Intel ARC - A Series & B Series Graphics Card (GPU) Discussion Thread

WingWarper1 · July 15, 2023, 6:28pm

Any reason why you didn’t use a regular HDMI to HDMI cable? The A770 supports HDMI 2.1 which is what you need for 4k HDR @ 120Mhz refresh rate. I’m not sure what level of HDMI connector your TV supports but you probably don’t have a choice but to use HDMI anyway.

More than likely the DP to HDMI conversion cable may be costing you some additional picture clarity, resolution, and/or refresh rate.

MSFSRonS · July 15, 2023, 8:27pm

Yep, the TV is HDMI only.

I was viewing HDR on my old GTX 1660 TI on an HDMI to HDMI cable.
But the A770 did not want to display HDR. Same HDMI cable.

And I had read somewhere that the DP output of the A770 provided
better graphics than the HDMI output.
That the HDMI output was modified from the DP output but the DP was superior.

So, I bought a DP to HDMI cable. 3 actually.
1st one was low spec and did HDMI 1.4. No HDR.
2nd one was DP1.4 to HDMI 2.0. No HDR.
3rd one was DP 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 and it does HDR.

Picture quality, resolution is fine, 4K.
But is it only 60 Hz. (4K HDR, 1499 nits)

MSFSRonS · July 16, 2023, 1:17am

I chose the i5-13600K due to concerns of power usage and heat generation from the PC.

It appears that my concern was not required.
If I am analyzing this correctly.

Edit:
I should add that the PC is silent when FS2020 is not running.
When FS2020 is running, I hear a faint sound from the fans.
And, there is no noticeable heat being output.

The old i9-9900K PC fans would get loud when FS2020 started running. But they were older fans.
End edit:

Following are the stats:
Edit: 7/16/2023: Added Hyperthreading = Off stats

i5-13600 Temperatures in FS2020

Case        - Corsair 5000D
Motherboard - GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX DDR5
CPU         - Intel i5-13600K
CPU Cooler  - Noctua NH-U12A 
Case Fan    - Front, 120mm included with case
Case Fan    - Rear, 120mm included with case

Temperatures
------------------------------------------------------o
CPU Temps from Gigabyte Control Center app
A770 Temps from Intel Arc Control app

                          Desktop
                       -----------------   FS2020 
                       2 apps   14 apps      ON
                      -------   --------  ---------

                       HYPER      HYPER     HYPER
                      -------   --------  ---------     
PC                     ON OFF    ON  OFF   ON   OFF
----------------      --- ---   --- ----  ---- ----
CPU degrees C          33  34    34   37    50   51
                          
                      RPM RPM   RPM  RPM   RPM  RPM
                      --- ---   --- ----  ---- ----     
Cooler Fan - Front    908 932   927  999  1227 1269 
Cooler Fan - Rear     911 934   934 1003  1239 1271
Case Fan - Front      647 670   660  687   861  885
Case Fan - Rear       685 711   700  711   882  891

A770 GPU               ON OFF    ON  OFF    ON  OFF
----------------      --- ---   ---  ---  ----  ---
GPU degrees C          49  49    50   51    77   78   

VRAM degrees C         52  52    54   56    78   80
Core Power (watts)     42  38    45   50   171  190

HWiNFO64                                    ON  OFF 
--------                                   ---  ---  
CPU Package PWR current                     50   51
CPU Package PWR (max)                       99   56
Total GPU PWR (watts)                      143  186
 
Note: FS2020 ran while the other 14 apps were running.

Notes:
1. 2 apps = Notepad and Gigabyte Control Center
2. 14 apps = everything on the taskbar
3. FS2020 values taken while sitting on KJFK RW 31R
4. Hyperthreading
  
              CPU %   XB RAM         XB VRAM      
            ------- ----------   XB ----------  MSI         
      LoDs   XB  TM  % of 32GB  GPU  % of 16GB  FPS
    ------- --- --- ----------- --- ----------- --- 

Hyperthreading = ON
              CPU %   XB RAM         XB VRAM      
            ------- ----------   XB ----------  MSI         
      LoDs   XB  TM  % of 32GB  GPU  % of 16GB  FPS
    ------- --- --- ----------- --- ----------- --- 
CJ4 T=4 O=9  3% 28% 50% = 16 GB 99% 79% = 13 GB  30   3 apps  

Hyperthreading = OFF
              CPU %   XB RAM         XB VRAM      
            ------- ----------   XB ----------  MSI         
      LoDs   XB  TM  % of 32GB  GPU  % of 16GB  FPS
    ------- --- --- ----------- --- ----------- --- 
CJ4 T=4 O=9  7% 37% 53% = 17 GB 85% 83% = 13 GB  22   3 apps  
CJ4 T=4 O=9  8% 37% 67% = 21 GB 73% 93% = 15 GB  20  14 apps

Note:  3 apps = FS2020 & Task Manager, Notepad
      14 apps = everything on my Taskbar (no graphics processing apps)
                MSS Store,Settings,Notepad,File Explorer,Weather,
                Chrome Browser,Snipping Tool,Task Manager,Word,Excel
                FS2020,LittleNavMap                    


Conclusion on Hyperthtreading = Off:

I can't see any real difference in FS2020 as far as flying.
  1. The CJ4 handles the same as with it on.
  2. The CPU temperature seems about the same.
  3. The GPU temperature seems about the same.
  4. The fan speeds seem about the same.
  5. The A770 wattage seems to have gone up a little.
  6. The FPS dropped about 5 to 8 FPS while on the ground
         but look about the same while cruising.

