Upgrading your system to an Intel Arc GPU is an exciting step. It can give you better graphics, smoother gameplay and faster performance.
Whether you love gaming, video editing, or working with 3D models, a good GPU makes everything look and feel better. But before you install the Intel Arc GPU, you need to make sure your system is ready.
If you don’t check the important things, your PC may lag, crash, or not perform well. That can be frustrating.
So, what do you need to check?
You need to look at your power supply, motherboard, cooling system, drivers, RAM and storage. Each of these parts plays a role in how well your Intel Arc GPU will run. If one part is not good enough, your GPU will not perform at its best.
But do not worry. Let us make sure your system is ready for the upgrade.
Let’s get started.
Check Your Power Supply
A power supply unit (PSU) provides electricity to your computer. Every part of your PC, including the GPU, needs power to work. If your PSU is too weak, your system may shut down or not run smoothly.
That is why it is important to check it before upgrading.
Steps to check your power supply
- Find the wattage: The Intel Arc GPU needs at least 600W or more. If your PSU is below this, you should upgrade it.
- Check the power connectors: Some GPUs need 8-pin or 6-pin connectors. If your PSU does not have these, it may not work with the GPU.
- Get a good quality PSU: Cheap power supplies can cause problems. It is best to buy a reliable brand that gives stable power.
- Make sure the PSU fits: Some cases have small spaces for the PSU. If you buy a bigger one, check that it fits inside your case.
A strong PSU ensures your Intel Arc GPU gets enough power to perform well.
Check Your Motherboard Compatibility
Your motherboard is the main circuit board in your PC. It connects everything, including the GPU. It won’t work properly if your motherboard does not support the Intel Arc GPU.
Things to check in your motherboard
- PCIe slot: The Intel Arc GPU needs a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. If your motherboard only has PCIe 3.0, the GPU may not run at full speed.
- BIOS version: Sometimes, an old BIOS does not support new GPUs. Visit your motherboard’s website and check if you need to update the BIOS.
- Space inside the case: Some GPUs are large. Make sure your PC case has enough space for the new GPU.
- Check the PCIe lanes: If your CPU and motherboard do not support enough PCIe lanes, the GPU may run slower.
If your motherboard is very old, you may need to upgrade it to get the best performance from your Intel Arc GPU.
Ensure Proper Cooling
Maintaining proper cooling for your GPU will ensure the best performance and longevity. Overheating causes performance throttling, system instability and permanent hardware damage.
For example, for most GPUs, the thermal throttle points are set near 80°C and any temperature above these will cause the GPU to turn down the performance so that the temperature does not go any further.
Steps to improve cooling
- Proper airflow: A PC case has fans that should push out the hot air while bringing in the cool air.
- Clean dust off fans: This can block the air vents of your computer. Clean your vents and fans to avoid overheating.
- Check your GPU temperature: To monitor your GPU temperature use Intel Arc Control software or an equivalent program. You should add more cooling equipment if your GPU temperature reaches unsafe levels.
- Add extra cooling fans: Install additional fans to your PC case either through standard air cooling methods or opt for liquid cooling technology.
Maintaining low temperatures in your Intel Arc GPU will expand its lifespan and boost its performance.
Update Your Drivers
Your GPU uses drivers as software components to connect with your computer system. Your computer fails to execute its Intel Arc GPU correctly in cases where drivers remain outdated.
Steps for driver update
- Go to the Intel website and download the latest drivers for Intel Arc GPU.
- Uninstall old drivers before installing new ones. It will prevent conflicts.
- Restart your computer after installing new drivers so that everything will go well.
- Enable auto-updates so that you will always have the latest drivers.
With updated drivers, your Intel Arc GPU will run more efficiently.
Check Your RAM and Storage
A powerful GPU needs enough RAM and storage to run smoothly. If your PC is slow, you may need to upgrade these.
How much RAM and storage do you need?
- RAM: For gaming and creative work, at least 16GB of RAM is recommended. If you have 8GB or less, you will want to upgrade your RAM.
- Storage: An SSD is much faster compared to an HDD. In case your PC still has an HDD, the upgrades to SSD in this case will make games and applications load much faster.
- Free some space: If your storage is nearly full, free up some space or add another SSD.
More RAM and faster storage will make the Intel Arc GPU experience much better.
Adjust Your Settings
Setting up your GPU properly ensures smooth gameplay and better visuals.
After installing your Intel Arc GPU, you have to tweak some settings for the best experience.
How to optimize settings:
- Open Intel Arc Control: This is software that allows you to adjust the GPU settings to get the best performance.
- Game graphics settings: Some games will run better at lower settings. Try reducing resolution, shadows and anti-aliasing.
- Enable Resizable BAR: If supported by the motherboard, then Resizable BAR should be enabled in BIOS. This enhances GPU access on the memory. With it, the CPU can read the entire frame buffer of your GPU. Thus, depending on the game, performance can be increased up to 12%.
- Check on Windows settings: Ensure hardware acceleration is allowed on Windows settings.
Proper setup of your graphics card gives smooth gameplay and even better visuals.
Conclusion
An Intel Arc GPU is something you should smartly upgrade for. However, you must be ready for preparation.
Check your power supply, motherboard, cooling, RAM and storage. Update all drivers and reset your settings to default. Ensure that all are updated and running cool so the GPU is utilized at its optimal level.
If you do this, you will experience better graphics, smooth gameplay and faster performance. Your Intel Arc GPU is going to make an immense experience for you. So, take your time, upgrade properly and enjoy your new GPU!
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