Intel partners with Acer for the next generation of Arc graphics cards, but they're not just interested in gamers.

Acer has teamed up with Intel to create the new Nitro Arc B Series graphics cards. So far, two cards have been released: the Nitro Intel B570 OC (10 GB) and Nitro Intel B580 (12 GB). These cards are aimed at PC enthusiasts looking for a midrange upgrade as well as content creators whose video editing software is resource-hungry.

According to a recent Acer news post, the cards will feature "Xe2 architecture up to 20 cores and clock speeds up to 2,740 MHz plus Acer's advanced FrostBlade Thermal System for optimal cooling." Acer claims that these cards offer high framerates in a 1440p resolution, which is still very respectable. They also claim "stunning" 8K visuals. Acer claims "stunning 8K visuals."

Acer also wants to emphasize that these GPUs are all about AI, as this is a hot topic these days. Both cards are "equipped" with "specialized AI engines that execute cutting-edge AI tasks," specifically "XMX AI Engines in each Xe core."

Acer was among a select group of Intel's business partners who helped produce the first generation of Arc graphics cards, so a new partnership was expected. Acer's mention of Intel's AI Playground App is also not surprising, as it lauds the new cards' ability to integrate AI into content creation workflows.

Playground is marketed as a one stop shop for "image editing, AI-powered solutions, and image creation at the fingertips of anyone who has an Intel Arc graphics card." I'm certain that Playground will be beneficial to any creators who don't mind if their content looks similar to everyone else's. Let me get back to its AI-sceptical hut.

Yesterday, Jeremy discussed Intel's take on the same cards. He broke down their tech specs, and offered the following conclusion: To paraphrase, while the architecture of Intel's Arc B580 cards and its B570 cards are sound, performance-wise, they're only a few slashes away from Nvidia's RTX 40060. Intel's cards, however, are also cheaper. The B580 costs $50 less than the RTX 4160.

Acer's versions of these GPUs are more likely to be on the shelves than those from Intel.

Intel has had a difficult year in many ways. The Arrow Lake launch did not make the splash that the company had hoped for, and CEO Pat Gelsinger retired recently. Gelsinger joined Intel in 1979, stayed for many years with the company before leaving in 2009. He returned to Intel in early 2021 to take on the heavy mantle as CEO.