Intel has started looking into the performance issues with Arc GPUs, particularly when they’re paired with older processors. This move marks a significant shift as Intel addresses concerns from users and industry experts alike, who have been vocal about the performance dips with older Ryzen and Intel Core CPUs.
When Intel introduced the Arc B580 and B570 GPUs, they initially appeared promising, offering more VRAM than competing models. However, they quickly fell off the radar, largely because of disappointing optimizations. The problem wasn’t necessarily with the GPU drivers themselves; it stemmed from a noticeable performance shortfall when these GPUs were matched with older CPUs like the Ryzen 2000 series and older Intel Core processors.
Hardware Unboxed was quick to highlight these issues, bringing attention to how the Arc B580 struggled in performance tests with older processor models. Despite this, Intel seemed to have ignored the problem for some time, only recently responding to the issue in their user forums. They acknowledged the reports of performance issues and announced plans to broaden their optimization efforts across more configurations, though they did not provide a specific timeline for expected improvements.
It’s clear Intel needs to focus on driver updates, as their hardware seems competitive with previous-generation rivals in new game titles. Curiously, the Arc B580 and B570 didn’t show performance issues with the latest CPUs, making the struggles with older hardware all the more perplexing.
There is cautious optimism that with these forthcoming patches, Intel might improve its standing against AMD and NVIDIA’s offerings. Nevertheless, the ongoing shortage of Intel Arc Battlemage GPUs on the market has severely limited their presence in the budget segment. Whether Intel can shake up the market dynamics with these updates remains to be seen, but their current scarcity does not bode well for increasing their foothold.
Sources for this update include announcements directly from Intel.
