Intel Investigates Performance Issues with Arc GPUs and Older Processors

Intel has recently acknowledged performance challenges concerning its Arc GPUs, particularly when integrated with older generation CPUs. This recognition signifies a commitment to investigating and resolving these issues.

Intel’s Acknowledgment of Arc GPU Performance Challenges with Legacy Processors

At launch, the Intel Arc B580 and B570 GPUs promised robust performance, showcasing more VRAM than competing products. However, they have largely remained absent from benchmark discussions and comparatives due to suboptimal optimizations.

The issues at hand extend beyond mere driver performance; they relate to a broader concern that has impeded the Arc Battlemage GPUs from standing up to their rivals. Notably, Hardware Unboxed highlighted the underwhelming performance of the Arc B580 when paired with older processors, such as AMD Ryzen 2000 series and Intel’s 9th generation Core processors.

This performance concern had not been publicly addressed by Intel until recently, prompting them to respond via community forums. Below is the message released by Intel:

Thank you for your patience. We are aware of reports of performance sensitivity in some games when paired with older generation processors.

We have increased our platform coverage to include more configurations in our validation process, and we are continuing to investigate optimizations.

From this communication, it’s clear that Intel was aware of the situation but delayed in optimizing their performance. The company has committed to extending optimizations across a broader range of configurations, indicating that users can expect improvements in the near future. However, no specific timeline has been provided regarding the updates.

On the driver side, Intel will need to implement updates since, in recent gaming titles, their hardware has competed well against rivals from previous generations. Observing underperformance in the Arc B580 and B570 with Intel’s own older CPUs was an unexpected challenge.

While there is hope that upcoming patches will enhance competitiveness against AMD and NVIDIA GPUs, this may not immediately translate into a stronger market presence for Intel. The availability of Intel Arc Battlemage GPUs has been limited, leading to their diminished participation in the budget GPU segment.

For further information, please refer to the official statement by Intel: Intel Community.

Source & Images