Intel Arc Driver Lets You Set VRAM on Core Ultra iGPUs
Intel has put out a new Arc graphics driver, version 32.0.101.6987. For the first time, it lets you set how much system memory goes to the built-in Arc GPUs. This works on the first and second-generation Intel Core Ultra processors.
How to Set Shared GPU Memory
Built-in Intel GPUs use system RAM for graphics jobs, not its own VRAM. The new "Shared GPU Memory Overrun" tool in the Intel Graphics Tool lets you change how much system memory the iGPU can use.
- Normal Setting: 57% of all system memory.
- Max Setting: Can go up to 87% or more, based on how much system RAM you have.
- Needs: You need at least 10 GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra Series 1 or newer CPU.
- Steps: To change it, you move a slider in the tool and restart your computer.
This is a big deal, as AMD has had a like setting in the BIOS, but it's usually capped at 8GB.
Key Points and Risks of More VRAM
Intel says to watch out for some bad things if you give too much memory to the iGPU. Since the CPU and iGPU share memory, giving too much to graphics can hurt the CPU.
Risks of giving too much include:
- Worse job handling or slow apps.
- More page file use and slower CPU jobs.
- Using more power, mainly on laptops, as the DRAM is always on.
For these points, Intel says to use this setting just when needed, like for a VRAM-heavy game or a big AI model, not all the time.
Extra Driver Updates
The new driver also has other better parts and fixes:
- Up to a 6% better speed in Battlefield 6 Open Beta, Mafia: The Old Country, and Doom: The Dark Ages at 1080p with ray tracing on Arc B-series GPUs.
- A fix for freezing in Naraka Bladepoint when Intel XeSS is on Battlemage hardware.
- Better power handling for Arrow Lake-H laptops.
- A 5% lift in float-point speed.
- Faster Windows 11 screen moves.
