Intel is the newest player in the GPU market, having finally released their Arc Alchemist GPUs in 2022. It was encouraging to see another graphics card option to disrupt the Nvidia-AMD monopoly on the GPU market.
Ray tracing, which produces extraordinarily realistic lighting and reflections, is one of the most sought-after features in contemporary gaming.
But as Intel’s GPU driver problems demonstrated, creating a fantastic arc GPU requires more than just producing high-quality hardware.
So, another question that comes up frequently is whether or not Intel’s Arc GPUs will support ray tracing.
Understanding Rar Tracing: A Brief Explanation
Ray tracing is a graphics rendering technique that determines the locations of lights and shadows in video games using algorithms. When compared to conventional shades, this produces a more realistic image.
Though it requires a lot of processing power, this leads to more accurate lighting and creates extremely lifelike images.
Since it would be difficult to do this with software alone, the simplest way to achieve this is to add dedicated hardware cores for handling ray tracing tasks.
Ray tracing follows the path of light as it moves from the source to different surfaces in a scene, as opposed to typical rendering, which estimates lighting and shading.
Does Arc GPU Support Ray Tracing?
Yes, it supports ray tracing. The feature is implemented using specialized fixed-function hardware known as Ray Tracing Units (RTU).
Intel also uses a technique called Asynchronous Ray Tracing. It combines rays with similar hit shaders to ensure that the RTUs, also known as Intel Xe cores, are being utilized to the fullest extent possible.
So, hardware-based ray tracing acceleration is employed by Intel Arc GPUs to effectively manage these intricate computations.
Plus, Arc GPUs can provide real-time ray tracing performance for graphics, gaming, and business applications because of their specialized ray tracing cores and Intel’s Xe-HPG architecture.
Role of the Software
Ray tracing support on the Arc lineup does not guarantee that it will be able to utilize it in games. The sole purpose of the hardware RTUs in Arc cards is to improve ray tracing algorithm performance.
Game developers will need to incorporate the capability of utilizing Microsoft’s DirectX12 or Vulkan APIs for games to support ray tracing on Arc GPUs. The good news is that nearly any game with ray tracing is covered by these two APIs.
Although this brings AMD and Nvidia on par with Intel in terms of software compatibility, the latter two continue to have better drivers. Early Arc lineup users have discovered a variety of driver problems that can seriously impair performance.
Comparison of Arc GPU with NVIDIA and AMD in Ray Tracing
1. Performance in ray tracing
Ray tracing performance on Intel Arc GPUs varies depending on the model and the game or application. According to preliminary benchmarks, Arc GPUs can produce decent ray tracing performance, although they might not be able to compete with the best products from AMD’s RDNA 2 cards or NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series just yet.
For example, since launching its RTX series in 2018, NVIDIA has led the way in ray tracing. GPUs like the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 from NVIDIA include specialized RT cores that are well-optimized for ray tracing.
It gives them an advantage in demanding games and applications. AMD has added ray tracing to its range with its RDNA 2 architecture, yet the performance usually lags.
2. Efficiency to perform ray tracing
Another crucial factor to take into account is how effectively the Arc GPU can perform ray tracing. Ray tracing is known to be very demanding on technology, and a poorly implemented version can result in low frame rates and a less-than-satisfying gaming experience.
Intel has taken measures to maximize the efficiency of ray tracing on Arc GPUs so that users can experience enhanced visual effects.
Arc GPUs use Intel’s Xe-HPG architecture, which balances ray tracing performance with overall power efficiency.
Since ray-tracing workloads can sometimes result in high power consumption and heat generation, the architecture incorporates improved power management algorithms. It enables the GPU to conduct ray-tracing calculations without experiencing these problems.
3. Supportive ecosystem
The maturity of NVIDIA and AMD’s ray tracing ecosystems is one of their respective advantages. For example, NVIDIA has been working on ray tracing for several years and has created a sizable software ecosystem to support it, which includes technology known as DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling),
Intel’s ecosystem support is not as strong as it could be because it is a more recent player. However, the company has introduced XeSS (Xe Super Sampling), a similar AI-powered upscaling technique to DLSS.
It enhances performance in games that support ray tracing. XeSS can help reduce some of the performance costs related to ray tracing by dynamically upscaling images while maintaining visual quality. This could be crucial in allowing Arc GPUs to compete with NVIDIA’s DLSS-enabled GPUs.
Is Arc GPU Right for You?
There are a few things to consider if you are a gamer or content developer who appreciates ray tracing and is thinking about choosing an Intel Arc GPU:
- The ratio of Price to Performance: Arc GPUs are marketed as a less expensive option to NVIDIA and AMD, although they are still able to do ray tracing. The Arc GPU is a viable choice if you’re searching for a GPU that offers strong ray-tracing performance at a reasonable price.
- Mid-Range Performance: If you’re a content creator or gamer in the mid-range, the Arc GPU ought to be able to handle the ray tracing requirements of your favorite titles. However, you might wish to compare Arc GPUs to more expensive NVIDIA and AMD versions if you’re an intense gamer who demands the highest settings and the finest possible performance.
- Future-Proofing: Selecting an Arc GPU now could position you for future software and performance advancements due to Intel’s dedication to improving its GPU ecosystem. It includes enhancements in XeSS and ray tracing support.
Wrapping Up
Arc GPUs can produce realistic graphics and engaging gameplay when they have ray tracing enabled. Arc GPUs provide a good alternative for those seeking a powerful and feature-rich graphics card, even though NVIDIA can currently have a slight edge in terms of ray tracing efficacy.
Future Arc GPUs should be able to perform even more amazing ray tracing tasks as technology advances.
Read More: How to Maximize ROI with Intel Arc GPUs in Your Workstation
