While Intel Arc branded Alchemy (DG2) graphics are still not released, Intel leveraged the recent GDC 2022 to introduce its own solutions for graphics technology. In a session called "Intel Xe Super Sampling (XeSS)—an AI-based Upscaling for Real-Time Rendering," how to use XeSS and the hardware and software behind it, and compares it to commonly used upgrade techniques to explain how to deliver higher performance without compromising quality.
Intel's XeSS, as an AI-driven supersampling, uses ML to reconstruct low-resolution frames into high-resolution frames through XMX AI acceleration in Xe-HPG architecture Xe Core, increasing the number of frames running. XeSS is fully compatible with DirectX 12 and, with DP4a instructions, provides AI-based supersampling on a variety of hardware, including integrated graphics.
Intel says that rendering scenes with XMX's XeSS requires less than half the performance compared to the original 4K resolution. Due to DP4a compliance, it means that it can run on GPUs without an AI or ML hardware acceleration engine such as XMX, providing similar performance and image quality. Compared to time scaling or spatial scaling, XeSS can achieve higher scaling without compromising quality. XeSS also has a built-in sharpening engine to replace TAA anti-aliasing.
XeSS will have five preset modes, namely Ultra Quality, Quality, Balanced, Performance, and Ultra Performance. Intel used Alchemy graphics, enabled ray tracing at 2K and 4K resolutions, and demonstrated performance gains in different modes, such as 1.21 to 1.27 times the performance in Ultra Quality mode and 1.97 to 2.53 times the original performance in Ultra Performance mode.
Intel does not provide a specific release date for XeSS, as well as a list of supported games. Intel will host an event called "A New Stage of the Game" on March 30, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, releasing the first Alchemy graphics card, and I believe that more information will be made public soon.