Intel's Arc GPUs have received an additional 10-15% performance boost within the newest Linux 6.6 graphics drivers.
You Can Now Extract More Performance From Intel's Arc GPUs Through Updated "RPS Tuning" In Linux Drivers
The new set of i915 Linux kernel graphics driver patches released back in April revealed Intel's change in RPS thresholds. Before this, RPS values were set at a default trend but now the updated drivers bring in the option for consumers to dynamically change the values. This new change was initially revealed by Google's engineer Syed Faaiz Hussain & it was disclosed the RPS tuning brought in noticeable performance improvements.
Below are the respective titles and performance boosts brought after the patch on Intel Arc GPUs in various games, compiled by Phoronix:
Intel Arc GPU Linux 6.6 Graphics Driver Performance (Source: Phoronix):
| Game | API | FPS (85/95) | FPS (50/70) | Perf Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS:GO | OpenGL | 96.12 | 112.42 | +14.50% |
| CS:GO | Vulkan | 93.64 | 107.54 | +12.93% |
| Civilization VI | OpenGL | 27.88 | 31.32 | +10.98% |
| Strange Brigade | DX12 | 37 | 37 | 0% |
The biggest improvement comes in OpenGL performance where CS:GO witnesses a 14.5% graphics performance improvement whereas the same game in Vulkan delivers a 12.93% improvement but runs a bit slower. Civilization VI also sees a decent 11% performance uptick on the OpenGL API and Strange Brigade under the DX12 shows no marked improvement.
While the results are surely interesting, Phoronix highlights an important factor here. The RPS tuning is only limited to non-GuC platforms, meaning all integrated and discrete graphics can't access the tuning feature. GuC or Graphics Microcode, is a microcode present that enhances the capabilities of tasks such as video decoding and encoding, power management, and workload scheduling. As said by the source, only "pre-DG2/ADL platforms" can utilize the benefits of RPS tuning.
Apart from RPS tuning changes, the new patch in Linux 6.6 brings "a fix to avoid infinite GPU waits and various Meteor Lake updates." The changes made in the driver for the upcoming Meteor Lake also indicate that Team Blue is working on complete support at launch, by starting work much earlier. With that said, Intel's Arc driver division is working really hard to extract every bit of juice out of the Alchemist architecture.
News Source: Phoronix
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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