Intel Launches Arc Pro B50, B60 GPUs for AI Workstations

Intel has expanded its graphics chip offerings with the launch of the Arc Pro B50 and B60 series workstation graphics cards, priced at 299 dollars and 500 dollars and above, respectively. These cards are aimed at customers who prefer not to use cloud-based AI processors from companies such as Amazon, Google, or Microsoft. Workstation systems offer enhanced security as data is processed locally, eliminating the need to send it to the cloud. They are also more customizable and provide immediate access to powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) without waiting for cloud service availability.

Intel has been developing its Arc GPU platform for several years. Currently, the company offers B series chips named Battlemage for gamers and A series chips for workstations, which focus more on enterprise graphics and visual functions rather than AI. However, the Arc Pro B50 and B60 models feature additional memory and functionalities specifically designed for AI. The B50 is a mainstream chip designed for AI-assisted software engineering, according to Intel.

The company estimates that entry-level workstation GPUs account for about 30% of the workstation market, presenting a clear opportunity for Intel to capture market share. Vivian Lien, Intel's Client Graphics Vice President and General Manager, stated that the new solutions are expected to be highly competitive and attractive, particularly in the design and engineering sectors.

To support this, Intel has equipped the Arc Pro B50 with 16GB of memory and up to 170 TOPS (tera operations per second) of computational power, a widely accepted standard for measuring the rough performance of AI chips. The Arc Pro B60, on the other hand, boasts 24GB of memory and up to 197 TOPS of computational power, targeting workstation customers who need to run resource-intensive AI applications.

Intel is also promoting the necessity for customers to choose high-end graphics chips to drive AI models, similar to its competitor NVIDIA. To this end, Intel has launched the Project Battlematrix workstation system. As a complete PC, Project Battlematrix combines 2 to 8 Arc Pro B60 GPUs, each supporting up to 192GB of memory, with Intel's Xeon processors. Customers can use it to run AI software across their entire enterprise.

NVIDIA also offers its own workstation GPUs and high-performance AI desktop systems, including the RTX Pro AI chips and two desktop systems, DGX Spark and DGX Station. DGX Spark is a small supercomputer running on NVIDIA's Grace Blackwell GB10 superchip, while DGX Station is equipped with the company's GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra superchip, providing up to 784GB of memory for AI applications.

Intel is determined to prove that it will not exit the GPU market and is also working to regain its leadership position in the CPU market. While the B50 and B60 may not be as powerful as NVIDIA's products, they clearly demonstrate Intel's commitment to capturing a share of the AI workstation market. However, Intel still needs to prove its ability to compete in the larger and more profitable supercomputing market, which remains to be seen.