For the game quality, the player's pursuit is no limit, now the mainstream game resolution is still 1080p, then the high-end point is 2560x1440, and then the previous level is 4K, 4K quality can be said to be the highest level of current game resolution. It is.
As the resolution increases, the resolution of 4K can bring higher image quality, but it also causes some problems, that is, conversion between different resolutions, such as 1920x1080 resolution on the display of 2560x1440 resolution. The problem shown, because the resolution of the two is different, this requires scaling, and how to handle scaling is a hassle.
If it is not a multiple of the scaling, such as 2560x1440 is 1.5 times the resolution of 1920x1080, then the scaling process requires a difference operation, resulting in the image quality is actually lost, and the integer multiple of the scale, there is no loss of image quality. The problem, such as the 3840x2160 is 4 times the resolution of 1920x1080.
Inter-ratio Scaling () is an important function in contemporary GPUs. It is also called "nearest neighbor" (NN) or "pixel multiplication" technology, and bilinear and trilinear difference. Compared with the algorithm, the integer scaling technique scales the entire image, so that the image quality is lossless, the sharpness is not reduced, and the interpolation algorithm actually causes the image to be blurred, which in turn affects the image quality.
In addition, the integer scaling is better than the difference algorithm, and it achieves high image quality and high performance.
Default output of a 320x200 resolution game on a 4K display
SD zoom output on a 4K display with a 320x200 resolution game
NX scaling output on a 4K display with a 320x200 resolution game
The problem of screen zooming may not have much impact on some games, but for some pixel games, there is no difference in integer scaling. As shown in the above figure, the image of integer scaling is more in line with the essence of pixel games. Higher, and the difference algorithm is more blurred.
Because of this, some gamers have been calling on Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD to support integer scaling technology as soon as possible. What everyone can't think of is that Intel is the first to support this advanced technology.
Lisa Pearce, vice president of the Intel Vision team, officially confirmed on the Reddit forum that their Gen 11 core will support integer scaling, which is the first of the three major GPU vendors to make a statement.
According to Intel's plan, the integer scaling function will be officially added in the August Graphics Command Center driver update, and will provide two options, IS and NN, suitable for different resolution displays without affecting system performance.
In Intel's 10nm IceLake processor, not only the CPU has been upgraded to the new Sunny Cove architecture, but also the GPU has been upgraded to Gen11. In addition to the integer scaling function mentioned above, the specifications and performance of the Gen11 core display are completely different. Significantly improved, the number of execution units has been increased to a maximum of 64, the highest frequency of 1.1GHz, the highest single-precision 1.12TFlops, half-precision 2.25TFlops, and the enhanced rasterizer, which can process 16 pixels per clock cycle, third-level cache Also increased to 3MB.
With the addition of EU unit scale and advanced technology, the performance of Gen11 core game is doubled compared with the previous generation. The 48/64 unit Iris Plus core display can guarantee the average frame rate of most game masterpieces exceeds 30FPS, and some can break through 60FPS. It can guarantee a smooth experience in most games.
In general, integer scaling is Intel's first launch in Gen11. From this point of view, Intel has spared no effort in improving the performance of the Core processor. Not only is CPU performance important, but GPU game performance is also important.
Moreover, this time Intel is the first to respond to the voice of gamers, earlier than the other two GPU companies, which also shows that Intel is getting closer to the game players, more and more attention to the needs of players, after all, next year There is a big show to start, that is, Xe high performance alone.