Breaking: Intel DG2 Discrete Graphics Details Exposed In 10nm Rocket Lake Driver Leak
Thankfully, a new test driver accidentally made its way to the internet for a short while (version 26.20.16.9999), that actually offers a few scant details about some of Intel's forthcoming consumer GPU products, if you perform just a bit of sleuthing...
; RKL HW
iRKLLPGT1H32 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT1HPro32 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT1S32 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT0P5S16 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT1U32 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT0P5U16 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iRKLLPGT0 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, RKL" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
There are references to Intel's upcoming Rocket Lake processors, which include integrated UHD Graphics (in GT0, GT0.5 and GT2 flavors) noted above here. They seem to designate 16 and 32 EU engines and a "Pro" series as well. However, that's not the most interesting discovery. The driver makes reference to four other unreleased products, which are designated "Intel DG1 and DG2 Discrete Graphics" of the Gen 12 family. If you recall, Gen 11 is coming next in Intel's Sunny Cove 10th Gen Core series processors.
; DG1 HW
iDG1LPDEV = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, Gen12 LP DG1" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
; DG2 HW
iDG2HP512 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, Gen12 HP DG2" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iDG2HP256 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, Gen12 HP DG2" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
iDG2HP128 = "Intel(R) UHD Graphics, Gen12 HP DG2" "gfx-driver-ci-master-2624"
Based on the numbers at the end of the product names for the DG2 variants, the working assumption is that we're looking at entry-level to mid-range GPUs with 128, 256 and 512 execution units respectively. In fact, we have it on good authority that is exactly what they refer to. Another key take-away here is that we feel these listings are referring to products more in the 2021/2022 time frame, rather than Intel's promised 2020 discrete GPU product.
Digging deeper into speculation territory, let's take a look at potential performance. Intel has already claimed that Tiger Lake, which will integrate the Xe graphics architecture, will offer around a 2x performance uplift compared to the IGP in Ice Lake, and a 2x uplift compared to the IGP in Whiskey Lake.
Tiger Lake reportedly has 96 EUs and around 2 TFLOPs compute performance (roughly speaking based on Intel's performance estimates above). Assuming linear scaling, we're looking at around 10.6 TFLOPs [theoretical] compute for Intel's discrete graphics card in top-spec trim with 512 EUs. Again, we need to take this all with a big grain of salt, but it at least gives us a ballpark figure to work with, in regards to performance when Intel's discrete graphics cards arrive around the year 2021. For reference, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary Edition offers 10.14 TFLOPs compute performance.
