If we're talking about GPUs, Intel hasn't been the most attractive, with their first-gen Arc A-series failing to deliver versus Nvidia and AMD. However, the Arc Battlemage series (Arc B580 and Arc B570 so far) launched to much fanfare. Both of these graphics cards featured solid specifications at a very affordable price point. In fact, Intel's claims of better performance compared to the RX 4060 turned out to be true, as the Arc B580 outperformed the 4060 by a good margin.

So, if you’re considering a budget GPU, adding a few Intel options to your list might not be a bad idea right now. That said, for those who have already picked up the latest GPUs from the blue team, Intel has released a new driver update that promises noticeable performance improvements in several modern AAA titles.

Up to 9% FPS uplift in modern AAA games

According to the official release notes for the Intel Graphics Driver 32.0.101.6632, the Intel Arc B-series GPUs now come with noticeably improved gaming performance. For instance, in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the cards will offer up to a 6% average FPS uplift at 1440p with Highest settings and up to a 9% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Highest settings. In the Game of the Year 2024 title, Black Myth: Wukong, the B-series cards will deliver up to a 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with High settings.

Game performance improvements on Intel® Arc™ B-series Graphics GPUs versus Intel® 32.0.101.6559 software driver for:

• Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* (DX12)
  • Up to 6% average FPS uplift at 1440p with Highest settings
  • Up to 9% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Highest settings
• Black Myth: Wukong* (DX12)
  • Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with High settings
• Monster Hunter: Wilds* (DX12)
  • Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1440p with Ultra settings

Source: Intel Release Notes

Another title that will now provide better frame rates is the recently launched action-adventure game Monster Hunter Wilds, which had a massive day-one launch but has faced complaints about poor optimization, stuttering, and crashes. Fortunately, for those on the blue team, your GPU will now output up to a 5% average FPS uplift at 1440p with Ultra settings, which is a much-needed improvement for a game with mixed Steam reviews largely focused on performance issues. If you face further problems, you can always reference our MH Wilds crashing and stuttering guide.

FPS uplift isn't the only good news for blue team owners, as the latest update also brings optimized support for new releases, including Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, FragPunk, and Split Fiction. This optimization isn't just for B-series GPUs but also extends to A-series owners and even Intel Core Ultra chips with built-in Arc GPUs.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.