Intel has reportedly begun sampling out its Xe DG2 graphics card to brand partners already. The crucial detail was discovered by PCGamer, who found the information within an Intel HPC and server-centric announcement earlier today.
Specifically, the information was found within a set of slides, with the listing simply remarking that Intel’s Xe-HPG (High Performance Graphics) DG2 was already being sampled out to several of the chipmaker’s partners. This is an important milestone, both for Intel and consumers, as it means that early versions of its reference DG2 graphics cards have finally made it into the hands of major manufacturers.
The fact that DG2 is being sampled also means that Intel is, in a sense, trying very hard to keep its promise to get its first full-fledged, consumer-grade graphics card out to the masses by this year. Assuming of course, the current downward trend of cryptocurrency continues, along with the steady improvement of global CPU and GPU stocks.
Also, and as pointed out by PCGamer, the fact that samples of DG2 are already out and about also portends that drivers for the GPU have already reached a level both Intel and its brand partners are comfortable with its overall performance. Of course, as it stands, we still haven’t seen any tangible performance metrics from the GPU, and there is still the matter of how the graphics card will hold up against the likes of the world’s two heavyweights that are NVIDIA’s GeForce and AMD’s Radeon series.
