But Intel's x86-based multi-core CPU/GPU hybrid, codenamed "Larrabee," would mark Intel's entrance into a dedicated graphics card ring dominated by ATI and Nvidia. With the Larrabee, Intel hopes to appease graphics-hungry gamers and users of 3D-heavy applications.
However, Nvidia is utterly unconvinced by the Larrabee and by the promises made by Intel.
"No one knows what Intel will develop," claimed Nvidia GPU PR manager Brian Burke in an e-mail interview with Edge. "Today, Intel’s GPU product is a set of PowerPoint slides, but they have said that their GPU is based on x86 CPU processors. This is the old style computing architecture. The future of visual computing is the GPU."
Burke also speculated that the Larrabee's "real" purpose revolves not around winning over the graphics market, but about advancements in parallel computing.
"The GPU-style, data parallel architecture is the right architecture for the future, and Intel is trying to change their CPU architecture to be more like a GPU because of it."
Intel expects its card to hit shelves in late 2009 or 2010.
Burke's comments aren't the first time that Nvidia has questioned Intel's Larrabee. GPU computing group general manager Andy Keane publicly criticized the Larrabee at the Siggraph conference in August.
In April, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said simply his company is "going to open a can of whoop-ass" on Intel.
Intel offered no response to Nvidia's comments as of press time, and has yet to properly defend the Larrabee from the verbal onslaught it has endured. ATI also offered no comment on the Larrabee.
The Nvidia rep also called out Intel's low-cost integrated graphics chips--a mass market solution that has earned the ire of PC gamers.
"Intel’s history of underperforming graphics conflicts with the industry’s need for more PC performance as applications become more and more visual," he added. "Intel claims they will increase the performance of its integrated graphics solutions 10x by the year 2010, but Intel’s performance is so low now a 10x improvement won’t be enough to meet the needs of the visual computing applications of 2010."
Burke also accused Intel of a double standard in its support of both CPUs and GPUs.
"By spending millions of dollars developing a GPU, Intel is validating that discrete graphics processors will be critically important in the future of the PC," Burke argued.