Intel ARC Desktop GPUs May Be Dead as Celestial Reportedly Gets Canceled

There is still not enough PC gear on the market, prices are going up, and fans are getting angrier and angrier. The demand driven by AI has disrupted the supply of key parts, and most builders and users aren't sure when things will return to normal.

Even though the industry keeps moving forward, problems with desktop hardware remain a major issue. This week's events serve as a warning of how complicated the situation is.

Steam Controller Finally Arrives

The much-hyped Steam Controller from Valve has finally been released, with early reviews largely positive. The controller comes with two trackpad touchscreens that enable precise simulation of mouse and desktop scrolling. Its puck dongle is conveniently plug-and-play and also doubles as a magnetic charging dongle.

We also offer TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) thumbsticks, rather than conventional Hall-effect or potentiometer-based designs. Theoretically, these should provide the accuracy of the potentiometers and the wear over time as a physical interaction. Whether that promise will be kept or not, time will tell.

The controller will automatically alternate between gaming and desktop, and you can customize practically everything using the Steam software. Non-steam games will also benefit, but you will need to launch them through Steam, which will allow you to access the entire set of functionality.

There are a few drawbacks. Some users may be disappointed at the lack of dual-stage triggers. At $100, it is far pricier than a typical Xbox controller. If you are simply interested in a classic gamepad, you might want to consider other options.

Steam Machine Rumors Blaze On

Valve may not be stopping with the controller. It has been reported that Valve recently received large shipments of what could be described as game consoles at its U.S. distribution warehouse. That may be a hint at the upcoming launch of the Steam machine and other details about the long-awaited Steam Frame.

The line of Intel Arc discrete desktop GPUs could be approaching the end of the road. The cancellation of Intel's third-generation Celestial-based gaming GPUs was reportedly announced long ago, according to leaker Jaykihn.

With the only B570 and B580 models available at the time of the Battlemage launch, many were anticipating the release of higher-end B700 series cards. Such schemes now seem improbable. If these reports are true, Celestial desktop cards like the C570, C580, and higher-end models will never see the light of day.

Intel Arc Desktop GPUs Have an Uncertain Future

Celestial is not the only problem. The fourth-generation Intel Druid architecture is also yet to be determined, and future development is likely to be driven by memory availability and demand for AI. Arc is not altogether dead. Intel will still support Arc technology in mobile processors, professional graphics, and data center products. But, should you be waiting until Intel has a chance to compete with AMD and Nvidia in desktop gaming, you are likely to be waiting a long time.

As Intel retreats, another competitor is emerging. Lisuan Technology has been given WHQL certification for its upcoming LX 7G100 graphics card. It has been reported that the performance is similar to an RTX 4060, and the card will go on sale on May 20. The 7G100, built on Lisuan's TrueGPU architecture using TSMC's 6nm process, is expected to launch with over 100 games. The quality of drivers will finally give it its way, but the more competition in the GPU market, the better.

CPU Shortages on the Server Expand

After being satisfied with DRAM, SSDs, and GPUs, server CPU shortages are now a serious issue. It is reported that supply is acute, and many enterprise processors are effectively out of commission.

Fortunately, the price of consumer CPUs is not spiraling at the moment. Intel has gone so far as to capitalize on the shortage and find purchasers for chips that would otherwise have been discarded. The production capacity of Clearwater Forest Xeon processors has also been enhanced by strong yields in the Intel 18A process.

Raptor Lake May Revolve Once Again

There are rumors that Intel may refresh Raptor Lake again, further increasing the lifespan of the LGA1700 platform. Assuming that is the case, we hope that Intel has done all it can to resolve the instability problems that had plagued earlier 13th- and 14th-generation processors.

Microsoft could be gearing up for a significant Windows update, Windows K2. The alleged enhancements include a faster Start menu, fewer ads, less intrusive updates, a more responsive File Explorer, and taskbar repositioning. Improved gaming performance is also said to be a priority as Microsoft competes more aggressively with SteamOS. The use of AI can also be less pronounced, which many users will most likely be glad about.

RTX 3060 Coming Back to Stock

It is reported that the Nvidia RTX 3060 is returning. Board partners such as ASUS, MSI, GALAX, and Colorful are expected to receive shipments of GPUs in June and retail availability in July. The returning type will use the 12GB type instead of the 8GB type.

Pricing will determine whether this relaunch is viable. RTX 5050 is now performing about 10 -15 percent better, and street pricing is now around 300. If the RTX 3060 is priced at or around $200, it will still be applicable.

A developer has developed a script to install Ubuntu 24 on older PlayStation 5 systems. With a hypervisor exploit that only works on launch-era consoles with firmware released in late 2021 or earlier, the modified PS5 can purportedly run Grand Theft Auto V at 4K and 60fps with ray tracing enabled. Regrettably, not all systems are compatible, and there is no way to downgrade firmware.

Motherboard makers such as ASUS, ASRock, and Gigabyte have provided support to HUDIMMs via BIOS updates.

A HUDIMM is a DIMM that is half blank. Instead of DDR5's dual-subchannel standard, they use a single sub-channel design. This lets companies make memory sticks with fewer integrated circuits and smaller capacities. Although they might offer lower prices, they are also a compromise due to current supply constraints. 

The desktop hardware industry continues to develop under great pressure. The Arc desktop retreat offered by Intel is quite disappointing. Still, the new entrants, such as Lisuan, can help to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, Valve, Microsoft, and Nvidia all seem poised to make critical moves in the next few months. We watch, we wait, and we hope that, one day, the supply conditions will improve. Until then, PC hardware has been as unpredictable as ever.