Intel A350M and A370M – Arc graphics driver still “optimizes” benchmarks

Even a month after the release of the two Arc A350M and A370M discrete entry-level graphics cards for laptops, Intel has not delivered the promised graphics driver accordingly. Already on March 30, the manufacturer promised an updated dedicated driver for the Arc and Iris series graphics chips.

Arc graphics driver is whitewashed

By the end of April at the latest, Intel introduced in March in the person of Lisa PearceVice President and General Manager of the Visual Compute Group, a new graphics driver in Outlook, which for the first time should also contain an option to disable benchmark-specific optimizations.

At the end of April, we will add a UI option that will allow users to turn these benchmark-specific optimizations on and off.

This gives anyone the ability to see the potential of top-tier Intel Arc hardware for a fully optimized workload as well as overall benchmark performance.

When the switch is in place and baseline optimizations are off by default, the controller will be eligible for UL approval.

Lisa Pearce, Vice President and General Manager of Visual Compute Group

For example, without this option, all tests in the 3DMark benchmark package are done with optimizations that improve performance by 15 percent, but at the same time all entries are based on Underwriters Laboratories guidelines (UL) immediately invalid and therefore not comparable.

Optimizations cannot be disabled

The latest Arc graphics driver from Intel, linked below this post, has version number 1330 (release notes) and is dated April 8, while the current beta is April 27 at version 1934. Both graphics drivers do not include the promised UI option to disable “optimizations” for benchmarks.

Arc A550M, A730M and A770M to follow

Intel Mobile Arc Line will consist of a total of five different discrete graphics cards:

The Arc A350M and A370M as entry-level solutions are based on the small ACM-G11 graphics chip, while the other three branches are based on the large Alchemist ACM-G10 GPU. The Arc A550M is in the middle class and the Arc A730M and Arc A770M will be the best products.

According to optimistic estimates, the Arc A550M, A730M and A770M will be launched in July at the earliest.