Intel Arc B580 Driver Updates Resolve CPU Overhead Bottleneck
The CPU overhead issue with Intel Arc B580 has apparently been fixed with the new driver updates. Intel introduced a new set of driver updates for the Arc Battlemage GPUs that improve performance significantly, mainly with respect to the CPU overhead problem that plagued the Arc B580 when paired with older processors. These optimizations have caused an appreciable increase in performance across many widely played gaming titles.
Addressing the CPU Overhead Bottleneck
Previously, the Intel Arc B580 GPU had poor performance with old but still very popular CPUs, such as AMD's Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series. This "CPU overhead" issue built a bottleneck that held the GPU back and caused it to consistently lag behind competing AMD and NVIDIA cards in similar configurations. Intel recognized the problem and directed its efforts toward targeted driver updates.
Demonstrated Performance Gains in Key Titles
Recent benchmarks highlighted by Hardware Unboxed provide confirmation of the updates' effectiveness, with the performance degradation for the Arc B580 in many titles being greatly reduced when paired with a Ryzen 5 5600.
- Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered: Here, a major performance regression was noted with older drivers. The Intel Driver 7028 and after changed the game for the Arc B580, which now competes directly with the AMD RX 9060 XT 8 GB, exhibiting more than a 30% uplift in performance from the previous 6000-series driver branch.
- Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: The Arc B580 was tested along with a Ryzen 5 2600 and, when both cards ran neck and neck with no performance degradation observed on Arc's side compared to RX 9060 XT.
- Other Improved Titles: Improvements were seen in Dying Light The Beast, Marvel Rivals, Kingdom Come Deliverance II, and Borderlands 4, especially with the Ryzen 5 5600.
Some titles are still affected by this CPU overhead problem with older CPUs, especially the Ryzen 5 2600, but with the Ryzen 5000 series, this problem has drastically reduced.
A More Competitive Budget GPU
As driver optimizations continue, the Arc B580 is working away from its early software issues. The improved performance of about 12 GB will allow gamers to play at a reasonable budget. The 249 price point makes it a convincing modern-gaming option.
