Breakthrough Intel Arc GPU Driver Update Unleashes Unprecedented 149% Boost in Starfield Performance

Highlights

Intel Arc GPU users can expect up to 149% improved performance in Starfield thanks to the latest driver update, addressing previous performance issues.

The driver update includes support for the Intel Arc A580 GPU, a competitor to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6600.

Gamers have the choice of the mid-range options, such as the PNY GeForce RTX 3050 and ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition. For those seeking entry-to-mid-level performance, the XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 and Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8G are available.

The latest driver update from Intel Arc GPU now offers up to a 149% boost in performance for Starfield. This update, available now, greatly enhances gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with DirectX 12, which is particularly exciting considering the game's initial poor performance on Arc GPUs. Over the past few weeks, Intel has been dedicated to releasing multiple driver updates to tackle performance problems not only in Starfield but also in other games, along with fixing general bugs.

Starfield, released on September 6, is Bethesda's newest AAA title and was developed in collaboration with AMD. The game incorporates various AMD graphical technologies and is specifically optimized for AMD GPUs and CPUs. Unfortunately, Intel Arc GPU users experienced severe performance issues upon launch, prompting Intel to promptly address these problems through driver updates. While the initial update did not entirely resolve the game's issues, subsequent updates did introduce performance improvements and optimizations.

With the release of the new Arc & Iris Graphics driver version 31.0.101.4887, Intel claims that Arc GPU users can experience significant performance gains. At 1080p with ultra settings, users can expect up to a 117% increase in performance, and at 1440p with high settings, an uplift of up to 149% is possible. However, it is worth mentioning that Starfield is not included in Intel's optimized games for Arc graphics cards. This suggests that there may be even more room for improvement in performance if Intel decides to fully optimize the game in the future.

In addition to Starfield, the latest graphics driver also adds support for other games in Intel's "Game On" driver support list. These include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Beta, Total War: Pharaoh, and Lords of the Fallen. Forza Motorsport also receives an 8% performance boost at 1080p with Ultra settings. F1 23 players can expect uplifts of up to 12% at 1440p with ultra settings and up to 136% at 2160p with high settings. Real-world performance improvements for Arc GPU owners are anticipated to be showcased online soon.

The driver update adds support for the Intel Arc A580 GPU, which was announced in September 2022 after a teaser in March 2022. While the Arc A770/A750 and A380 cards have already been released, the A580 has remained unseen. Recently, it was revealed that only ASRock and Sparkle will be producing custom models of the A580 GPU. Additionally, the TDP of the GPU has been reported to be 10W higher than initially announced.

Intel has not yet announced a release date for the Arc A580, which will be positioned as a mid-tier option between the A300 series and A700 series GPUs. It will compete with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6600. The pricing for the A580 is currently unknown, but its competitors, the RTX 3050 and the RX 6600, have price points of $200 and $210 respectively.

The PNY GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GPU is currently on sale for $239, down from its original price of $325. This high-performance graphics card is built on the advanced NVIDIA Ampere architecture, ensuring smooth gameplay even for demanding games. With a core clock speed of 1552MHz and a boost clock speed of 1777MHz, it delivers excellent performance. The card is equipped with 8GB GDDR6 (128-bit) on-board memory, 2560 CUDA processing cores, and up to 224 GB/sec memory bandwidth. In terms of compatibility, it utilizes a PCI Express 4.0 interface, making it compatible with a wide range of systems. Furthermore, it offers enhanced connectivity options with its DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1 outputs.

$239 at Amazon

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge GPU

Get the Zotac GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC graphics card now and save $80. With 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit interface and a speedy 14 Gbps, this mid-range card is equipped with Zotac's IceStorm 2.0 cooling system featuring Freeze Fan Stop and Active Fan Control. Built on the Nvidia RTX 3050 platform, it boasts 2nd generation RT cores for enhanced ray-tracing capabilities and 3rd generation Tensor cores. Enjoy support for up to 8K resolution and connect a maximum of four displays. Purchase for only $220 on Amazon, $269 on Walmart, or $328 on Newegg.

The ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition is a powerful mid-tier gaming GPU. Equipped with Nvidia Ampere Streaming processors, it offers twice the FP32 throughput and enhanced efficiency. This GPU boasts updated 2nd generation RT cores, providing improved ray-tracing performance, and 3rd generation Tensor cores, delivering superior in-game performance and AI capabilities. With OC mode, the GPU reaches a boost clock of 1875 MHz, and in Gaming Mode, it operates at 1845 MHz. Supporting up to four displays, the ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition enables a maximum resolution of 8K. Get yours now for $320, saving you $70 from the original price of $390.

$320 at Amazon

XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 GPU

Save $69 on the XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600, an entry-to-mid-level GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 memory operating at speeds of up to 14 Gbps. This GPU is built on the AMD RX 6600 chipset and AMD's RDNA 2 architecture, featuring 32 compute units. With a boost clock speed of up to 2491 MHz, the graphics card also includes the efficient XFX Speedster SWFT210 Dual Fan cooling system. The card requires a minimum power supply of 550 watts. Get it for $211 on Amazon.

Introducing the Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8G Graphics Card

Get it now for only $230 instead of $270, saving you $40! The Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8G is a top choice among mid-range graphics cards in the renowned Radeon RX 6000 series. Its impressive performance is powered by the advanced AMD RDNA 2 architecture and boasts an efficient 128-bit memory interface, packing 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory. Equipped with Gigabyte's innovative Windforce 3X cooling solution, this card ensures optimal airflow with its three alternate spinning fans. Connect multiple high-resolution monitors effortlessly using two DisplayPort connectors and two HDMIs. Don't miss out on this exceptional graphics card!

$230 at Amazon $210 at Newegg $210 at Walmart