Intel's abandoned Arctic Sound Xe-HP GPU architecture resurfaces with updated specifications (dual tiles, quad-HBM2E), representing a ghost project from a cancelled 2021 roadmap.

In 2018, Intel's Graphics Team began developing the Xe GPU architecture with multiple product lines including gaming, workstation, and data centre solutions. Arctic Sound was unveiled as a lineup for workstations and servers, with Raja Koduri sharing the first pictures of the chip in three variants: 1-Tile, 2-Tile, and 4-Tile configurations. However, as the product gained momentum, cracks appeared, and Intel announced the cancellation of Arctic Sound. This was followed by massive delays in the Ponte Vecchio GPU, which ultimately launched for the Aurora supercomputer years after its original scheduled launch. Intel subsequently ventured into the XPU territory with its Falcon Shores lineup, which was also cancelled, and the company is now waiting for their Jaguar Shores chips, planned for 2027.

Despite its cancellation, Intel appears to have shipped various samples of its Arctic Sound GPUs. X user ChipsByLayers recently obtained and shared pictures of a 2-Tile Arctic Sound GPU sample featuring two compute chiplets based on the Xe-HP architecture alongside four HBM2E sites. The chip bore the "Intel Confidential" logo along with a "QVS8 1.00 GHz" ID, providing a glimpse into an era when Arctic Sound was a significant product for Intel.

The 2-Tile Arctic Sound GPU was designed to feature 1024 EUs or 512 EUs per chiplet. The pictures demonstrate the technological direction Intel was pursuing at that time, though the company has since moved away from HBM and now manufactures GPUs featuring GDDR or LPDDR solutions. Currently, Big Battlemage is receiving the Pro treatment and offers competitive value for AI applications, while Crescent Island is preparing to enter the market soon with up to 480 GB of LPDDR5X memory.

Intel has struggled to keep pace in the datacenter AI segment, with NVIDIA and AMD propelling themselves miles ahead. All eyes are now set on Jaguar Shores, planned for 2027, which will be crucial for Intel's market position. Crescent Island with Xe3P and LPDDR5X configurations also sounds promising, though these products are yet to be released. Under Lip-Bu Tan's leadership, the company's plans have been cemented, and major delays or further cancellations are not expected this time.