Intel’s Improved Drivers Boost DirectX 11 Performance for Arc GPUs

Intel Boosts Performance of DirectX 11 Games on Arc GPUs

Intel has announced significant performance improvements for DirectX 11 games on its Arc dedicated graphics cards. Since the launch of the Arc GPUs almost a year ago, Intel has been working diligently to enhance its drivers and address the initial issues faced by users.

The company claims that its DirectX 11 drivers have undergone a complete overhaul in the past year, resulting in an average performance increase of 19 percent compared to last October. While Arc’s performance in modern APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan has always been commendable, it struggled with older APIs such as DirectX 9 and 11 when compared to competitors like Nvidia and AMD.

Intel states that it has “rearchitected” its DirectX 11 driver over the course of three releases to improve average frame rates and reduce stuttering. Testing with an Arc A750 card paired with a Core i5-13400F CPU showed an average performance boost of 19 percent with the latest drivers compared to the launch driver. However, the performance gains varied across different games, with some experiencing a 33 percent increase (e.g., Overwatch 2) while others saw only a 5 percent improvement (e.g., Destiny 2). When paired with a faster Core i9-13900K CPU, the average performance increase was around 12 percent.

Intel’s efforts to improve DirectX 11 performance are significant considering the longevity of many popular games that still rely on this API. Games like Grand Theft Auto V, Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Apex Legends continue to attract new players, making DirectX 11 performance crucial for graphics card buyers.

To achieve these performance gains, Intel utilized code translation techniques, including Microsoft’s D3D9On12, to convert DirectX 9 API calls that performed poorly on Arc GPUs to DirectX 12 ones that are better suited for them. This approach aligns with the industry trend of using translation technologies to improve game performance across different platforms.

While Intel did not explicitly mention the use of similar technology for DirectX 11 games, the company’s statement suggests that it is open to exploring any method that enhances performance. The latest driver release includes mentions of DXVK, a translation layer that converts DirectX 9, 10, and 11 API calls into Vulkan ones.

Overall, Intel’s commitment to improving its drivers and delivering better performance for DirectX 11 games on Arc GPUs is commendable. These enhancements will undoubtedly benefit gamers who rely on Intel’s graphics cards for their gaming needs.Intel’s Arc GPUs have seen significant improvements in performance for DirectX 11 games since their launch almost a year ago. When the dedicated graphics cards were first released, Intel’s drivers were in rough shape, but the company has since put in a lot of work to enhance their performance.

According to Intel, its DirectX 11 drivers have undergone significant changes over the past year, resulting in an average performance increase of about 19 percent compared to last October. While Arc GPUs have always performed well in modern APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan, they struggled in older APIs like DirectX 9 and 11 when compared to competitors like Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 and 3060 series and AMD’s Radeon RX 7600 and 6600 series.

Intel claims to have “rearchitected” its DirectX 11 driver in its last three releases to improve average frame rates and reduce stuttering. Testing with an Arc A750 card paired with a Core i5-13400F CPU showed an average performance increase of 19 percent with current drivers compared to the launch driver. However, the performance gains were more modest when used with a faster Core i9-13900K, averaging around 12 percent.

Popular games like Grand Theft Auto V, Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Apex Legends still rely on DirectX 11 performance, making these improvements relevant for new graphics card buyers. Intel used driver versions 4571 and 4642 for its latest tests, with the launch driver version being 3490 and the company releasing driver version 4644 on Monday.

To improve DirectX 9 performance, Intel used code translation methods, such as Microsoft’s D3D9On12, to convert DirectX 9 API calls that performed poorly on Arc GPUs to DirectX 12 ones that the GPUs are better suited for. While Intel did not directly confirm if similar technology was used for DirectX 11 games, the company’s statement suggests that any method that improves performance is considered.

Despite the improvements, DirectX 11 performance on Arc cards still lags behind older GeForce RTX 3060 cards. However, Intel’s driver enhancements have significantly improved the situation, although there is still room for improvement.

Intel’s commitment to delivering on its promises and continuously improving performance is commendable. While DirectX 11 performance on Arc cards remains relatively low compared to competitors, the company’s efforts to enhance its drivers are a step in the right direction.

How does Intel’s “rearchitected” DirectX 11 driver improve frame rates and reduce stuttering for Arc GPUs?

IrectX 12 and Vulkan, they struggled with older APIs like DirectX 9 and 11 when compared to competitors like Nvidia and AMD.

Intel states that it has “rearchitected” its DirectX 11 driver in the past year through three releases to improve frame rates and reduce stuttering. Testing with an Arc A750 card and a Core i5-13400F CPU showed an average performance boost of 19 percent with the latest drivers compared to the launch driver. However, the performance gains varied across different games, with some experiencing a 33 percent increase (e.g., Overwatch 2) while others saw a 5 percent improvement (e.g., Destiny 2). With a faster Core i9-13900K CPU, the average performance increase was around 12 percent.

Improving DirectX 11 performance is important as many popular games still rely on this API. Games like Grand Theft Auto V, Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Apex Legends continue to attract new players, making DirectX 11 performance crucial for graphics card buyers.

To achieve these performance gains, Intel used code translation techniques, such as Microsoft’s D3D9On12, to convert DirectX 9 API calls to DirectX 12 ones that are better optimized for Arc GPUs. This aligns with the industry trend of using translation technologies to improve game performance across platforms.

While Intel did not explicitly mention the use of translation technology for DirectX 11 games, the company’s statement suggests it is open to exploring any method that enhances performance. The latest driver release includes mentions of DXVK, a translation layer that converts DirectX 9, 10, and 11 API calls into Vulkan ones.

Overall, Intel’s commitment to improving its drivers and delivering better performance for DirectX 11 games on Arc GPUs is commendable. These enhancements will benefit gamers who rely on Intel’s graphics cards for their gaming needs.