Please note that this post is tagged as a rumor.
Intel Arc GPU driver update inbound
According to PC Games Hardware, Intel is preparing a major driver update with higher performance.
Just a few months ago, this German site shared a comprehensive look at Intel GPU driver status. As we know, Intel graphics team was rather straightforward that Arc GPU drivers had their issues from the very start. It is also no secret that the biggest problem in delivering Arc GPUs on time, was the software.
A few weeks ago Intel released a major driver update that significantly improved performance for DirectX9 API. The company emphasized that Arc Alchemist GPU series are well optimized for DirectX12 and Vulkan APIs, but making them fully optimized for older games will take time. However, drivers are often the most commonly referred Intel ARC GPUs issue, and the main reason customers choose NVIDIA or AMD instead.
As we learn from PCGH article, Intel has ‘identified and eliminated’ the bottleneck in the GPU drivers. Without going into specifics, the site claims that their well-informed sources expect a major driver update from Intel. Unfortunately, there is no information as to when such drivers may be released.
[…] as we have heard from well-informed circles, Intel is currently preparing a major driver update that is intended to increase performance across the board – apparently one of the undoubtedly existing brakes has been identified and eliminated.
— PC Games Hardware, Raphael Voetter (translation)
As for the current status of GPU drivers, PCGH have an updated chart with as many as 66 popular titles. They selected various graphics APIs and some exotic and popular titles for compatibility check, and here are the results:
Intel GPU Driver status, Source: PCGamesHardware
Out of 66 games tested, only one had major issues with texture (Halo Infinite), but Intel is aware of the problem and the team are already working on a fix. Some games will still inform gamers about incompatible/outdated driver, which is sadly not resolved for some titles, yet very annoying for gamers who already have the latest Intel drivers.
Reviewer notes Arc GPUs have gone undergone a major makeover and the future looks promising for Intel GPUs. Should Intel really deliver another major performance uplift soon, Arc GPUs can finally earn their place among competitors.
Source: PC Games Hardware
