Intel’s newest 14th Gen chips aren’t a huge improvement over the thirteenth Gen in gaming efficiency, however a brand new Intel Software Optimization (APO) characteristic would possibly simply change that. Intel’s new APO app merely runs within the background, bettering efficiency in video games. It presents spectacular boosts to border charges in video games that help it, like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and Metro Exodus.
Intel Application Optimization basically directs utility sources in actual time by means of a scheduling coverage that fine-tunes efficiency for video games and doubtlessly even different purposes sooner or later. It operates alongside Intel’s Thread Director, a expertise that’s designed to enhance how apps and video games are assigned to efficiency or effectivity cores relying on the efficiency wants. The result’s some strong features to efficiency in sure video games, with one Reddit poster seeing a 200fps increase in Rainbow Six Siege at 1080p.
“Not all video games profit from APO,” defined Intel VP Roger Chandler in a press briefing forward of the 14th Gen launch. “As we take a look at and confirm video games we’ll add people who profit essentially the most, so avid gamers can get the most effective efficiency from their methods.”
In my very own testing with the Intel Software Optimization, the outcomes have been extra in keeping with Intel’s personal steerage. Intel says Rainbow Six Siege with APO enabled ought to see a 13 % increase and Metro Exodus a 16 % increase.
I examined Rainbow Six Siege with the very excessive preset at 1080p on a Core i9-14900K system paired with an RTX 4090 and noticed body charges shift from 615fps to 688fps — a virtually 12 % improve. In Metro Exodus Enhanced, body charges improved from 177fps to 207fps, a virtually 17 % improve, utilizing the excessive preset at 1080p.
A greater than 10 % increase for simply flicking a change in an app is shocking, however proper now, help for APO is restricted, and the method to get the app up and operating is cumbersome. APO solely works on 14th Gen CPUs, and to even set up the app, you’ll want some particular drivers put in beforehand. Intel’s APO is just out there within the Microsoft Retailer, and it’ll error out and fail to put in for those who don’t have the drivers current.
You’ll want Intel’s Dynamic Tuning drivers, which ought to be out there straight from motherboard distributors like MSI and Asus. Not all motherboards have these drivers listed simply but, although. You’ll additionally have to allow Intel Dynamic Tuning Know-how within the BIOS settings. When you’ve obtained the drivers put in and the BIOS possibility enabled, you may then obtain the APO app from the Microsoft Store.
As soon as APO is all up and operating, it is going to then begin to detect video games after you’ve launched them. It’s not clear what number of video games are supported proper now, however Metro Exodus and Rainbow Six Siege each work. APO will detect video games whether or not they’re put in from the Microsoft Retailer, Steam, the Epic Video games Retailer, or elsewhere.
Intel hasn’t closely marketed APO but, in all probability as a result of it’s tremendous restricted and troublesome to put in. Hopefully, there’s a neater approach to allow this characteristic sooner or later and extra video games are supported as Intel continues to check and add them to the listing.