Skip to main content

Support for dual GPUs could be making an unexpected comeback

Intel seems to be bringing back something that Nvidia and AMD had long given up on: the ability, and the incentive, to use dual graphics cards in a single system.

Multi-GPUs were once a big deal, but the latest generation abandoned that idea for a variety of reasons. However, Intel has allegedly confirmed that you’ll be able to use multiple Intel Arc GPUs at once. Will that help Intel capture some of Nvidia’s and AMD’s customer base?

Update: Intel reached out to us with a short clarification, saying: “Intel showed a Blender Cycles rendering demo at SIGGRAPH with Intel Arc graphics. Multi-GPU rendering support for Intel Arc and Intel Arc Pro graphics cards through oneAPI is supported starting in Blender 3.3. Intel Arc graphics does not support multi-GPU for gaming.”

The original article follows below.

Intel Arc A750M Limited Edition graphics card sits on a desk.
Intel

A good few years have passed since some of us were yearning for a dual-GPU setup with one of Nvidia’s latest and greatest. Stacking Titan GPUs was something many gamers longed for, but realistically, most of us couldn’t afford it — and the performance gains weren’t quite worth it for the average player.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

While the technology persists in the high-performance computing (HPC) segment and among professionals, consumers now stick to a single graphics card. Intel seems eager to shake things up in that regard.

According to TweakTown, which cites an Intel representative, the company is currently readying its oneAPI software in order to be prepared to support multiple GPUs. In fact, Intel was allegedly planning to show off a dual-Arc system during SIGGRAPH 2022, but was unable to do so. Why? TweakTown claims that Intel couldn’t find a chassis big enough to fit two GPUs in time for the event. This checks out, seeing as Intel seemingly only had a small-form NUC chassis on hand, equipped with a single Arc A770 Limited Edition GPU.

Two Intel Arc GPUs running side by side.
Linus Tech Tips

Multi-GPU support is an interesting addition to Intel Arc. At this point, it’s hard to deny that it’ll be tricky for Intel to compete with AMD and Nvidia. Sure, the lineup can trade blows with some Team Green and Team Red GPUs, but we have next-gen cards coming out in the next couple of months — Intel is certainly going to fall behind.

Using dual Intel Arc GPUs versus a single Nvidia or AMD card could prove to be viable, and if the cards are priced down, it might even be a decent option. On the other hand, with the extra power consumption, the requirement of a roomy case, and the thermal concerns, there were plenty of good reasons why AMD and Nvidia stopped pushing for dual-GPU setups. Intel might reveal more about the tech shortly, so perhaps then we will learn about its exact plans.

Editors' Recommendations

Monica J. White
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
Here are all the upcoming GPUs set to launch this year
A render of the RTX 4080 Super at CES 2024.

The last year brought us plenty of releases from both Nvidia and AMD, including some of the best GPUs currently available. We've seen some hits, but also some cards that could classify as disastrous misses. What can we expect in 2024?

Although only a few GPUs have been confirmed so far, chances are that we'll see several more models by the time the year comes to a close. Here's what Nvidia, AMD, and Intel might be cooking up in 2024.
Nvidia RTX 40 Super
Nvidia's RTX 40 series refresh hasn't been a mystery for many months now, but Nvidia only officially unveiled it during CES 2024 earlier this month. One of the GPUs is already out, and it's pretty great. I'm talking about the RTX 4070 Super.

Read more
Intel may already be conceding its fight against Nvidia
Two intel Arc graphics cards on a pink background.

Nvidia continues to own the top-of-the-line GPU space, and the competition just hasn't been able to, well, compete. The announcement of the impressive-sounding RTX 40 Super cards cements the lead even further.

As a result, AMD is said to be giving up on the high-end graphics card market with its next-gen GPUs. And now, a new rumor tells us that Intel might be doing the same with Arc Battlemage, its anticipated upcoming graphics cards that are supposed to launch later this year. While this is bad news, it's not surprising at all.
Arc Battlemage leaks
First, let's talk about what's new. Intel kept quiet about Arc Battlemage during CES 2024, but Tom Petersen, Intel fellow, later revealed in an interview that it's alive and well. The cards might even be coming out this year, although given Intel's track record for not meeting GPU deadlines, 2025 seems like a safer bet. But what kind of performance can we expect out of these new graphics cards? This is where YouTuber RedGamingTech weighs in.

Read more
The best GPUs of all time, from 1996 to now
Three graphics cards on a gray background.

When we think of the best graphics cards in this day and age, GPUs like the RTX 4090 or the RX 7900 XTX come to mind. However, for these beastly cards to be able to run, some much older GPUs had to crawl, and then walk, to get us to where we are today.

Looking back, the history of graphics cards shows us a few landmark GPUs that redefined graphics technology. Let's take a trip back to 1996 and subsequent years to explore the graphics cards that made a difference, had an impact, and were smash hits with enthusiasts all around the globe.
3dfx Voodoo

Read more