Intel shows off a few example renders of what its upcoming Xe discrete graphics card could look like

Intel has already revealed that the Intel Xe will be its new entry into the discrete graphics card market, and that interested users should be able to purchase one at some point in 2020. But little else is known about the product that could really shake up the current graphics card duopoly occupied by AMD and Nvidia, apart from it’s likely to be aimed at the midrange segment of the market.

A few design renders of the Xe card were shown at the blue team’s presentation at GDC 2019, and apparently there are at least nine designs Siquera is working on, so the final product could end up looking completely different. One of the renders of the Intel discrete graphics card shows a simple but effective design with a single cooling fan. There don't seem to be any obvious bells or whistles (or RGB LED lighting) for this card, but it does have a minimalistic appeal (first picture in the gallery below).

It's been pointed out that one of the shared images (main article image above) shows the Intel Xe graphics card following a similar design language to the company’s Optane SSD 905P series. It has a kind of retro aesthetic and the cooling fan has been shifted further to the side than in the previous design. Another render shows what the rear side of the potential Intel Xe graphics card might look like.

Whether you prefer the somewhat futuristic style of the first render mentioned or the Optane-inspired jagged edges of the chunky-looking second render discussed is down to your personal opinion. At the end of the day, it’s the performance, features, pricing, and power that Intel will give its Xe discrete graphics cards that really matter.