Intel launches data center GPUs for AI and gaming while Google shuts down cloud computing platform
Intel is discreetly launching data center GPUs designed for Android-based cloud computing. Intel said it’s rolling out to mid-range gaming computers for data center GPUs and its $329 Intel Arc 770 as well. The timing may not be good as there are many GPU chips available in the market.
On the other hand, the cloud gaming market hasn’t been great this year as Google is shutting down cloud gaming service Stadia by January 2023. After three years of launch, Stadia is finally being put to rest. The company said it has proven itself over the years and will continue to offer this technology and cloud computing. Additionally, other competitors such as Amazon Luna, Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Nvidia’s GeForce Now continue to offer their services. The platform originally planned to launch integrations and other in-house studios exclusively, but now that nothing is happening anymore, it’s shutting down.
Cloud gaming is a promising concept
For gamers who want to enjoy gaming without having to build a filthy system that can cost a lot of money and potentially have high maintenance and energy costs, cloud gaming solves several problems at once. If your internet connection is fast enough, your computer can play games wirelessly instead, allowing other people to do the processing while you’re playing on your monitor.
The concept has caught on in recent years, which is why several cloud gaming platforms are now available in addition to Google Stadia. Amazon’s Luna and Nvidia’s GeForce Now are other cloud gaming options alongside Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, Sony’s PlayStation Plus, and Sony’s PlayStation Now. While not all of the above are supported in every country, you may find more users than expected in those countries that do.
Thanks to the rollout of 5G in more areas and the rapid acceleration of internet speeds, more gamers now have a much faster connection to the internet than just a few years ago. This allows many more people to access cloud gaming. Other perks of the service include the ability to play on virtually any compatible device and restart your in-game progression from virtually any other device. Without having to physically transport your progress data, you can finish a boss fight in a game on your home PC and then play the next fight on your phone at a friend’s house.
What went wrong with Google Stadia?
Despite some initial issues, Google Stadia got off to a good start when it launched in November 2019, allowing users to sign up and start playing without the required hardware. Also, Stadia’s server speeds were faster than competitors like the PlayStation Pro program at the time. However, barely a year after launch, the platform’s fate began to rapidly deteriorate due to technological issues, missing features and simply not enough users.
Google reportedly stated that the program “didn’t resonate with users” that the company was hoping for.
But that’s been the case for a long time. Google also unveiled Immersive Stream for Games in March this year, a version of the service that third parties can license. Additionally, Google reportedly stated that it “sees potential to use this technology in other areas of Google,” such as YouTube, Google Play, and the company’s augmented reality (AR) initiatives.
Intel’s Discreet Launch
Intel’s Arctic Sound-M discrete processing units for data centers have been on sale for about a month. Intel has officially introduced its Data Center GPU Flex series. As products reach the required level of maturity, they will be made available through a variety of Intel partners. The new graphics cards are based on the company’s Arc Alchemist GPUs and target a wide range of data center applications.
Two basic graphics card models are available from Intel’s Data Center GPU Flex product family: one is intended for performance-intensive workloads, the other for extremely dense installations. The single-chip Flex 170 series is designed for tasks that require maximum performance and is based on an ACM G10 GPU with up to 32 Xe cores (equivalent to up to 4,096 stream processors) and 16 GB of memory. Designed for high-density PCs, the Flex Series 140 dual-chip card features dual ACM-G11 GPUs with 16 Xe cores and 12GB of memory.
Server-class graphics cards from Intel’s Data Center GPU Flex family are fully supported by the company’s state-of-the-art application programming interfaces and tools such as one API, OpenVINO, oneVPL and VTune Profiler.
Share this article
Do the sharing thing
