Skip to main content

Why multi-chip GPUs are the future of graphics power

Multi-chip module (MCM) graphics cards just might be the future, bringing upcoming generations of GPUs to a whole new level. Combining multiple dies instead of relying on a single chip could provide better performance without being hindered by the current hardware limitations.

According to recent leaks, both AMD and Intel may currently be working on MCM graphics cards. AMD’s rendition of this technology may be just around the corner — in the upcoming RDNA 3 GPUs.

Patent: Position-based rendering apparatus and method for multi-die/GPU graphics processing – Intel

Intel MCM GPUs is coming…

More details: https://t.co/GIkfwrXGzV pic.twitter.com/sXGt9nbJ1S

— Underfox (@Underfox3) February 3, 2022

The term “multi-chip module” describes the architecture used to assemble electronic components, such as semiconductor dies or other types of chips. MCM involves integrating multiple GPU modules into a single package. This could potentially result in a lot more GPU power without drastically increasing the size of the chip, thus hopefully improving manufacturability and power consumption.

Today’s leaks come from two different sources and both point (somewhat strongly) toward AMD and Intel both exploring MCM architecture for their upcoming consumer-level graphics cards. A new Intel patent has been uncovered by Underfox on Twitter and later shared by Wccftech, talking about using several GPUs combined via MCM for image rendering and the benefits this would provide.

Intel’s patent talks about using tile-based checkerboard rendering to achieve far more efficient scaling on multi-chip graphics cards. Although it’s unlikely (if not impossible) to see this technology in first-generation Intel Arc Alchemist graphics cards, we may see MCM GPUs from Intel in one of its next-gen discrete graphics cards.

The leak regarding AMD (first shared by PCGamer) comes from an unsuspecting AMD engineer who shared their current projects on their LinkedIn profile and was spotted by blueisviolet on Twitter. The engineer is a principal member of technical staff and works on Infinity Fabric. Information pulled from the profile strongly indicates that some of the next-gen AMD RDNA 3 graphics cards will feature an MCM design.

this why on some my previous twit
i said rdna3 will probably start with 5nm
amd pssst linkedin pic.twitter.com/ZfdfrvgwTO

— blue nugroho (@blueisviolet) February 4, 2022

Multi-chip module GPU technology is something that Intel and AMD have previously dabbled in, but Nvidia is also no stranger to the architecture. As early as 2017, Nvidia has published a paper titled “Multi-Chip-Module GPUs for Continued Performance Scalability.” Since then, rumors have emerged indicating that Nvidia’s next-gen Hopper graphics cards will feature multi-chip GPU designs.

AMD has already released an MCM graphics card before, the monstrous Instinct MI200 HPC GPU, designed for high-performance applications (such as data centers.) The card offers up to 3.2TB/s of bandwidth, 128GB of HBM2e memory, and up to 14,080 processors. However, it’s likely that MCM technology will now make it into the consumer market with AMD’s upcoming RDNA 3 graphics cards. Intel also has a data center MCM GPU in the works. Dubbed Ponte Vecchio, the card has not yet been released.

MCM architecture certainly has a lot to offer, and even if we’re not quite there yet, it seems that we may soon start seeing its benefits on the consumer market as part of the best graphics cards. AMD RDNA 3 graphics cards are set to launch later this year. The same can be said of Intel Arc Alchemist, and although we don’t have any certain release dates for either, Intel is rumored to launch the first Alchemist GPUs before the end of this quarter. Meanwhile, AMD is also rumored to release a refresh of previous RDNA 2 cards within the next few months.

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…
The worst GPUs of all time: loud, disappointing, uninspired
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 480.

When you look at some of the best graphics cards of today, it's easy to forget that Nvidia and AMD (and more recently, Intel) weren't always the only players in the GPU game. While both AMD and Nvidia have committed their fair share of GPU blunders, they're not the only two brands behind some of the worst GPUs of all time.

Let's take a look at some of the graphics cards that will make you appreciate the current GPU landscape, and yes, even including cards that are borderline mistakes. (Hello, RTX 4060 Ti.) Here are the GPUs that did it terribly, terribly wrong, even though each had something interesting or innovative to bring to the table.

Read more
Newegg wants your old GPU — here’s how much you could get
Three graphics cards on a gray background.

Upgrading to a new graphics card can be a hassle, and it has been even more difficult ever since the GPU shortage. Today, there are way too many models to choose from, and keeping track of prices is not easy. In an effort to make things a bit simpler, Newegg has announced a new trade-in program. The online retailer is offering customers a deal in which they send in their existing eligible GPU and receive a trade-in credit amount toward the purchase of a new qualifying graphics card.

According to Amir Asadibagheri, product manager of customer experience for Newegg, “the benefit of our trade-in program is the ease to send a used graphics card and buy a new one all within the same platform and avoiding the hassle of selling through a secondary market.” Newegg has given a list of all Nvidia and AMD graphics cards that are eligible, along with an estimated trade-in value. Notably, the trade-in is limited to Nvidia’s RTX series and AMD’s Radeon 5000 series and beyond.

Read more
This new GPU connector may finally kill the melting 12VHPWR
A hand holding the RTX 4090 GPU.

The 12VHPWR graphics card connector has made a name for itself for all the wrong reasons, with the component frequently melting and causing the death of many a GPU. Now, graphics card manufacturers are apparently testing a replacement that could finally put an end to the sorry saga.

The new version, dubbed 12V-2x6, can reportedly deliver up to 660W of power to a graphics card -- 10% more than the 12VHPWR. Despite that, testing has apparently shown it to be much safer than its predecessor.

Read more