xe-HPG DG2 Graphics Photo Card: Big, Green and Power Hungry

YouTube channel More Is Dead Act has published what it calls one of the first images of Intel's high-performance DG2 graphics card based on Xe-HPG (possibly 'Niagara Falls'). The board looks like a graphics card, but it doesn't have any Intel logotypes (possibly removed to protect the source) or any other clear indication that this is a DG2 GPU, so we should look at any information collected with some doubt.

Upcoming Intel DG2 layouts are expected to include at least two graphics cards with 384 or 512 unit units (EU) up to 16GB of memory connected via a 256-bit interface. The YouTube channel has published a picture of an Intel graphics card suspected to be DG2 and shared additional information about Intel's existing programs. The report states that although Intel may officially launch its DG2-series cards in Q4 2021, the cards will not be widely available until Q1 2022.

Wisely, the top-of-the-range DG2 is expected to go a little slower than Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3080. However, Intel reportedly priced the product 'angrily' and looks 'nice place' at $ 349 $ 499 range of market share holdings.

The board image also gives us a few chewing points. First of all, the board has a DisplayPort interface with HDMI and housing memory pockets, so this is a picture card for sure. The memory chips are embedded in a pattern already exposed to Intel's high-resolution graphics cards with Xe-HPG GPUs, so this could be Intel's DG2.

Second, Intel's high-end Xe-HPG GPU has a multi-level power management module (10+) (VRM). VRM has two blocks on both sides of the GPU with power management control close to the display results. Such VRM can mean the complexity and size of the graphics processor. In any case, this is the first sample and not a commercial product. Since this is a development board, some items can be installed on the PCB just for testing.

Another eye-catching feature is the two-core PCIe auxiliary connectors that bring up to 300W power to the GPU and its memory. Additionally, the card can draw another 75W on the motherboard. That means we are looking at a power-hungry drawing card. It is noteworthy that the power connectors face the front of the PC, which increases the actual length of the card. In contrast, AMD and Nvidia's modern graphics cards incorporate power connectors on their top edge. It is noteworthy that earlier photos of the Intel DG2 card allegedly showed the board with electrical connectors on top. Since we do not know the age of the sample, it is not possible to draw conclusions here.

Finally, like the latest graphics cards of AMD Radeon and Nvidia GeForce, the suspected Intel DG2 desktop board looks a little taller than the brackets, which makes sense as its developers needed to embrace complex transmission circuits elsewhere. It’s not as much as a build-up of confidence based on Nvidia’s GA102, though.

Keep in mind that Intel's Xe-HPG graphics cards seem to be out of date, and even the most accurate details of their current status should be considered the first - Hardware matures more, and programs often change during the build process.