Dual Intel ARC GPUs Power a Small Form Factor PC with Lossless Scaling
Dual Intel ARC GPUs Power a Small Form Factor PC with Lossless Scaling
Introduction
Building a high‑performance gaming PC doesn’t always mean a massive tower and a $2,000 graphics card. In a recent experiment, a compact mini‑ITX system was packed with two Intel ARC GPUs—a high‑end ARC Pro B50 and a low‑profile ARC A310—paired with an 11th‑gen Intel i5‑11400F. By leveraging Intel’s lossless‑scaling frame generation, the modest setup delivers surprisingly high frame rates in demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Spider‑Man 2. This article walks through the build, the configuration steps, and the performance results.
Parts List and Rationale
Core Components
- CPU & Motherboard: 11th‑gen Intel Core i5‑11400F (6 cores/12 threads) on an ASUS B560 mini‑ITX board. The board provides two PCIe x16 slots, essential for a dual‑GPU layout.
- Graphics Cards
- Intel ARC Pro B50 – 16 GB GDDR6, workstation‑class GPU, primary rendering device.
- Intel ARC A310 – 4 GB GDDR6, low‑profile card used exclusively for frame‑generation via lossless scaling.
- Memory & Storage: 16 GB DDR4‑3200 RAM, 1 TB NVMe SSD.
- Power Supply: 500 W fully‑modular unit (App Eva) with a custom cutout to accommodate the second GPU.
- Case: Small‑form‑factor chassis supporting micro‑ATX boards and a flex‑mount PSU.
Why This Combination?
- The B50 offers ample VRAM and AI capabilities but struggles at 1440p ultra settings.
- The A310 consumes only ~38 W, making it an ideal, low‑power helper for frame‑generation without adding heat or noise.
- Using the two cards together lets the system achieve frame rates that a single B50 could not reach on its own.
Assembly Overview
- Power Supply Installation – The modular 500 W unit was mounted first to define cable routing before the GPUs were installed.
- GPU Placement
- The ARC Pro B50 occupies the primary PCIe slot.
- The ARC A310 fits the lower slot after removing its low‑profile bracket; a simple metal bracket and a magnet hold it in place.
- Cable Management – With the modular PSU, only the necessary power cables were routed to each card, keeping the interior tidy.
- Final Check – Both GPUs were seated securely, and the system powered on without issues.
Software Configuration
Windows Activation
A fresh Windows 11 Pro installation was activated with a retail key, after which the system was ready for driver installation.
Intel Graphics Driver Setup
- Resizable BAR was enabled for the B50, unlocking the full 16 GB of VRAM.
- The A310 required no performance boost; stock settings were sufficient for its frame‑generation role.
Enabling Lossless Scaling (LS‑FG)
- Open Intel Graphics Command Center → Gaming → Advanced Graphics.
- Set Preferred GPU to the ARC A310 (the secondary card).
- Launch the Lossless Scaling application (free on Steam) and enable Frame Generation.
- Choose Fixed Mode with a 2× multiplier (or Adaptive for dynamic scaling).
- Assign a hotkey (default Ctrl + Alt + S) for quick toggling.
Performance Benchmarks
Cyberpunk 2077 – 1440p Ultra, XESS Quality
- Base FPS (B50 only): ~48 – 53 fps
- With LS‑FG (2×): 90 – 95 fps, 30 W power draw on the A310
- 3× scaling pushed the average to >150 fps but introduced noticeable ghosting and higher input latency, so 2× was preferred.
Spider‑Man 2 – 1440p, XESS Balanced
- Base: occasional dips below 60 fps.
- Adaptive LS‑FG (target 80 fps) smoothed out the dips, keeping the frame‑rate steady while the A310 stayed around 31 W.
Borderlands 4 – 1440p Medium
- Without scaling the B50 struggled to stay at 60 fps.
- 2× LS‑FG lifted the average into the high‑90s, making the game comfortably playable.
God of War Ragnarok – 1440p Ultra
- Base: just over 50 fps.
- 2× LS‑FG raised the output to the high 90s with no visual artifacts.
Forza Horizon 5 – 1440p Extreme
- Base: 57 – 62 fps.
- 2× LS‑FG pushed the frame‑rate past 120 fps, delivering a smooth racing experience with minimal perceived latency.
How Lossless Scaling Works
Lossless scaling (LS‑FG) uses the secondary GPU to generate intermediate frames that are then blended with the primary output. The technique effectively doubles (or triples) the perceived frame‑rate without demanding the main GPU to render every frame. The A310’s modest 38 W TGP is sufficient because it only creates the extra frames, while the B50 handles the heavy rasterization work.
Fixed vs. Adaptive Modes
- Fixed – A set multiplier (2×, 3×, etc.) provides a constant boost.
- Adaptive – Targets a user‑defined frame‑rate ceiling, allowing the secondary GPU to scale its workload dynamically, which reduces power draw and heat.
What Worked, What Didn’t
Pros
- Impressive performance gain – 2× frame‑rate boost in most titles with minimal power increase.
- Compact footprint – The entire build fits in a $60 case, ideal for desk‑side or LAN‑party use.
- Low power draw – The A310 stayed under 35 W even when generating frames.
Cons
- The A310’s limited bandwidth means 3× scaling can cause ghosting and higher input latency.
- The B50 alone struggles at 1440p ultra in some titles; the setup relies on LS‑FG to stay smooth.
- Physical modifications (cutting the case) are required to fit the second card.
Conclusion
Pairing a high‑end Intel ARC Pro B50 with a low‑profile ARC A310 in a mini‑ITX chassis demonstrates that clever use of lossless‑scaling frame generation can turn a modest system into a surprisingly capable gaming machine. While a single, more powerful GPU would be simpler, the dual‑GPU approach showcases the flexibility of Intel’s ecosystem and offers a cost‑effective path for enthusiasts who enjoy unconventional builds. The results—smooth 90 + fps gameplay at 1440p in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and God of War Ragnarok—prove that the concept is not just a gimmick but a viable performance strategy for small‑form‑factor PCs.
All component links and detailed part numbers are available in the original video description.