Intel’s GPU D-series sets a new GPU memory record with 480GB of LPDDR5X
Intel chose LPDDR5X instead of GDDR7 for its high-capacity AI accelerator
The D-series supports models containing up to 300 billion parameters
At the recent Open Compute Project Global Summit, Intel unveiled a graphics processor with up to 480GB of memory, an unusually large capacity designed for demanding AI inference workloads. The GPU , called Intel GPU D-series and previously known by its Crescent Island codename, also hosts specialized computing hardware. The Intel D-series has now dethroned Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra B300, which offers 288GB of HBM3e memory, as the data center GPU with the highest memory capacity. Intel prioritizes memory capacity
Rather than using GDDR7 memory associated with modern graphics cards, Intel has chosen LPDDR5X, a memory technology commonly found in laptops and other power-conscious devices. The configuration suggests that Intel is prioritizing memory capacity and power efficiency for AI inference instead of designing a conventional gaming graphics card. Intel says the accelerator can support large language models containing up to 300 billion parameters on one card, while an eight-GPU system can accommodate models exceeding one trillion parameters. These capabilities are intended for lengthy prompts, simultaneous inference requests, enterprise AI services, and robotics applications requiring responsive processing. “Inference is becoming the defining AI workload, and enterprises need infrastructure that delivers the right performance at the right cost,” said Anil Nanduri, vice president, AI Products & GTM, Intel Data Center Group. “With Intel GPU D-series, we’re focused on making high-capacity inference practical to deploy and economical to scale.”…