Intel Arc GPU laptops are available but, oh wait! — only in South Korea
For months, PC users have been waiting for Intel to provide a third option in the dedicated graphics market dominated for decades by AMD and Nvidia. Intel fully revealed its Arc series mobile GPUs at the end of March – when they were supposed to go on sale. A week later, it appears that the release has been delayed for most countries.
Intel’s initial announcement of the Arc series in August 2017 suggested that the first products would be available by the first quarter of this year. The laptop GPUs were expected to arrive on March 30, according to a previous report. They have not yet been published on sites like Amazon and Newegg. One model – an HP with an Arc A370M – is presently listed on Best Buy without a date.
Intel was not able to provide a definitive date. Intel’s official Twitter account stated, “Arc GPUs will be available before the end of Q2.” However, Samsung models with Arc GPUs were launched in South Korea earlier than that.
Right now, Samsung’s Korean storefront sells a Galaxy Book2 Pro with an A350M, the most basic Arc card. It may be the same laptop as the one that leaked just before the purported Arc launch date. According to a Korean YouTuber (via Tom’s Hardware), it is slower than Nvidia’s GTX 1650, although Intel is likely still improving its drivers. Other markets will get Arc laptops in the coming weeks, according to Intel.
It is probable that the statement “late Q2” was meant to refer to both the mid-range A550M as well as the high-end A730M and A770, which are scheduled to arrive in early summer. That’s also when Intel is expected to release its desktop GPUs.
What do you think about this news? Let us know below.
For latest news in your hands Follow us on Google News.
