Intel Enters Pre-Silicon Validation Phase for Celestial GPUs, Confirms Xe3-Based Discrete GPU Development

Intel Enters Pre-Silicon Validation Phase for Celestial GPUs, Confirms Xe3-Based Discrete GPU Development

A recent leak suggests that the launch of Intel’s Xe3-based discrete GPUs, part of the Celestial project, is on the horizon.

Intel’s Celestial GPU Development Advances to Pre-Silicon Validation Stage

Over the past months, speculation surrounding the potential cancellation of Intel’s Celestial discrete GPUs has been repeatedly debunked. Just a few months ago, we reported that Intel’s development team had shifted focus to the Xe4 project after wrapping up the Xe3 GPUs. Today, a new report confirms that Celestial discrete GPUs are indeed in development, indicating that the Tapeout phase may soon commence.

This information comes from a leaked timeline linked to an Intel employee’s LinkedIn profile, revealing that the Xe3-based Celestial GPUs have reached the Pre-Silicon Validation stage. Notably, the leak refers explicitly to “discrete”GPUs, contrary to prior rumors of cancellations. Intel appears to have made substantial progress on these GPUs, allowing for testing without the need for physical chip prototypes.

Celestial Development
Credit: @Haze2K1

The core architecture of the GPU is now complete, incorporating advanced features such as Xe cores, XMX matrix engines, and ray tracing units. Optimization efforts are currently being applied to enhance both power efficiency and performance metrics.

Celestial Development 1
Credit: @Haze2K1

During the Pre-Silicon Validation phase, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Independent BIOS Vendors (IBVs) can conduct tests on the new architectures using cloud-based simulation tools provided by Intel. This platform is designed to replicate the physical GPU environment for firmware testing. With preliminary software already in development for the Celestial line, it is likely that testing is actively underway.

Following the completion of this validation phase, Intel will progress to the tape-out of the Celestial GPUs, marking the onset of actual chip production. Although the timeline for when tape-out will begin has not been confirmed, the leaked information suggests that a launch is imminent. While Intel has remained largely silent regarding the Celestial discrete GPUs, the company has not denied their ongoing development.

Recent leaks also imply that Intel may leverage the advanced Xe3P architecture, which is being developed in-house. Furthermore, there is speculation that GDDR7 memory will be utilized in these GPUs, as indicated by a job posting. As developments unfold, we will provide further updates and insights on the Celestial dGPUs.

News Source: @Haze2K1

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