Intel XeSS is an exciting development in the world of upscaling microcomputer game . This technology is finally out , and we ’ve tested it extensively to give you a full overview of how it can better your gaming experience .

While Intel XeSS is similar to the technical school we already make out well fromAMD and Nvidia , it comes with its own pros and cons . We ’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Intel XeSS , how it knead , what games it supports , and how it compare to rival technologies , and whether it might be used on thebest graphics cards .

What is Intel XeSS?

Intel XeSS , or Xe Super Sampling , is an upscaling feature ofIntel Arc Alchemist art visiting card . It works by render your game at a lower resolution and then upscaling it using machine learning and dedicated AI hardware found inside the GPU . This help oneself it improve performance while defend as much image caliber as possible .

XeSS works a tidy sum like Nvidia’sDeep Learning Super Sampling ( DLSS ) . The key difference is that Intel XeSS confirm art menu from multiple vendors , while DLSS is limited to Nvidia graphics cards .

Intel was able-bodied to achieve this by offering two dissimilar versions of XeSS — one for Arc GPUs , such as the Arc A770 and the A750 , and one for graphics card made by other vendors . The version for Intel Arc is likely going to do a better caper due to its forward-looking upscaling model ; it ’s also boosted by the Xe Matrix Extension ( XMX ) AI cores found inside Intel Arc . The XeSS that owners of AMD and Nvidia cards can examine out is a small simpler , with a less robust upscaling model and DP4a instruction , which makes it substandard to Intel ’s own XMX cores .

With that said , while the model used for non - Intel GPUs may be simpler , we still found that Intel XeSS provided a similar performance rise across the board . We ’ll talk about it more in the   Performance section down below .

In supported games , players will be able to select between four timbre modes . Higher - calibre modes offer better ikon quality at the toll of functioning , while low - quality modes further public presentation more but may not look as great :

In addition to more choice , it looks like XeSS will be capable to surmount the input resolution even further than AMD’sFidelityFX Super Resolution ( FSR ) . Four quality modes should give players more options , as DLSS and FSR only extend three quality modes , with some titles supporting an optional fourth .

How Intel XeSS works

XeSS is n’t too complicated to understand . or else of run a game at native resolution ( let ’s say 4 K ) , it take on a variety of inputs from the game at a lower closure ( like 1080p ) . Those inputs eat into the XeSS upscaling engine , which includes an AI poser to enhance the upscaling . The final termination , theoretically , should be an simulacrum that look like the native settlement but with much high performance .

For specifics , XeSS takes depth , apparent movement , color , and light comment from the game . After performing the upscaling , the terminal results from these inputs are stack away in an internal history . That account give datum to the next incoming frame , and the cycle continues . While that ’s take place , XeSS consume the frame of reference you see and execute temporal anti - aliasing ( TAA ) to clean up jagged edge . XeSS replaces traditional anti - aliasing , as it can upscale and execute anti - aliasing in the same step .

The secret sauce is motorcar eruditeness . Intel Arc Alchemist art scorecard include XMX cores , which start the AI modeling to perform the upscaling . They ’re similar to Nvidia ’s Tensor core onRTX 30 - series graphic cards , and Intel says they provide the good timber with XeSS .

However , XeSS can also puzzle out without the XMX cores . Graphics cards that substantiate DP4a instructions — useful for AI calculations — also work . We have a full list of supported GPUs below , but theRX 6000 nontextual matter cardsfrom AMD support these direction , as do the last several coevals from Nvidia . Nvidia ’s RTX 50 - seriesandAMD RDNA 4 - ground RX 9000GPUs also support XeSS .

Intel XeSS games

Around 160 titles now bear out XeSS , up from around 20 when the technology set up . Among these are :

CheckIntel ’s list of XeSS gamesfor the most up to escort titles .

Support will be a key factor for the upscaling tech ’s success . BetweenNvidia DLSS and AMD FSR , a heap of games already have an upscaling feature film , so XeSS is entering a crowded market .

Intel XeSS compatibility

Intel XeSS has contention from Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR , but it looks to find abalance between DLSS and FSRunder a undivided roof . That ’s because XeSS supports both Intel and third - party graphics plug-in , let in some that are a few generations sure-enough .

Only Intel ’s Arc Alchemist graphics notice will have the consecrate XMX burden , and Intel says they provide the good quality and execution . However , GPUs that support DP4a teaching can also run away XeSS , just with a slight patronage - off between double timber and/or performance . Here are the GPUs that support DP4a for Intel XeSS :

Although XeSS does n’t have as broad compatibility as FSR , it covers a destiny more primer than Nvidia DLSS — and it appear to function in the same fashion .

Intel is offer XeSS as an clear - source package for developers , spare of charge . In improver , XeSS will be offered through a plugin in Unreal Engine , making it light for developers to implement in their games . We do n’t know if XeSS will make its style to consoles likeAMD FSR 2has .

Intel XeSS performance benchmarks

We had the chance to get up close and personal with Intel XeSS during our examination of theArc A770 and the Arc A750 . Here ’s what we learned .

We tried XeSS both in man-made bench mark and in gaming scenarios . In 3DMark ’s consecrate XeSS characteristic test , the Arc A770 and Arc A750 saw a 47 % increment . InShadow of the Tomb Raider , on an Arc A750 GPU , Intel XeSS present a 36.4 % boost over the aboriginal 4 K resolution . This was accomplish in Performance musical mode . We ’ve seen similar but even big gains inHitman 3,with XeSS bring a 42 % hike . Of naturally , fancy as these mental test were perform on Arc GPUs , the higher-ranking XMX cores were used .

We also tried the DP4a adaptation on the RTX 3060 , and astonishingly , the deviation between the two was not that monolithic at all . The Nvidia RTX 3060 saw a 38 % performance further inHitman 3when XeSS was turn tail , andShadow of the Tomb Raiderlifted that further to 44 % . This spells good news for Intel , since it unquestionably seems that XeSS is various .

All in all , it seems like Intel has done well with XeSS so far . The performance gains are definitely there , and the tech is versatile enough to be supported by other GPUs . We would still like to see it available in a bombastic turn of games , though , but that will number with time . This is just the start of Intel XeSS .

Intel XeSS versus Nvidia DLSS

Intel XeSS count a lot like Nvidia DLSS , and the two upscaling feature should pop the question standardised carrying out . Our own tests show that Nvidia continues to reign supreme , though , but Intel Arc puts up a good fighting .

Both DLSS and XeSS use AI to raise upscaling , and they volunteer TAA to smooth the image after it has been upscaled . The chief dispute is that XeSS can course on dedicated XMX kernel or on general hardware that supports DP4a instruction . DLSS can only run on consecrate Tensor cores on Nvidia 20 - series , 30 - series , and 40 - series graphics card .

Intel has confirmed that XeSS does n’t require per - title preparation . This was a major hurdle for DLSS when it was first released , but Nvidia has since work up the feature to run on a general AI theoretical account instead of a per - title one .

In term of raw performance , comparing Intel XeSS to Nvidia DLSS show that the latter is still better , but Intel is possibly doing a better job than AMD did with FSR . Just look at theShadow of the Tomb Raiderbenchmark above — near all of the XeSS results are in the low-pitched one-half of the ranking . XeSS Ultra Quality hit the same frames per secondly as native 4 K , but public presentation fashion boosted that to 59.9 . However , Nvidia DLSS win the top three musca volitans at 61.7 , 70.1 , and a banging 87.9 in Ultra Performance mode .

Whether you choose a card with FSR , DLSS , or XeSS support , your main priority should be getting the secure nontextual matter for your budget . See ourGPU buy guideto help you make the good choice .