Intel has published its latest Arc GPU graphics drivers focusing on DirectX 11-based games. Beta driver version 101.5444 improves performance in 18 titles while fixing a couple of bugs.
If you own an Arc GPU or a Core Ultra CPU with integrated graphics, you may want to get this update. According to Intel, you should see an increase in average fps ranging from 5% up to 48%. Among the titles that saw the higher improvement, we note Astroneer with a 30% average fps increase at 1080p ultra, Need for Speed: Heat with 36% at 1080p ultra, and Mass Effect Legendary Edition with a massive 48% at 1080p medium.
While the gaming experience on titles such as Dyson Sphere Program may not change much, those with fast-paced gameplay like Need for Speed: Heat and Fortnite will benefit greatly. Same goes with VRChat, which should become smoother helping alleviate discomfort and VR sickness. But most importantly, it’s great to see that Intel didn’t forget about old/DX11 games as many still enjoy them.
Aside from game optimisation, Intel has also fixed a couple of bugs causing crashes in No Rest for the Wicked and corruption in Assetto Corsa, Diablo IV, plus Halo Infinite. On the other hand, the Team Blue seem to have gathered a lot of bug reports, indicating that it is aware of a large number of issues that need to be fixed. Notably, crashes in Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora, plus a bunch of software-related errors.
Version 101.5444 can be downloaded (779.6MB) from Intel’s website here.
The full list of changes goes as follows:
Gaming Highlights:
Game performance improvements on Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products versus Intel 31.0.101.5382 software driver for:
Astroneer (DX11)
- Up to 30% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
Days Gone (DX11)
- Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Very High settings
Dyson Sphere Program (DX11)
- Up to 15% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
Fortnite Performance Mode (DX11)
- Up to 15% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Epic settings
Lethal Company (DX11)
- Up to 14% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (DX11)
- Up to 14% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (DX11)
- Up to 8% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Very High settings
Need for Speed: Heat (DX11)
- Up to 36% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
Unturned (DX11)
- Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
VRChat (DX11)
- Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with High settings
World of Warships (DX11)
- Up to 7% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Maximum settings
Game performance improvements on Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs versus Intel 31.0.101.5382 software driver for:
American Truck Simulator (DX11)
- Up to 10% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Medium settings
Dyson Sphere Program (DX11)
- Up to 17% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
Fortnite Performance Mode (DX11)
- Up to 12% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Medium settings
Grim Dawn (DX11)
- Up to 11% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Medium settings
Lethal Company (DX11)
- Up to 24% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (DX11)
- Up to 48% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Medium settings
Need for Speed: Heat (DX11)
- Up to 19% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Medium settings
Fixed Issues:
Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:
- No Rest for the Wicked (DX11) may experience application crash while launching prologue gameplay.
- Assetto Corsa (DX11) may exhibit full screen corruption while switching windows using Alt+Tab during gameplay.
- Halo Infinite (DX12) may exhibit corruption with ray traced shadows enabled during gameplay.
Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:
- Diablo IV (DX12) may exhibit corruption on the terrain during gameplay.
Known Issues:
Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:
- No Rest for the Wicked (DX11) may experience intermittent application crash during gameplay.
- Enshrouded (VK) may experience application crash during gameplay.
- Doom Eternal (VK) may exhibit intermittent flickering corruptions in game menu and during gameplay.
- PugetBench Extended Preset Benchmark may fail to complete on certain Adobe Premiere Pro Processing Tests.
- Topaz Video AI may experience errors when using some models for video enhancement.
- Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:
- Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora (DX12) may experience a crash during game loading.
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (DX12) may experience an application crash on loading to gameplay.
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (DX12) may exhibit corruption on shadows during gameplay.
- PugetBench Extended Preset Benchmark may fail to complete on certain Adobe Premiere Pro Processing Tests.
- Autodesk Maya may experience an application crash while running SPECAPC benchmark.
- Blender may experience an application crash while rendering some scenes on certain system memory configurations.
- Topaz Video AI may experience errors when using some models for video enhancements.
- Procyon AI may experience an application crash while running benchmark with precision float32.
Intel Core Processor (12th-14th Generation) Products:
- Dragon Quest X Online (DX9) may experience sporadic application crash during gameplay.
Intel Arc Control Fixed Issues:
- The “Connector” type in the Display page may incorrectly show DP when using an HDMI display connection.
- Fortnite may experience an application crash on launch when sharpening filter is enabled in Arc Control.
- Intel Graphics Driver Installer may experience intermittent hang with black screen.
- Capture file may save with old file name after changing file name for the first time in Arc Control Capture Page.
- Endurance Gaming license and Rebar information may not show correct information.
Intel Arc Control Known Issues:
- Arc Control Studio capture recording file may become corrupted when the mouse cursor is enabled during HDR capture.
- Arc Control may show intermittent error when trying to enable Virtual Camera and camera preview on Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs.
- Schedule Updates for Drivers may not work intermittently.
