ARC Celestial : Intel is gearing up for a major shift in its discrete GPU lineup with the upcoming Arc “Celestial” series. According to recent leaks, the new GPUs will feature an enhanced Xe3P architecture, delivering a significant performance boost. More notably, Intel is rumored to manufacture these GPUs in-house using Intel Foundry Services (IFS) instead of relying on TSMC, marking a potential turning point in Intel’s production strategy.
ARC Celestial : Intel’s Next-Gen Arc “Celestial” GPUs May Feature Xe3P Architecture & Intel Foundry
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Xe3P Architecture: A New Era for Intel GPUs
The Xe3P architecture is expected to bring considerable performance improvements over Intel’s current Battlemage series. The added “P” in Xe3P likely stands for Performance, indicating a stronger focus on efficiency and power. If these reports are accurate, Celestial GPUs could push Intel’s discrete graphics performance closer to competitors like NVIDIA and AMD.
Leaker @OneRaichu recently hinted at this development, stating:
“Different from Panther Lake, Celestial dGPU looks like (it) will maybe be based on Xe3P instead of Xe3. I estimate it will (be) based on Intel’s process instead of outside.”
This suggests that Intel is moving away from TSMC’s manufacturing process, potentially leveraging its own Intel 4 or Intel 3 nodes for production.
Intel Foundry Over TSMC: A Strategic Shift
If these rumors hold, Intel’s Celestial GPUs will be the first to be fully fabricated in-house. Previously, Intel relied on TSMC’s N6 and N5 process nodes for its Arc GPUs. The decision to switch to Intel Foundry Services could be part of CEO Pat Gelsinger’s broader vision of revitalizing Intel’s semiconductor dominance.
This move could also indicate:
- Better supply chain control for Intel.
- Potential cost savings by avoiding external fab dependencies.
- Showcasing Intel Foundry’s capabilities to attract external clients.
When Will Celestial GPUs Launch?
While Intel has just introduced Battlemage GPUs, the Celestial series isn’t expected to debut anytime soon. Industry insiders speculate that Celestial GPUs may arrive in 2025 or later, following a full Battlemage rollout.
A Game-Changer for Intel?
If the Xe3P-based Celestial GPUs deliver on performance expectations and Intel successfully transitions to in-house manufacturing, it could mark a major milestone in Intel’s discrete GPU ambitions. However, the real test will be whether these GPUs can truly compete with NVIDIA’s RTX and AMD’s Radeon lineup.
FAQs
What is Intel’s Xe3P architecture?
Xe3P is the next-generation GPU architecture expected to bring higher performance and efficiency compared to Battlemage.
Will Celestial GPUs be manufactured by TSMC?
No, reports suggest that Intel will manufacture them in-house using Intel Foundry Services.
