Intel Arc Pro B390 iGPU Gets a Big Memory Upgrade With New Driver Update
Intel has rolled out a new graphics driver update that could make upcoming Panther Lake laptops more capable in demanding creative and professional workloads. With driver version 32.0.101.8804, Intel Arc Pro integrated graphics can now use a larger share of system RAM as graphics memory, giving select systems more flexibility when handling memory-heavy tasks.
The biggest improvement applies to the Intel Arc Pro B370 and Intel Arc Pro B390 iGPUs. On a laptop equipped with 64 GB of RAM, the updated driver can allocate up to 59.5 GB of system memory to the integrated GPU. That equals roughly 93 percent of the total available RAM, an increase from the previous limit of 87 percent.
This expanded dynamic memory allocation could be especially useful for professional applications that benefit from having access to larger graphics memory pools. Intel says the Arc Pro B390 may see up to a 15 percent performance improvement in Blender, while older integrated GPUs could gain around 5 percent in certain workloads.
Unlike systems where users manually divide memory between CPU and GPU tasks, Intel’s method remains automatic. The system dynamically adjusts how much RAM is used as graphics memory depending on workload demands. This makes the process simpler for users and allows the laptop to shift resources as needed without manual tuning.
However, there is still an important limitation. While being able to use more RAM as graphics memory is helpful, system memory is not as fast as dedicated GPU memory. Panther Lake systems can use LPDDR5X-8533 memory, which offers around 68.26 GB/s of bandwidth. By comparison, a laptop GPU such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 can reach around 384 GB/s, while high-end Apple silicon configurations can go even higher.
That means Intel’s integrated graphics may become more competitive in tasks that require larger graphics memory capacity, but dedicated GPUs will still have a major advantage in workloads that depend heavily on memory bandwidth. Applications such as 3D rendering, AI processing, video production, and professional visualization can benefit from more available memory, but raw GPU speed and bandwidth remain crucial.
It is also worth noting that not every Panther Lake processor will support Intel’s workstation-focused Arc Pro drivers. This feature is expected to be limited to select chips equipped with compatible Intel Arc Pro integrated graphics.
Overall, the new Intel graphics driver is a meaningful step forward for Panther Lake laptops and mobile workstations. By allowing the Arc Pro B390 iGPU to access up to 93 percent of system RAM, Intel is improving the usefulness of integrated graphics for creators, designers, and professionals who need more graphics memory without relying on a dedicated GPU. While it will not replace high-performance discrete graphics cards, it could make thin and light professional laptops more capable than before.
