Intel to develop a GPU?

[imported_X]

According to the Inquirer:

THE MOST INTERESTING thing about E3 so far is the news from Intel. No, not officially, they don't open for a bit yet, but the birds singing outside my bedroom window carried the news.

Said birds said that Intel is about to get back into the gaming GPU market. No word on specs yet, and it is early in the program, but I would think by this time next year you should see official progress.

Do you think Intel could hope to compete with Nvidia and ATI at this point?

 

[Lonyo]

Err, considering the size of Intel, I'd go with yes.
Intel = semiconductor company, they have engineers, they already produce a form of graphics chip (although not very good), and if they threw their resources at developing a good one I'm sure they could easily make something competitive.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: X
Do you think Intel could hope to compete with Nvidia and ATI at this point?

Intel is way bigger than either nvidia or ATI. The more important question at this point is, will Intel retain their interest in the gaming GPU market this time as opposed to their last venture into this arena.

 

[Gamer X]

Wouldn't it be awesome if AMD enters the game too ?

 

[Golgatha]

I hate to say it, but I like the status quo. Two 800lb gorillas slugging it out every six months to one-up the other and crashing prices on last generations perfectly viable hardware to boot. Games play fast and for the most part are stable because game making companies pretty much have to develop a game to run on only two company's cards. Throw 1 or 2 more companies in the mix and you have chaos. Remember how well Matrox and ATI cards were supported back in the days of the 3dfx and nVidia juggernaut days (ok, ATI drivers were doody back then, which didn't help things either)?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Gamer X
Wouldn't it be awesome if AMD enters the game too ?

Not really. AMD's mfr capacity is already maxed and that is one of the major things limiting them. Putting more development, capital, and mfring towards a GPU would seriously hurt the CPU side of things.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Intel could always just purchase ATI, send their software engineers down to ATI and make their drivers flawless. Switch all of ATI's GPU productions over to Intel's fabs, maybe throw in some .065q lovin. Eliminate ATI chipsets to the AMD platform and make a line of Intel chipsets that combine the best of ATI's chipsets (crossfire support) with Intel's desktop/notebook line up.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
I hate to say it, but I like the status quo. Two 800lb gorillas slugging it out every six months to one-up the other and crashing prices on last generations perfectly viable hardware to boot. Games play fast and for the most part are stable because game making companies pretty much have to develop a game to run on only two company's cards. Throw 1 or 2 more companies in the mix and you have chaos. Remember how well Matrox and ATI cards were supported back in the days of the 3dfx and nVidia juggernaut days (ok, ATI drivers were doody back then, which didn't help things either)?

While I don't have a problem with the current market, if Intel were to make a serious come back I think it would be sweet. Suddenly the "small" NVIDIA & ATI would be scrambling to keep up with prices and capabilities; Intel can probably mfr GPUs way cheaper than NVIDIA or ATI.

Probably not the best news for ATI though. If Intel gets into the uber-profitable mid-range GPU and mid-range integrated market, they could slaughter ATI with their mfr capacity.

Interesting times ahead...

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Intel could always just purchase ATI, send their software engineers down to ATI and make their drivers flawless. Switch all of ATI's GPU productions over to Intel's fabs, maybe throw in some .065q lovin. Eliminate ATI chipsets to the AMD platform and make a line of Intel chipsets that combine the best of ATI's chipsets (crossfire support) with Intel's desktop/notebook line up.

Hmm...interesting, kind of like NVIDIA and ULI eh? However I think Intel would rather just do it themselves, they don't seem like the kind of company to buy someone else to do their work. I bet they'd rather do it themselves, do it better, and cheaper.

 

[Genx87]

I could see Intel do this for high end computational niches. Some people are already using the unbelievable computing power of GPUs to crunch lots o numbers.

 

[DeathReborn]

Intel GMA 9500 Ultra 512MB....god that's an awful thought. Intel would be able to make them cheaper (possibly) as they can make them in their own Fabs while ATI & nVidia outsource GPU production.

