Acer swoops in to save Intel Arc GPUs with 'cool' new design

Date:
Mon, 03 Oct 2022 10:44:59 +0000

Description:
Cynics say the new card will only be for pre-built PCs, but I think theyre wrong.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Were just days away from the launch of Intels new Arc desktop graphics cards
, the A770 and A750, with a release date of October 12 to cheekily coincide with Nvidias RTX 4090 launch. Its also the date of Microsofts Surface showcase, Googles Cloud Next event, and Amazon Prime Day 2 . If you need me that day, youll be able to find me sobbing into a box of nuggets behind my local McDonald's.

My fine dining habits aside, theres an interesting new tidbit of information that has emerged regarding Intels much-maligned GPU line. Completely out of left field, Acer has announced that it will be making a discrete GPU for desktop computers, and its not partnering with Nvidia or AMD: no, Acers first-ever graphics card will be an Arc A770.

Naturally, this is a gaming GPU; it carries Acers Predator branding, with the name BiFrost. No, this isnt an allusion to the cards sexuality nor its Norse origins, but rather the fact that this card has two fans. The interesting part? Theyre two completely different types of fan.

As youve no doubt already clocked from the image, the Predator BiFrost sports a large, conventional GPU fan packed with RGB lighting at one end of the
card, while a second, smaller fan is indented near the center. This second
fan is called a blower, previously seen in Nvidias RTX 2000 Founders Edition and AMDs RX 5000 cards. Introducing the all new @intelgraphics #IntelArc A770 GPU, which we've christened #PredatorBiFrost. Paving the way for a new generation of gaming awesome! pic.twitter.com/MmN4rAszIt September 30, 2022 See more Analysis: A striking - and hopefully effective - design

Ive never seen a GPU like this before; blower cards have largely fallen out
of fashion in favor of chunky open-air fan designs. While the latter
typically features two or three large fans and an exposed heatsink, the
former has an enclosed casing that forces thermal waste air directly out of the cards rear I/O (and by extension, your PC case). They also typically make use of a vapor chamber rather than conventional heat pipes.

Now, open-air fan designs are typically better, in that they allow for
greater heat dissipation - although some of that waste heat will end up circulating inside your PC, so youd better have good case fans. With the mighty power of the RTX 4000 series, its no wonder that Nvidias manufacturing partners have stuck with an open-air configuration. Lower-powered GPUs like Intels A770, though, make the blower approach more viable.

I dont know exactly what lies inside the Predator BiFrost, but Id be willing to bet it features both a vapor chamber and heat pipes (a similar design was seen in Nvidia's RTX 3000 FE GPUs). Note that the blower fan is situated pretty much directly over the GPU die itself, where most heat will be generated. I think this means that the blower will vent the majority of waste heat from the back of the card, while the larger fan plays a supporting - and aesthetic - role. Intel's own 'Limited Edition' Arc design features two open-air fans with a slot to expose the heat sink. (Image credit: Intel)

Thermal performance aside, its certainly an eye-catching design. This is a must-have for Acer, which is stepping into a seriously competitive space in the GPU market. Ive seen plenty of people already thinking that the BiFrost wont be available separately but rather come inside Acers pre-built Predator gaming PCs , but to that I say: nonsense.

Acer announced this card all by itself, not alongside a new line of Predator desktops. It makes sense; MSI and Asus, two of Acers biggest competitors in the PC gaming space, both already make their own GPUs. It looks like Lenovo might be breaking into that market too, buddying up with Nvidia to release
its own RTX 4090.

Exclusivity deals between GPU makers and third-party manufacturers are
nothing new, either. Some have already lampooned Acer for its decision to partner with Intel, but Sapphire has exclusively been making AMD Radeon GPUs for years and is still going strong.

Personally, Im excited to see more manufacturers enter the graphics card industry. While the latest leaked benchmarks of the Arc A770 and A750 havent been overwhelmingly impressive, the pricing is seriously aggressive .

With no RTX 4060 in sight, the budget space is wide open right now. After a previous production partner reportedly dropped Intels Arc line due to profitability concerns, its heartening to see Acer rise to the challenge. Im actually quite excited to get my hands on a BiFrost card now



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/acer-swoops-in-to-save-intel-arc-gpus-with-cool -new-design/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)