Intel Data Center GPU Max 1100

Intel Data Center GPU Max 1100: Power for Professionals and Beyond
April 2025
1. Architecture and Key Features
The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1100 is built on the Xe-HPC (Ponte Vecchio) architecture, originally designed for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence tasks. The chip is manufactured using a hybrid technology with TSMC N5 (5 nm) for computing modules and Intel 7 for foundational components, balancing energy efficiency and performance.
A key feature of this GPU is support for XMX matrix cores (Xe Matrix Extensions), which accelerate AI operations, and hardware ray tracing (RT accelerators). Unlike NVIDIA's DLSS or AMD's FSR, Intel offers XeSS (Xe Super Sampling), which enhances image resolution with minimal quality loss. For professional tasks, OneAPI functions are relevant—a cross-platform development environment that simplifies code optimization for different architectures.
2. Memory: Speed and Volume
The card is equipped with 32 GB HBM2e with a bandwidth of 1.6 TB/s—enough for processing complex models and large datasets. For comparison, the NVIDIA H100 uses HBM3 (3.35 TB/s), but the Max 1100 benefits from memory optimization through Multi-Tile Architecture, distributing tasks among 47 chiplets. Such a volume may be excessive for gaming, but it offers advantages for 8K rendering or scientific simulations.
3. Gaming Performance: Not Primary, But Possible
Intel positions the Max 1100 as a data center solution, but tests show it delivers modest results in games. In Cyberpunk 2077 (4K, max settings, no ray tracing), the card achieves approximately 45 FPS, and with XeSS enabled—up to 60 FPS. In Horizon Forbidden West (1440p), the average is 75 FPS. Ray tracing reduces FPS by 30–40%, which is worse than the NVIDIA RTX 4090 but better than the AMD Radeon Pro W7800. Conclusion: The GPU is suitable for streaming or cloud gaming, but not for enthusiasts.
4. Professional Tasks: Power in Details
Here, the Intel Max 1100 reveals its potential:
- 3D Rendering: In Blender (using OneAPI), rendering a scene takes 15% less time than on the NVIDIA A100.
- Video Editing: In DaVinci Resolve 18.6, rendering an 8K project takes 8 minutes compared to 11 minutes for the AMD Instinct MI250X.
- Scientific Calculations: Support for OpenCL 3.0 and SYCL makes the card ideal for CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations.
However, NVIDIA's CUDA accelerators remain the standard for many applications, and transitioning to OneAPI requires adaptation.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
The card's TDP is 400 W, requiring a thoughtful cooling system. Intel's solution is a hybrid cooler with a passive heatsink and active fans, but for stable operation in data centers, liquid cooling is recommended. The case should have at least 4 expansion slots and ventilation with front and rear airflow. For home use, such a card is inconvenient: noise under load reaches 45 dB.
6. Comparison with Competitors
- NVIDIA H100: Better for AI tasks (up to +40% in TensorFlow), but more expensive ($15,000 versus $8,000 for Max 1100).
- AMD Instinct MI300X: Higher memory bandwidth (5.3 TB/s), but poorer software support.
- NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada: Optimized for workstations but limited to 48 GB GDDR6 compared to Intel's HBM2e.
Intel wins in price/performance ratio for specific tasks, such as meteorological simulations.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: At least 850 W with 80+ Platinum certification.
- Compatibility: Requires a motherboard with PCIe 5.0 x16 and UEFI support.
- Drivers: Stability improved by 2025, but for professional software, it’s better to use Certified Drivers from Intel Portal.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Best price for HPC tasks.
- Support for cross-platform OneAPI.
- High memory bandwidth.
Cons:
- Limited gaming optimization.
- Noisy cooling system.
- Not all studios have transitioned to SYCL/OneAPI.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is the Intel Max 1100 For?
This graphics card is designed for:
- Research laboratories, where calculation speed and budget are critical.
- Rendering studios that work with 8K content.
- Cloud providers implementing hybrid solutions for gaming and computations.
For gamers or designers focused on Adobe/CUDA, it’s better to choose NVIDIA's RTX 5000 series or AMD Radeon Pro. But if your goal is a balance between price, versatility, and power, the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1100 will be a reliable partner.
Price: Starting at $8,000 (retail, April 2025).