You won’t need to compromise between in-game graphics and streaming anymore.
Important keys
- Intel Stream Assist redirects streaming-related tasks from your GPU to your integrated GPU, enhancing in-game performance during streaming, even on less powerful computers.
- This feature is compatible with major streaming applications like Intel Arc Control, delivering improved AI performance without imposing a burden on your GPU.
- To utilize Intel Stream Assist, you must have an Intel 11th Gen CPU or a newer version paired with an Intel Arc GPU. Currently, it is supported by only four streaming applications.
Live streaming your gaming sessions typically consumes a substantial portion of your CPU and GPU resources, often resulting in performance declines during gameplay. For those lacking a high-end computer equipped with a sufficiently powerful CPU, GPU, and ample memory to manage both gaming and streaming tasks, a dilemma arises where a choice must be made between streaming and gaming.
Intel’s Stream Assist seeks to revolutionize this scenario by alleviating the GPU load, enabling individuals without top-of-the-line computers to stream and game simultaneously.
What Is Intel Stream Assist & How Does It Function?
Intel’s Stream Assist represents a Deep Link technology that redistributes streaming-related tasks from your dedicated GPU to another graphics engine—the integrated GPU within your processor. In essence, Intel Stream Assist separates game rendering and streaming duties into two distinct GPU processes, allowing for improved in-game performance while maintaining streaming quality, if not enhancing it.
This arrangement provides your GPU with additional resources to render the game seamlessly, while the integrated GPU handles encoding and other streaming-related functions. The result is superior performance compared to a scenario where the dedicated GPU manages both tasks simultaneously, at least in theory.
Stream Assist is compatible with several major streaming applications, including Intel’s Arc Control. For instance, when using Intel Arc Control’s background replacement feature, the integrated GPU takes charge of the inference task—calculating how to accurately isolate the subject from the background. Consequently, in-game FPS remains largely unaffected, while Arc Control smoothly executes its AI features without competing for resources with the GPU, ensuring enhanced performance on both fronts.
This proves advantageous for gamers with relatively less robust CPUs and GPUs. While streaming and gaming concurrently can strain systems, especially those with lower specifications, top-of-the-line hardware, while capable, tends to be expensive, making quality streaming a challenge for those on lower-spec PCs.
Hardware Requirements for Intel Stream Assist
Despite its commendable features, Intel Stream Assist has specific prerequisites. To utilize Stream Assist, you need an Intel 11th Gen CPU or a more recent model paired with an Intel Arc GPU, providing an additional incentive to consider an Arc GPU if you’re in the market for an upgrade. However, Intel has outlined somewhat intricate hardware requirements for Stream Assist.
At present, Intel Stream Assist is compatible with the following hardware:
– Laptops with Intel Arc GPUs
– Laptops featuring Intel Iris X MAX GPUs
– Desktops equipped with Intel Arc GPUs (when coupled with an Intel 12th Gen or higher processor with integrated graphics)
In addition to these somewhat restrictive hardware requirements, only four streaming applications currently support Intel Stream Assist:
– Intel Arc Control
– Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
– Xsplit
– AVerMedia CamEngine
Fortunately, if you’re using Stream Assist, the setup is generally straightforward, as it is automatically activated on all systems featuring Intel Arc Graphics. Therefore, installing one of the aforementioned streaming software should seamlessly initiate the process.
In conclusion, if you are contemplating a shift to an Intel GPU, the inclusion of Stream Assist (along with other Deep Link technologies offered by Intel) should be a compelling factor. Intel’s Arc GPUs support ray tracing, and while they may not match the latest GPUs from Nvidia or AMD, the price-to-performance ratio is notable.
Finally, Intel Stream Assist also provides auto-game highlights for specific games, adding an extra layer of convenience for users.
Games Compatible with Intel Stream Assist
– CrossFire
– Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS2 support pending)
– DOTA 2
– Fortnite
– League of Legends
– Naraka Bladepoint
– Rainbow Six Siege
– Overwatch
– PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
– World of Tanks
Intel Stream Assist effectively identifies and records those critical moments, eliminating the frustration of realizing you missed recording a 360 noscope or a ceiling triple flip reset.
Intel Stream Assist: A Boon for Streamers—Given the Right Hardware
While constrained by limited hardware and software compatibility, Intel Stream Assist holds the potential to elevate your streaming experience if you possess the appropriate equipment. This feature not only enhances in-game performance during streaming but also optimizes hardware utilization, whether your setup is top-of-the-line or more modest.