If Intel did try and put a stranglehold on the Graphics market along with the CPU market and the Chipset market it'll be bad for the consumer, they'll get lazy again and the innovation will slow. Add to that it'd be a virtual monopoly which could lead to a huge (pathetically small for the likes of Intel) fine from the EU ala Microsoft.

If they bought ATI the last thing they'd do is remove AMD chipsets as it could be a good source of added income and give them inside info on the platform.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

given intels size, its entirely possible, and im sure theyre not short on talant either, if they go for it im sure they will have the clout to push it along

 

[imported_X]

Intel has a lot of resources. However, don't you think GPUs have made incredible strides in computational power relative to CPUs? Could part of the reason be that they are developed by smaller companies with a more targeted passion? Bigger is not always better...

 

[Schadenfroh]

Well, I am not going to believe it untill I hear it from another source, The Inquirer is only right "some" of the time.

 

[Cookie Monster]

They have alot to catch up to. NV and ATi have been in this business for quite some time, they have a big reputation. This is going to be like microsoft's console gamble when they entered the arena against sony/nintendo etc.

They could do well in the IGP market, but not sure about the mid/high end.

 

[nullpointerus]

Getting back into the gaming market?
When was Intel ever in the gaming market?

 

[TanisHalfElven]

yay the time of GHz gfx is at hand. with intell you know they are gonna hae gpu tht runs at 300 C and clock at 3 GHz. ofcourse a x1900xt beats the crap out of it but nobody cares cuz it 3GHz.
pfft. i'll belive it whn i see it.

 

[emilyek]

The only way it matters to me is if it blows away all other offerings. If buying a GPU becomes ATI or Nvidia or INTEL? then it might as well not happen, as far as I'm concerned. We got enough confusion and choices as it is.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: emilyek
The only way it matters to me is if it blows away all other offerings. If buying a GPU becomes ATI or Nvidia or INTEL? then it might as well not happen, as far as I'm concerned. We got enough confusion and choices as it is.

I liked mulitple choices. Matrox, S3, NV, ATi, 3DFX, etc.. those were the days

 

[Kakumba]

for what I hope is the last time, if Intel REALLY want to, they can make it work. they have the size, the capital, and the beginnings of the knowhow. and I would be keen to see them in there.

 

[DasFox]

Yes, we need more competition, the costs of cards right now is insane. The cost of high-end gaming on a PC is stupid, I love to game like this on the best, but it is a rip off to the consumers who suck up to all the CRAP.

Intel and AMD both need to jump into this market and anyone else that wants, so someone with some heart and integrity can bring us some real prices, not this crap for technology pricing, the kind that Microsoft calls technology for price either, BOO HISS

Let's face it people we pay out the ASS for consumer computers, because of the greed, not the level of technology it's worth and unfortunately that greed works in many circles, not just the manufacturers either, but all those that influence this.

Maybe one day in our life time we'll see REAL quality in technology for what it's really worth and not the profit to market technology we pay for already.

ALOHA

 

[Auric]

Intel has been in discrete viddy cards before with their Real3D partnership. I suppose most previous ventures into other areas have been to promote sales of CPU's or capture a greater share of a system's price by offering basic integrated schtuff. But it makes sense if they've got wads of cash and GPU development has a long way to go (i.e. many years of profit potential versus faster CPU's which are harder to justify to most users). We definitely need more competition like the good ol' days.

 

[Gamer X]

I hope they get into top-end cards; they have the resources and the ability to do it.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
yay the time of GHz gfx is at hand. with intell you know they are gonna hae gpu tht runs at 300 C and clock at 3 GHz. ofcourse a x1900xt beats the crap out of it but nobody cares cuz it 3GHz.

Um....well....it appears you've had your head up your ass for like the last 4 months.

 

[TheoPetro]

if intel wants to do this they will. if nothing else they have the $. look at microsoft and the console gaming industry. everyone was skeptical of them at first but they threw enough $ at it and now there on top, only a few years after they started. if intel does the same thing they will most deff be better than ATi or nVidia.