While everyone wants faster hardware, Intel says the answer lies in software optimization, and the P and E cores are almost identical in gaming performance.
Robert Hallock Says E-Cores Don't Degrade Gaming Performance and PC Enthusiasts are "Underestimating" the Importance of Software
Intel might not have been able to deliver X3D-equivalent performance in gaming with its latest Core Ultra 200 series, but it has gotten closer with the Plus variants. While still noticeably behind when it comes to the leading gaming performance, Intel blames this regression more on the "software" optimization than the hardware itself. In an interview with PC Games Hardware, Intel VP and GM, Robert Hallock, said some interesting things related to PC gaming when it comes to Intel's hybrid architecture.
There were reviewers... who were observing faster performance with all the E-cores turned off.
They are virtually identical in performance...it's about 1% difference.
- Robert Hallock (via PC Games Hardware)
Robert debunks the theory that the Efficient Cores could be the cause for lower gaming performance. Intel's fellow insisted that, even though Efficient cores don't operate exactly like Performance cores, the slower gaming performance isn't due to that difference in operation. It's well-known that some games and engines still assume all CPU cores behave the same way. This mismatch can create scheduling errors, thread imbalance, and inconsistent frame times.
I truly believe, and this might get me in trouble, but I truly believe that the general PC gaming market and especially enthusiasts, like really hardcore PC enthusiasts, are significantly underestimating the importance of software to the PC experience, like really, really seriously.
- Robert Hallock (via PC Games Hardware)
Robert focused on the same, highlighting the importance of proper software optimizations that can fix these issues. We have seen how the scheduler behavior becomes a crucial aspect in gaming workloads. While Intel's hybrid CPUs rely on Thread Director, the performance ultimately depend heavily on multiple factors like OS, game engines, background processes, power plans etc.
And that performance is, yes, you can make the game faster with a faster piece of hardware, but there's always going to be 10, 20, 30% performance hidden behind the fact that that game was just not optimized for your CPU.
- Robert Hallock (via PC Games Hardware)
The hybrid design has proved to be successful in multi-tasking and higher productivity performance, but when it comes to gaming, Robert says that hardware alone can't enable peak performance. As per him, the hardware can't cut it alone if the software isn't optimized. He says that an additional 10-30% performance hides behind the software optimizations, and if this bottleneck is removed, we may see performance coming closer or even surpassing the leading Ryzen X3D chips, as per Robert's theory.
News Sources: PC Games Hardware, PC Games Hardware
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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