Salem978 · July 16, 2023, 2:08am

request: all things equal test hyperthreading on and off if possible

BigCow74 · July 16, 2023, 12:48pm

I similarly had this as a factor in my CPU purchase decision. I was debating between i7-13700K and the i5-13600K.

I think where I went a little wrong was in the reviews. I focused too much on their temps when they were running things like prime95 or some other synthetic benchmark. MSFS and pretty much every other program I use never approaches this load.

Looking back, my current basic tower cooler would probably work fine with an i7 in nearly every normal use case.

MrTonySM · July 16, 2023, 1:14pm

The more competition the merrier Hopefully Chinas’ Moore Threads will come along as well. This can only help to get high gpu pricing down. I hope

MSFSRonS · July 16, 2023, 7:25pm

Good thought.
I have been wondering from several Posts stating to turn Hyperthreading Off.

I added Hyperthreading stats for ON or Off to my previous Reply above. Copied the here also below.
But I don’t see any noticeable difference other than maybe some loss of 5 to 8 FPS with Hyperthreading = Off.

I believe those other Posts were concerning the Nvidia GPU results.

Hyperthreading = ON
              CPU %   XB RAM         XB VRAM      
            ------- ----------   XB ----------  MSI         
      LoDs   XB  TM  % of 32GB  GPU  % of 16GB  FPS
    ------- --- --- ----------- --- ----------- --- 
CJ4 T=4 O=9  3% 28% 50% = 16 GB 99% 79% = 13 GB  30   3 apps  

Hyperthreading = OFF
              CPU %   XB RAM         XB VRAM      
            ------- ----------   XB ----------  MSI         
      LoDs   XB  TM  % of 32GB  GPU  % of 16GB  FPS
    ------- --- --- ----------- --- ----------- --- 
CJ4 T=4 O=9  7% 37% 53% = 17 GB 85% 83% = 13 GB  22   3 apps  
CJ4 T=4 O=9  8% 37% 67% = 21 GB 73% 93% = 15 GB  20  14 apps

Note:  3 apps = FS2020 & Task Manager, Notepad
      14 apps = everything on my Taskbar (no graphics processing apps)
                MSS Store,Settings,Notepad,File Explorer,Weather,
                Chrome Browser,Snipping Tool,Task Manager,Word,Excel
                FS2020,LittleNavMap                    


Conclusion on Hyperthtreading = Off:

I can't see any real difference in FS2020 as far as flying.
  1. The CJ4 handles the same as with it on.
  2. The CPU temperature seems about the same.
  3. The GPU temperature seems about the same.
  4. The fan speeds seem about the same.
  5. The A770 wattage seems to have gone up a little.
  6. The FPS dropped about 5 to 8 FPS while on the ground
         but look about the same while cruising.

MSFSRonS · July 17, 2023, 3:05pm

New driver is available. 4575 - Beta
Works fine for me in Windows 11 and MSFS.
Improved responses in FS2020.

Download the .exe.
Select “Clean Install”.

https://downloadmirror.intel.com/783754/gfx_win_101.4575.exe

This is the 23nd driver released.

MrTonySM · July 17, 2023, 11:05pm

Awesome!!! 47fps on the ground is no joke!!! Nice!!!

MSFSRonS · July 18, 2023, 4:27am

To be honest, I had not noticed the 47 FPS on that screenshot
until your reply.

The thing is, I don’t know what settings created it.
I have never seen any FPS from the A770 other than
from 25 to 30 FPS. No matter what I did.

I was changing some HDR screens in replying to a HDR Post.
Trying to remember what I was doing.
But, I had just landed at KEWR from an IFR/ILS flight from KJFK.
And took the screenshot just after leaving the runway after landing.

But I can’t recreate the 47 FPS.
Interesting that MSI Afterburner reported it.
I assume that it was accurate.

I’m still trying to see if I can recreate it.

MSFSRonS · July 24, 2023, 9:03pm

Pleased to report that the Intel ARC A770 16 GB GPU is working great on my new PC:
Z790 motherboard with i5-13600K CPU and DDR 5 7200 Mhz memory.

The A770 GPU is now running as Gen 4.
No problems.
Same great display.
Speed is the same: 25 to 30 FPS.
Improved additional graphics and detail. (from the i5 & Z790)

Some problems getting the PC to run at the stated XMP from the memory vendor.
See this Post if interested:
Edit: 7/25/2023 Post below just edited and corrected.