Intel’s new desktop GPUs won’t work in AMD systems

[Karlston]

Intel’s new desktop GPUs won’t work in AMD systems

Intel’s first desktop GPUs in 20 years need a special BIOS 

 

Intel launched its first Iris Xe desktop graphics cards yesterday, but you won’t see them appearing in AMD-powered systems. While Nvidia and AMD’s desktop GPUs typically work across a variety of Intel and AMD processors, Intel’s new desktop GPUs are a little more limited for now.

 

“The Iris Xe discrete add-in card will be paired with 9th gen (Coffee Lake-S) and 10th gen (Comet Lake-S) Intel® Core™ desktop processors and Intel(R) B460, H410, B365, and H310C chipset-based motherboards and sold as part of pre-built systems,” says an Intel spokesperson in a statement to Legit Reviews. “These motherboards require a special BIOS that supports Intel Iris Xe, so the cards won’t be compatible with other systems.”

One of Intel’s first Iris Xe desktop GPUs.

Image: Intel

The restrictions make more sense when you consider the target market of these first Intel desktop GPUs. Intel is working with Asus and other vendors to sell these cards to system integrators who will bundle them with prebuilt systems. These aren’t GPUs you can just order online, and they’re meant to be specially bundled.

 

Intel’s idea with its initial Iris Xe desktop GPUs is to simply improve what’s available on mainstream PCs right now. Most standard business-focused PCs ship with integrated graphics, and Intel is trying to offer something that improves multi-display support and hardware acceleration.

 

These cards aren’t designed to improve gaming or to be used in gaming rigs. Intel is also working on its Xe-HPG architecture that could eventually deliver cards that can compete with AMD and Nvidia. Hopefully these cards won’t be restricted to Intel systems in a similar way, though.

 

 

Intel’s new desktop GPUs won’t work in AMD systems

[zanderthunder]

4 hours ago, Karlston said:

“The Iris Xe discrete add-in card will be paired with 9th gen (Coffee Lake-S) and 10th gen (Comet Lake-S) Intel® Core™ desktop processors and Intel(R) B460, H410, B365, and H310C chipset-based motherboards and sold as part of pre-built systems,” says an Intel spokesperson in a statement to Legit Reviews. “These motherboards require a special BIOS that supports Intel Iris Xe, so the cards won’t be compatible with other systems.”

 

5 hours ago, Karlston said:

These aren’t GPUs you can just order online, and they’re meant to be specially bundled.

 

Which essentially means, this Iris Xe dGPU is tied to only certain motherboards (as a part of pre-built desktop PC's) with the special BIOS, and other Intel-based motherboards selling in the market are out of luck to taste the Intel dGPU due to lack of codes in BIOS required to support the dGPU.

 

Unless someone that can able to "port out" these special BIOS to other motherboards, enabling others to taste Intel dGPU without worrying about compatibility. Or unless Intel in the future releases a Video BIOS (or a hardware revision) which can enable others without the special BIOS to install the Intel dGPU.