Intel At GDC: DX12, Raptr Gameplay Recording, & LGA Socketed Iris Pro

At a GDC press event today, Intel showcased its first Iris Pro-enabled CPU on a desktop motherboard -- socketed -- alongside Dx12 updates and gameplay capture advancements. The spotlight reaffirmed Intel’s commitment to LGA-socketed CPUs for the immediate future, offering desktop users with low TDP requirements a high-powered CPU and IGP solution. Valve further emboldened its argument by pointing toward Steam’s hardware survey, which now shows Intel’s graphics solution as consuming approximately 20% of the GPU cross-section. NVIDIA holds the majority of GPU marketshare.

Interestingly, the event also unveiled an Intel-Raptr partnership that aims to auto-optimize IGP systems with Raptr’s gaming software. This software is already used by AMD and grants similar abilities to GFE’s game optimization solution.

The partnership primarily includes IGP compatibility and some access to Intel’s internal performance data, resulting in better game setting optimization for Intel CPUs. Further, Raptr’s “GVR” software (which we’ve extensively benchmarked vs. FRAPS and ShadowPlay) will now support IGPs, ensuring almost no performance drop for Intel IGP users hoping to record gameplay.

The Raptr software uses Quick Sync for hardware-accelerated video encoding, substantially reducing the load on the CPU-side of the silicon.

To the point of IGPs, Intel noted that it now serves over 3 million driver downloads per month, with 3D gaming performance on IGPs having improved approximately 100x from product launch. Intel noted that it is “starting to reach into performance levels” for its graphics processors, re-establishing its commitment to integrated graphics.

Achievement Unlocked – An Outreach Program

Intel will now be offering a worldwide outreach program to game developers, entitled “Achievement Unlocked,” with the objective of equipping game developers to better communicate with experts to build software.

Despite its somewhat groan-inducing name, Intel hopes to work closely with Valve and other luminary developers to widen its net of support for game programmers.

DX12 Launch & Compatibility

At the event, a DX12 spokesperson indicated dedication toward multi-core scaling and direct-to-hardware communication, putting developers “closer to the metal.” This has delivered a 20% GPU performance boost – presumably across all GPUs, though Iris Pro was specifically indicated.

“What we really wanted to do was scrap everything that had come before – how can we redesign everything to work from the ground-up with Intel’s modern architecture and Intel’s HD graphics? So we did that.”

Microsoft noted that its Early Access program, which includes more than 100 of the world’s “top developers,” theoretically affords heavily-optimized DirectX titles going forward. If all goes as planned, this should allow greater access to previously-untapped power for driving games. As we’ve discussed in the past, the software optimization is one of the last major obstacles to fully utilizing PC hardware’s capabilities.

We'll keep you updated as more information rolls-out on desktop processors, including Skylake and Broadwell socketed CPUs.

- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.