Intel Arc iGPUs Get a Performance Boost: Up to 25% Improvement in Gaming
Exciting news for gamers using Intel's integrated graphics! Intel has announced significant performance improvements for its Arc 140V and 130V iGPUs, found in the latest Lunar Lake processors, specifically targeting gaming handhelds like the MSI Claw series. Get ready for smoother gameplay and higher frame rates with the latest driver updates.
The company reports average FPS increases of 10% in various games when comparing the updated 6734 drivers to the previous 6732 version. What's even more impressive is the 25% improvement in 99th percentile FPS. This means fewer stutters and a much more stable gaming experience, even during demanding scenes.
These performance gains were measured on an MSI Claw 7 AI+ handheld, running at the typical 17W power setting for these types of devices. The tests were conducted at 1080p resolution and medium settings across nine different games, without the use of XeSS upscaling. This provides a clear picture of the raw performance boost offered by the new drivers.
According to Intel, specific games saw notable uplifts:
- Black Myth Wukong: +13.8%
- God of War Ragnarök: +6.9%
- Hogwarts Legacy: +6.8%
- Cyberpunk 2077: +6.1%
- Marvel's Spider-Man: +6.9%
- PayDay 3: +12.6%
- DOTA 2: +16.0%
- Counter-Strike 2: +8.0%
- Fortnite S34: +17.9%
MSI is handling the driver validation independently, ensuring that the updates are optimized for their Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ handhelds. The 6734 drivers are now available through the MSI Center.
It's important to note that while the initial tests were performed using driver version 6734, Intel has since released even newer drivers (version 6737). These subsequent updates also include the reported performance improvements. The benefits aren't limited to just the MSI Claw devices; all platforms running the Intel Arc 140V & 130V iGPU series should see similar gains.
This driver update is great news for owners of Lunar Lake-powered devices and an encouraging sign of Intel's commitment to improving the gaming performance of their integrated graphics solutions. They're showing that the Xe2 architecture packs a punch for on-the-go gaming. Have you updated your drivers and noticed a difference? Share your experiences in the comments below!