Intel has released a comprehensive update package to address gaming performance issues occurring in Core Ultra 200S Arrow Lake processors. In tests carried out by different media organizations during the launch, inconsistent results were obtained in the gaming performance of the processors, and this situation attracted further attention when Intel presented performance data that did not match expectations. While Intel explains the root causes of the problems, it recommends users update their systems with the latest BIOS and Windows updates. The company stated that these updates will enable the processors to reach their “full and planned performance level.”
Intel’s updates include both BIOS updates offered by motherboard manufacturers and the latest build number of Windows 11. Users need to upgrade their systems to Windows 11 build 26100.2314 or newer. These software updates address five major issues affecting performance. Incomplete software optimizations, incorrect BIOS settings and incompatibilities encountered in games stand out as the sources of performance problems.
Problems and solutions affecting performance in Arrow Lake family processors
Intel announced that performance problems in processors are based on five main reasons. The first of these was the missing Performance and Power Management (PPM) suite. PPM manages the energy and performance behavior of processors through Windows Power Plans. However, missing this package caused losses between 6% and 30% in processor performance. With the new update of Windows 11, this problem has been fixed and the PPM package has been made accessible to all users.
Another major problem was that Intel’s Application Performance Optimization (APO) software was not working properly. APO is software designed to improve performance in certain games. However, due to the lack of PPM, APO could not fully fulfill its functions. This resulted in losses of between 2% and 14% in game performance. Now, with the right PPM package, APO has been enabled to operate at full capacity.
Additionally, some games were experiencing incompatibility with the Easy Anti-Cheat service. This incompatibility caused blue screen errors (BSOD) and became one of the most serious problems faced by gamers. This problem was solved with a driver update released by Epic Games. This update stabilized the gaming experience by increasing compatibility.
Finally, it was stated that the VIP settings of the motherboard BIOS used during the review were configured incorrectly. Incorrect settings caused problems such as memory lag, processor frequency fluctuations and the inability to fully benefit from technologies such as PCIe Resizable BAR. Intel worked with motherboard manufacturers to correct these settings. These errors have been completely resolved with new BIOS updates.
Alongside the existing updates, Intel has announced that it will release a number of additional BIOS and CSME firmware updates in January 2025. These updates are expected to provide an additional boost in game performance. The company stated that these new optimizations will offer a single-digit percentage improvement in game performance. In addition, comprehensive analyzes and benchmark results on the impact of new updates on performance will be shared at the CES 2025 event.
The fixes released by the company bring Arrow Lake processors back to the performance levels promised at launch. With the installation of new BIOS and Windows updates, processors will provide more stable results in gaming performance. On the other hand, it is aimed to further expand the performance limits of the processors with additional updates planned in January.