Intel set to challenge NVIDIA and AMD/ATI in discrete graphics biz

There's been rumors, but Intel looks to have finally made its challenge to the NVIDIA, AMD/ATI establishment official, revealing some details of its so-called Larrabee project in a new round of job postings on its website. Now less-mysteriously named the Visual Computing Group, the division looks to be taking square aim at the two big players in the graphics business, promising to deliver "discrete graphics products based on a many-core architecture targeting high-end client platforms." In other words, a big step up from Intel's current underpowered integrated graphics offerings. Unfortunately, that's about all that Intel's saying about the project for the time being, and given that the first official word we're about it comes in the form of a job posting, it's probably safe to assume that we're still a ways off from actually seeing any products come out of the newly-formed group.

[Via Slashdot]

[duke @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:24PM]

yeah right. why not leave the GMA as it is and the graphic job for the big boys ?

intel will only lose money with this project

[homer jay @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:42PM]

more competition is always good for us, the consumer. Who knows, maybe intel will use its microprocessor muscle make a decent GPU.

[Walter @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:45PM]

I have no idea why Intel would do this... the margins on GPUs are much less than the margins on CPUs.

[Ray-- @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:50PM]

this is GREAT news... the competition the better for us....

[Cowboy Bob @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:52PM]

Comment

[Cowboy Bob @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:53PM]

i just see this as a way of intel trying to take another shot at ATI

[Michael @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:54PM]

"I have no idea why Intel would do this... the margins on GPUs are much less than the margins on CPUs."

I'd like to see your numbers on this... Don't be shocked if it's the other way around. ATI (via AMD) and nVidia (currently designing) are both in the CPU market now, it makes a lot of sense for Intel to get on their turf.

[Walter @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:54PM]

AMD bought ATI not the other way around.

GPUs are much larger in terms of silicon area than CPUs, yet Intel can sell their CPUs for 100's of dollars, while ATI can only sell their entire card (including DRAM, etc) for the same price.

Silicon area = cost.

[Matt B @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:12PM]

It would be great if they made it a programmable GPU whereas if you had a great video card to begin with, you could set it up as a quasi SLI setup. Tell the onboard GPU to do the shading and physics while you VC does the rendering.

[SornyPanafonic @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:16PM]

there is no reason to doubt them, they have experience, money, engineering power and plants, i see no reason for them in a half decade being right in it with ati and nvidia. also hopefully this along with fcc investigations will lead to high end cards being less than a ps3($600).

[SornyPanafonic @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:19PM]

NOT being in it with ati and nvidia, ehh. also not being into blackjack, booze and hookers. in fact, forget the blackjack.

[leon @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:46PM]

About time. As of late Intel has really stepped up their game, this announcement could eventually lead to really high end setups. Good to hear they are coming in to the fray.

[conklin94122 @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:13PM]

"there is no reason to doubt them, they have experience, money, engineering power and plants, i see no reason for them in a half decade being right in it with ati and nvidia."

If this were true you'd be able to walk into CompUSA and choose between the latest offerings from the three companies.

Intel tried the video market before and were beaten to a pulp by NVIDIA and ATi in all but the budget area. I *think* you can still find them as the integrated video solution on some motherboards.

Don't get me wrong, competition is good, will keep NVIDIA and ATi from getting complacent. However, do not assume Intel will do anything but confuse the market for a few years before dropping their video products. Again.

[Nathan @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:30PM]

This will be awesome for PC gaming, if Intel can make a relatively cheap integrated GPU that can run decent games on at least a low res people will be buying more PC games. With a large % of computers stuck with integrated Intel GPUs admittedly it's mostly business PCs but a lot of low end buyers might be able to benefit from a GPU like this and PC Gaming will be better for it.

[Joshua @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:49PM]

Drivers.

[Joshua @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:21PM]

Didn't Intel purchase Nvidia not long ago, so basically the market will still stay the same, just extra margins for Intel

[leon @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:35PM]

Sigh, no they did not. I don't know how many people a day mess this up, AMD bought ATI somewhat recently. Intel did not buy Nvidia.

[Timbobsteve @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:58PM]

Hooray for us... the consumers. The possability of cheaper cards is great. Even better is the possability that intel would divulge the specs of their cards (like they do for part of the integrated graphics chips) to the open source devs so that Linux can finally get some decent Hardware accelerated drivers that are open source.

[Pal @ Jan 24th 2007 1:06AM]

Sounds good to me. Competition breeds excellence and price drops. Wouldn't mind an unknown competitor to just come in kick some butt, but Intel will have to fill that spot for now :)

[indyshadow @ Jan 24th 2007 2:44PM]

So has Intel been making graphics cards already or did they just decide to get into the biz? And how good do you think they are going to do in this section of computer hardware?
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I personally think they will do well for the fact they have the lead in the processor market but I personally still go with AMD's