Intel to Continue Producing Own Graphics Cards Despite Nvidia Partnership

Amidst a strategic partnership with Nvidia, Intel representatives have confirmed that the company will continue to develop its own graphics solutions, including the Arc line.

The agreement, announced on September 18, involves integrating Nvidia graphics modules into Intel's client SoCs, as well as using Intel processors in Nvidia's data center infrastructure with NVLink support. These plans have sparked industry discussion amid Intel's lack of a public roadmap in the discrete GPU segment and the recent departure of Michelle Holthaus, who previously headed the client division.

"We are not discussing specific plans, but the collaboration complements the existing strategy, and Intel will continue to offer solutions based on its own GPUs," the statement given to PCWorld reads.

Some media outlets doubt the feasibility of this approach. For example, The Verge notes: "Why would Intel spend money trying to catch up to Nvidia and AMD if Nvidia is no longer a full-fledged competitor?"

At the same time, PCWorld writes: "From a strategic point of view, it makes sense to keep Arc. What if the relationship with Nvidia suddenly sours, despite the investment? The company is known as a tough partner. Keeping Arc and Xe protects Intel from the risk of being left without an alternative, especially given that Xe (and probably this partnership) covers everything from laptops to data centers. Continuing to invest in internal solutions is key to Intel's future."

Intel still plans to release the Xe3 (Celestial) architecture, which is expected to debut in the Panther Lake processors. Devices based on this platform will not use Nvidia solutions.

At the same time, according to Wccftech, Nova Lake processors, expected next year, may be the first with Nvidia graphics chiplets. This explains earlier statements about Intel's intention to strengthen its position and become a leader in the desktop processor segment with the release of this generation.

There are also industry rumors about the preparation of a more powerful Battlemage (BMG-G31) video card for desktops and laptops. Details are not yet available, and Intel has not officially announced the product. However, this is a common strategy for Intel: Arc B-line video cards are usually announced just a few weeks before the start of sales.

Thus, Intel demonstrates its willingness to maintain independence in the graphics segment, despite the strategic convergence with Nvidia. In the short term, the Arc line appears to be continuing, although its further development remains in question.