Intel unleashes XeSS 2 for Arc GPUs with huge changes to speed up PC games, borrowing a few pages from Nvidias DLSS playbook

Date:
Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:24:10 +0000

Description:
Intel reveals XeSS 2 alongside new Battlemage GPUs packs frame generation
and low latency tech to supercharge games.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Intel has revealed XeSS 2 which follows in the footsteps of DLSS Its split into
XeSS Frame Generation and XeSS Super Resolution Theres also Xe Low Latency to combat input lag, much like Nvidia Reflex

Intel has just unveiled new Battlemage desktop GPUs , and alongside those graphics cards comes a fresh version of XeSS, its upscaling tech to rival Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR.

Yes, XeSS 2 is here, and Intel is making some big changes with the technology in this sequel. In fact, XeSS 2 is being split into two core components: XeSS Frame Generation and XeSS Super Resolution.

In other words, this is going the same route as Nvidia, when with DLSS 3,
Team Green brought in frame generation which means artificially inserting extra frames into the game, to make it smoother. Its a separate technology to the actual upscaling component of DLSS 3, and so this is what Intel has done split XeSS into Super Resolution (upscaling) and Frame Generation (extra frames generated to bolster the frame rate).

On top of that, Intel is introducing Xe Low Latency, which is essentially equivalent to Nvidia Reflex a complementary tech to reduce input lag which helps to smooth over the lag wrinkles that are a side effect of frame generation.

In terms of support, only Intels Alchemist and Battlemage GPUs will get XeSS
2 not any third-party GPUs and on the games side, developers will need to code in support for all these new technologies (including frame generation, and low latency). However, weve also seen mentions of manually enabling low latency (at the driver level), so well have to see how that shakes out.

On top of this, Intel has deployed a new control panel for its Arc GPUs which will simply be called Intel Graphics Software (in much the same vein as Team Greens new and renamed Nvidia App).

This is billed as an all-in-one hub for all your Arc GPU needs, from updating drivers to game optimization, enabling Intels tech such as low latency mode, changing display options, monitoring performance (frame rates and GPU status), along with controls for overclocking.

Hat tip to VideoCardz for picking up on both of these developments. (Image credit: Intel) Analysis: Keeping pace with upscaling the future of gaming

There are some major changes here, as we noted at the outset, and aside from all the new tech implemented very much along the lines of DLSS theres also that switch in support for GPUs. Previously XeSS allowed AMD and Nvidia GPUs (or some of them) to use and benefit from the tech, but thats no longer the case due to frame generation requiring Intels own hardware (XMX AI Engines).

Team Blue might work around that in the future, but for now, XeSS 2 will be for Intel Arc graphics cards only.

Its not really surprising to see Intel moving in the same direction as Nvidia
after all, DLSS is very much regarded as the killer solution for boosting frame rates. Whats good to see with Team Blue is that XeSS 2 also allows for frame generation with older Alchemist graphics cards, whereas with DLSS 3, only RTX 4000 the very newest Nvidia GPUs get the frame generation component. (RTX 3000 graphics cards support everything else in DLSS 3, to be fair, including ray reconstruction but not frame generation).

If Intel is to stay competitive in the GPU space, its certainly important
that it keeps XeSS up to speed, as upscaling is regarded as a core piece of the future of gaming. More and more games are relying on such technology to achieve smooth frame rates, particularly at the likes of 4K resolution (or
its upscaled equivalent, we should say).

Were seeing upscaling become a key part of consoles witness the PlayStation Pro 5 with PSSR and on PCs, whatll make it even more prevalent is Microsofts move with DirectSR , an effort to make it much easier for game developers to use XeSS, DLSS and FSR in their games. You might also like What is a graphics card? Here's everything you need to know Intel Arc GPUs aren't doomed but
can Battlemage really save them? Want a great gaming PC? Look no further



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/gpu/intel-unleashes-xess-2-for-arc-gpus-wi th-huge-changes-to-speed-up-pc-games-borrowing-a-few-pages-from-nvidias-dlss-p laybook


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