Info Intel ARC Alchemist owners thread. Now 75 games tested, retested, and counting. Includes productivity experiences. Feel free to add your results.

511 · Jan 1, 2025

DAPUNISHER said:
That's a strong point. Then we are back to it being a hardware issue?

A770 - Xe-HPG
MTL iGPU - Xe-LPG
ARL iGPU - Xe-LPG+
All are SIMD 8 Architecture with almost the same HW except for the fact that MTL/A770 Shares almost everything except the XMX engine and ARL iGPU has XMX Engine but all other features are the same it's the missing HW like Execute Indirect and stuff which is used by many games and a couple more. HW is decent to say the least it just requires software trickery to work with games they should integrate it and call it a day there is also the fact that some games have Intel iGPU Blacklisted to run the games to avoid issues there is that as well

GodisanAtheist · Jan 1, 2025

Damn, was really hoping to snag an A770 for dirt cheap used but if Intel's driver support for the cards is starting to sag as they move to Battlemage then... Damn

511 · Jan 1, 2025

GodisanAtheist said:
Damn, was really hoping to snag an A770 for dirt cheap used but if Intel's driver support for the cards is starting to sag as they move to Battlemage then... Damn

I don't think that's the case you can look at the driver change logs for the latest ones

DavidC1 · Jan 2, 2025

511 said:
I doubt it cause the arc architecture for A770 and Arrow Lake and Meteor Lake iGPU are the same for the raster

@DAPUNISHER We can't count Alchemist out yet. I still expect the overhead reduced driver to come to Alchemist as well.

But yes Tom Peterson said that SIMD8 architecture requires sacrifices in compatibility, and you can see from both professional and user reviews that Battlemage is much better in that regard, even though it has performance issues in some titles. There is a bit of efficiency gain with SIMD16, but compatibility is most important.

So in those specific games Battlemage doesn't need driver intervention while Alchemist does. Of course with history of Intel neglecting game support with their GPUs, even with the massive history and iGPU base, they won't be able to address them all. If they focused on it more, then the code base would have been much better.

DigDog · Jan 4, 2025

@DAPUNISHER
what do you say, should we add a third subforum for Intel cards, or do we keep it on the main GPU forum?
im just about ready to launch that Battlemage Owners thread.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 4, 2025

DigDog said:
@DAPUNISHER
what do you say, should we add a third subforum for Intel cards, or do we keep it on the main GPU forum?
im just about ready to launch that Battlemage Owners thread.

I think that is something only the Future Publishing overlords can do? I can sticky an ARC Battle Mage thread though. Feel free to start one up. It is helpful to provide system specs and all relevant gaming and productivity info, as we did with Alchemist.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 6, 2025

Alchemist stock is drying up fast. Outside of Gunnir, and their prices are derp unless you shop AliExpress. I think they are more in line there. Amazon has a few models but all but the ASRock A580 are overpriced too.

I'll pick up an B580 when stock and pricing are normalized. I'll start a thread if no one beats me to it first. The slowest CPU I have left is a 5600X3D, so that's what I'll pair it with for testing.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 15, 2025

Storm Trooper transplant complete

The windows install crapped the bed while testing. Tried SFC and DISM, DDU, chipset drivers, scouring the registry and OS drive, neither Intel or AMD drivers would finish the install process any longer. It now has fresh install of 24H2 and updates. I'll get to testing again soon.

I don't think ARC likes my Hisense TV. The audio was broken and garbled like radio static. It defied troubleshooting steps. Including switching HDMI inputs on the TV including eARC. When nuking and installing drivers that's when it would install an audio fix then pause on another file, then delete the audio fix reg entries, then get stuck at driver.ini

AMD stopped installing at 87% and would not continue.

I did test Horizon Zero Dawn canned bench with all 3 resolutions and a bunch of settings before the nerfing. Heavily CPU limited through most of the run with a 5600X3D. GPU usage dropping under 70% at times, CPU in the 70-high 80s. Similar FPS at 1080 and 1440 regardless of settings. At 4K max settings the CPU was in the 50-60s range and GPU was pegged at 99% the whole run. It managed mid 40s so it would have been the most playable where frame pacing was concerned. It looks much better at native too.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 15, 2025

I am guessing the audio issue are related to the PCON - https://www.pcgamesn.com/intel/arc-hdmi-2-1-support

It did update the card's firmware on the only successful driver install. This system was running a windows insider build that has been updated since, so it could be windows fault on the failed installs.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 17, 2025

I sold my A750LE and bought a B580 so others will have to add results here. I will start a Battle Mage thread this weekend in anticipation of getting my card Tuesday. Going to revisit some of the problematic games from the list here and see if there has been any improvement.

Aapje · Jan 23, 2025

@DAPUNISHER

What CPU are you pairing it with? That matters a lot.

DAPUNISHER · Jan 23, 2025

CPU matters with Alchemist as well. Moving from a 5600 at 4.65GHz to a 5800X3D improved the gaming experience significantly. It did not require metrics overlays, you could see and feel it.

I have started a thread for Battle Mage owners, including iGPU. I don't know that anyone else is interested in contributing, but the thread is there if they want to. Provided a couple of preliminary results. I am using a 5600X3D for now. I have a 5800X3D I can swap in for comparison in the future.

igor_kavinski · Jan 27, 2025

I'm officially an Alchemist owner now.

It was love at first sight

Info Intel ARC Alchemist owners thread. Now 75 games tested, retested, and counting. Includes productivity experiences. Feel free to add your results.

511

Golden Member

GodisanAtheist

Diamond Member

511

Golden Member

DavidC1

Golden Member

DigDog

Lifer

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

Aapje

Golden Member

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member

igor_kavinski

Lifer

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