Gaming fans just got a great free Intel Arc upgrade for even faster frame-rates

A new driver brings higher frame-rate gaming to Intel Arc graphics setups

Gamer with headphones and laptop in dark room
(Image credit: Getty Images / staticnak1983)

If you're big into your gaming and own one of the best gaming laptops or a more powerful desktop then chances are that Intel processors will be powering everything under the hood. If that's the case and you have the more recent Intel Arc graphics then a great free upgrade to advance your gaming experience just arrived. 

The new download – which is a driver firmware upgrade for all Intel Arc A-Series discrete graphics, Intel Iris XE and Intel Core Ultra processors with Arc built-in – is totally free but promises a performance boost. Seems like a no-brainer to download the EXE file, whatever Arc-operating setup you're working with.

Gamer wearing headphones whilst gaming on desktop PC

(Image credit: Getty Images / Anastassiya Bezhekeneva)

So just what can you expect from the catchily-named 31.0.101.5379 driver? It depends on your setup, of course, but with the top-tier Intel Arc A-series discrete graphics there are some specific benefits. Top of the stack is ray-tracing in Diablo IV, but Intel also cites compatibility with Horizon Forbidden West, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

The other main benefit, however, is frame-rate improvements. Intel is quoting up to a 35% average FPS uptick when gaming at 1080p with Ultra High Settings. Dip those settings to Highest and it goes up to 54%; it's 127% in Ultra settings; and a massive 172% improved in 1440p also at Ultra settings. Point being: you're getting a free performance boost whatever capability your gaming rig offers. 

Further down the ranks, those with Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs running Medium to Low settings when gaming will also see benefits. From Assassin's Creed: Origins to God of War: Ragnarok, Intel reckons you'll get an FPS boost anywhere up to 117% higher than the previous driver offered. So get to it gaming fans: if you've got an Intel Arc setup then you'll definitely want to download

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.