Raja Koduri Talks about Lower-Powered GPUs, Upcoming Meteor Lake Xe Graphics, and Future Arc GPU Releases in a New Interview

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Image: Intel

Raja Koduri spoke with Gadgets 360 about a number of topics spanning from current and upcoming products, to thoughts about the future of the PC industry. In the interview, Raja Koduri talks about multiple goals for the Intel Arc graphics cards and integrated graphics solutions. One topic that has been on the minds of many PC builders is the increasing amount of power that modern high-end graphics cards use. When asked about this he explained that it was a goal to provide optimal performance, sticking with one power connector, while aiming for a “sweet spot” of 200-225 Watts of power consumption.

“High-end has no limit right now. What is the definition of high-end? Is it 600 Watts? Obviously our partners and our customers want some halo SKUs for bragging rights, and we always like to figure out ways to enable that. But my priority at this point is getting that core audience, with one power connector. And that can get you up to 200-225W. If you nail that, and something a little above and a little below, all that falls into the sweet spot.”

Raja Koduri
Image: Intel

He does share that ultimately Intel does plan for the Arc GPU line to compete at every level but also acknowledges the gap between low-end discreet GPUs and more powerful CPU-integrated graphics is shrinking. He said that he believes some segment of the low-end market will go away but there will always be BOM factors at play in determining the cutoff between integrated and discreet solutions. Raja also shares that by perhaps 2024 we’ll begin to see a significant shakeup in the PC industry with integrated solutions.

“My hope, frankly, even though I am a bit conflicted on this, is that integrated will eliminate some of the bottom end of the discrete [GPU market]. I think that’s a good thing for consumers because you get smaller form factors, lower power and lower cost. A discrete GPU needs memory that you have to pay for, and power delivery [circuitry], so there is a bill of materials cost. With integrated, you already have memory for the CPU that you’re sharing, and power delivery. So overall cost-wise and performance-per-dollar-wise it will be so much more compelling than a CPU plus a discrete GPU. This is what Meteor Lake’s focus is.”

Raja Koduri

In terms of competing with high-end cards such as the recently released NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 he explains that while it is a goal to get there, it is also a priority to stay focused on lower power consumption.

Meteor Lake

Meteor Lake is the next line of processors that will succeed Raptor Lake. As Raja Koduri talks about it he shares that the next node of Advanced Xe graphics had already been ready for rollout but delays in moving from 10nm to 7nm (aka Intel 4) prevented its debut.

“Meteor Lake was always the plan but what happened, and this is something we have publicly said, was delays in our Core CPU roadmap and 10nm process. We stayed on 10nm for a couple more generations [than intended]. Advanced XE graphics were on the next node, ready to go, but the Meteor Lake platform is the one that is going to ship that new Xe graphics and all those great features”

Raja Koduri

He adds that Meteor Lake will also see Intel mix-matching architectures such as graphics, I/O, and multiple fabbed processes similar to what other competitors have done. Intel plans to begin shipping Meteor Lake processors beginning in 2023.

“Yes. With Meteor Lake, you’ll see that mixing and matching. Graphics and IO can be on different process technologies.”

Raja Koduri

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Peter Brosdahl
As a child of the 70’s I was part of the many who became enthralled by the video arcade invasion of the 1980’s. Saving money from various odd jobs I purchased my first computer from a friend of my dad, a used Atari 400, around 1982. Eventually it would end up being a lifelong passion of upgrading and modifying equipment that, of course, led into a career in IT support.

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