That is the GPU I’m most excited for in 2026 — and it’s not by AMD or Nvidia

[ad_1] Yearly, the GPU market appears to comply with a well-recognized script. Nvidia continues to set the tempo on the excessive finish, AMD responds the place it might probably, and the loudest headlines are dominated by flagship efficiency. For many consumers, that also means selecting between the identical two firms — even because the steadiness of energy clearly tilts in Nvidia’s favor.

However the GPU I’m most enthusiastic about heading into 2026 doesn’t come from both of the businesses. As a substitute, it’s an unconfirmed card that might quietly change the form of the market – Intel’s Arc B770, typically referred to in leaks as Large Battlemage.

Intel’s journey with its discrete Arc GPUs hasn’t been easy however it's noteworthy. The primary era arrived with promise however struggled with drivers, consistency, and positioning. Even so, Intel didn’t again away. As a substitute it quietly mounted the fundamentals by refining and introducing updates for the Arc A-series (Alchemist). Extra importantly, with the newer B-series (Battlemage), Intel discovered its footing by specializing in what truly issues to most consumers – usable efficiency at an aggressive value.

The B-series GPUs, together with the B580 and B570, didn’t dominate benchmarks however they earned consideration for providing sturdy worth, bettering quickly by driver updates, and undercutting Nvidia and AMD the place it counted.

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That momentum is what makes the Arc B770 attention-grabbing, as a result of it means that Intel might not be simply experimenting however probably constructing in the direction of one thing larger. To be clear, the B770 isn’t anticipated to be a flagship within the conventional sense. As a substitute, it seems like Intel’s first severe try at a real midrange efficiency GPU, aimed squarely on the area the place most avid gamers truly purchase {hardware}.

Why the Arc B770 feels totally different

On the coronary heart of the rumored Arc B770 is Intel’s bigger BMG-G31 Battlemage chip, which has already proven up in developer instruments and profiling software program, a powerful signal {that a} product is actively being examined somewhat than merely deliberate. This chip is predicted to be considerably bigger and extra succesful than something Intel has beforehand shipped in a desktop Arc card.

Leaks counsel the B770 may function as much as 32 Xe2 cores, marking a considerable bounce over the sooner Arc designs. Mixed with architectural enhancements in Battlemage, this could translate to noticeably higher raster efficiency, stronger ray tracing capabilities, and fewer of the bottlenecks that held earlier Arc GPUs again.

Reminiscence is one other space the place the B770 may lastly really feel aggressive. Present stories level towards 16GB of GDDR6 reminiscence, possible paired with a wider reminiscence bus than Intel’s earlier playing cards. That issues greater than ever, as fashionable video games and inventive workloads proceed to demand extra VRAM. If Intel does land at 16GB as anticipated, the B770 would instantly keep away from some of the widespread complaints aimed toward midrange GPUs at present.

Energy draw can be anticipated to scale up. Some leaks counsel the Arc B770 might be a 300W-class GPU, which can sound excessive, however it indicators Intel is not holding again for the sake of effectivity alone. As a substitute, it suggests a deal with sustained efficiency, increased clocks, and sufficient thermal headroom to compete correctly within the 1440p gaming section.

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None of this has been formally confirmed, however even Intel’s personal actions trace that one thing bigger is coming. Earlier this 12 months, Intel’s gaming social media account briefly acknowledged the Arc B770 in response to a fan query. Whereas the remark was shortly walked again, it was sufficient to verify that the identify and the product exists internally.

A GPU aimed toward the place folks truly play

What makes the Arc B770 thrilling isn’t the concept it would beat Nvidia or AMD on the high finish. As a substitute Intel might be focusing on 1440p gaming, which has been the candy spot for a majority of PC avid gamers. That is the decision the place efficiency, visible high quality, and {hardware} price are inclined to steadiness out, and the place competitors has felt more and more slim.

If the B770 can ship constant body charges at 1440p, deal with ray tracing with out falling aside, and accomplish that with sufficient VRAM to keep away from memory-related stutters, it may lastly give consumers an actual third possibility. It’s one thing the GPU market hasn’t actually provided in a very long time

Intel additionally has the chance to distinguish in areas past uncooked efficiency. Battlemage is predicted to carry enhancements to media engines, AI acceleration, and upscaling applied sciences. The corporate has already proven its willingness to iterate aggressively on software program, and a stronger {hardware} basis would permit these beneficial properties to matter extra.

Why this issues past one GPU

The Arc B770 isn’t nearly Intel proving it might probably make a sooner graphics card. It’s about whether or not Intel can turn into a long-term competitor in discrete GPUs. That has implications far past a single product cycle.

A reputable third participant can affect pricing, drive higher worth propositions, and scale back the stagnation that always creeps into two-company markets. Even when the B770 doesn’t high benchmark charts, its mere presence may make the whole midrange GPU area more healthy.

Intel’s broader place additionally provides it distinctive benefits. Not like its rivals, it designs CPUs, built-in graphics, and discrete GPUs underneath one roof. Over time, that might allow tighter integration between elements, smarter workload distribution, and options that really feel extra cohesive throughout a full system.

The dangers are nonetheless actual

None of this ensures success. Intel nonetheless has to show that its drivers are dependable at launch, efficiency is constant throughout fashionable video games, together with pricing that is smart. A robust GPU that’s poorly priced or unstable received’t win over skeptical consumers particularly these burned by earlier Arc launches.

Timing additionally issues. The GPU market in 2026 will probably be crowded, and Intel might want to decide its second rigorously. If the B770 launches too late or too near competing refreshes, its affect might be restricted.