Intel Arc A750 GPU With 16GB Memory, 512-bit Bus Spotted

A rare engineering sample of an Intel Arc A750 graphics card has been discovered. This prototype features a massive 512-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The find has sparked significant interest among hardware enthusiasts and industry analysts. It suggests Intel explored more ambitious designs for its first-generation Arc Alchemist GPUs.

According to reports from Wccftech and Videocardz, the sample was obtained by a hardware collector. The card’s specifications far exceed the commercial Arc A750 model released to consumers in 2022. This discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into Intel’s potential roadmap during the GPU’s development phase.

Specifications Reveal Aggressive Engineering Prototype

The commercial Intel Arc A750 is equipped with a 256-bit bus and 8 GB of memory. This newly revealed sample doubles the bus width to 512 bits. It also doubles the video memory to 16 GB. The wider bus allows for significantly higher memory bandwidth, a key factor for GPU performance.

The card is a custom model from board partner GUNNIR. It uses a dual-slot blower-style cooler. Two 8-pin power connectors are present, suggesting a much higher thermal design power (TDP) than the retail card’s 225 watts. This indicates the prototype was built for extreme performance testing.

What This Discovery Means for Intel’s GPU Ambitions

This prototype hints at a more powerful version of the Alchemist architecture that was never released. Intel likely determined that a 512-bit bus was not cost-effective for mass production. The company ultimately settled on the 256-bit design for its flagship Arc A770 and A750 models to ensure competitive pricing.

The existence of such a sample confirms Intel’s serious investment in competing at the high-end GPU market. It demonstrates the company’s engineering capability to design wide-bus interfaces. This experimental work could inform the design of future generations, like the upcoming Battlemage GPUs.

The discovery of this Intel Arc A750 512-bit prototype underscores the complex engineering decisions behind consumer hardware. It reveals a path not taken for Intel’s ambitious entry into the discrete GPU market.

Info at your fingertips

What is a memory bus on a GPU?

The memory bus is a communication pathway between the GPU and its memory. A wider bus, measured in bits, allows more data to flow through at once. This significantly boosts performance in memory-intensive tasks.

Why didn’t Intel release this 512-bit Arc GPU?

A 512-bit bus is extremely expensive to manufacture. It increases the GPU die size and PCB complexity. Intel likely chose a 256-bit bus to keep the final product’s cost and price competitive.

Who found this Intel Arc A750 prototype?

The prototype was obtained and shared by a hardware enthusiast on social media. The sample is a custom board designed by Intel’s partner, GUNNIR, for internal testing and validation.

Does this prototype actually work?

Images show the card is operational and detected in a system. It correctly identifies itself with 16 GB of VRAM. However, its performance benchmarks and stability remain unknown.

What is Intel’s next GPU architecture?

Intel’s next GPU architecture is codenamed Battlemage. It is the successor to the current Alchemist architecture. Official details and a release date have not yet been announced by Intel.

Trusted Sources: Wccftech, Videocardz