Moore Threads S80 & S70 GPUs Receive Major Driver Update for 40% Performance Boost
China-based GPU manufacturer Moore Threads has made headlines with its recent driver release, PES Control Center 270.80.2, delivering up to a 40% performance uplift for its S80 and S70 gaming GPUs. This update follows the company’s recent efforts to incorporate DirectX 12 (DX12) support, a move aimed at enhancing compatibility and performance in gaming applications. The latest driver release reflects Moore Threads’ continued focus on optimizing its hardware for competitive performance, mirroring the incremental improvements that Intel implemented to advance its Arc Alchemist GPUs.
Highlights of the Latest Driver Update
The latest driver, PES Control Center 270.80.2, introduces performance optimizations for five popular titles, with Getting Darker seeing the most significant improvement of 40%. The update also enhanced gaming performance for titles like Predator, which achieved a 30% uplift, while War Will, Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contract 2, and Man of War 2 benefited from general “game experience” optimizations, though detailed performance metrics for these games were not provided.
Beyond gaming performance, the new driver resolves several technical issues that had hindered gameplay and usability. For instance, Monster Hunter: World players had previously reported graphic anomalies when adjusting in-game image quality settings. This bug has now been addressed, improving visual consistency. Additionally, a video flicker issue during recording has been resolved, and the PES control center now operates smoothly without interruptions during recording sessions. The driver also introduces “full functionality” for “Mobi Ma Liang,” although specifics on this new functionality remain limited.
DX12 Integration and Its Challenges
Earlier this month, Moore Threads rolled out its first-ever DX12-enabled driver, making strides toward supporting modern gaming titles with its S-series GPUs. However, the company continues to face significant challenges, as performance on the DX12 driver still falls behind competitors, such as NVIDIA’s Turing-based GTX 1650. This disparity underscores the current limitations of Moore Threads’ hardware and software and the pressing need for continued optimizations to compete with industry giants like AMD and NVIDIA.
The latest driver update has been compared to Intel’s experience in refining its Arc Alchemist GPU drivers. It took Intel years of iterative improvements to reach a competitive level, particularly for its entry-level and mid-tier GPUs. Moore Threads now finds itself in a similar position, tasked with refining its drivers at a rapid pace to address performance gaps and technical issues. However, Moore Threads faces additional hurdles given that its current GPU performance barely matches that of entry-level GPUs from a few years ago.
Competition with Established GPU Manufacturers
While Moore Threads’ recent updates are commendable, they highlight the extensive work required to bring its products closer to market leaders like AMD and NVIDIA. For Moore Threads, driver optimizations are critical to enhancing user experience and maximizing hardware potential. However, the company must continue to address its hardware limitations if it is to compete with global GPU manufacturers in the long term.
NVIDIA and AMD have spent years building robust hardware ecosystems, fine-tuning their drivers, and optimizing gaming performance across a broad range of titles. Moore Threads, despite its progress, remains several steps behind in terms of performance and market penetration. The S80 and S70 GPUs, while promising on paper, need substantial driver support to catch up to entry-level cards from established brands.
The Road Ahead for Moore Threads
Moore Threads’ aggressive driver update strategy suggests that the company understands the challenges it faces in making its GPUs viable for mainstream gaming. Future updates will likely focus on further DX12 optimizations, bug fixes, and performance enhancements for more game titles, as the manufacturer works to establish itself as a credible competitor in the gaming GPU market.
Moore Threads’ commitment to ongoing driver development is a promising sign, yet it will need to sustain this effort for the foreseeable future. The key to long-term success will depend on whether Moore Threads can balance its driver improvements with potential hardware upgrades in subsequent product iterations. While driver updates can provide significant gains, they are not a substitute for competitive hardware performance, which remains a priority in a market dominated by powerhouses like NVIDIA and AMD.
Key Takeaways
- Performance Boost: The PES Control Center 270.80.2 driver update improves gaming performance by up to 40% for Moore Threads’ S80 and S70 GPUs.
- Targeted Game Optimizations: Notable games like Getting Darker and Predator see marked performance improvements, while several others receive general optimizations.
- Bug Fixes: Graphical anomalies in Monster Hunter: World and video flicker issues during recording have been resolved, enhancing the user experience.
- DX12 Challenges: Moore Threads still faces hurdles despite its recent DX12 support, with its performance lagging behind established brands.
- Long-Term Strategy: For Moore Threads, continued driver updates are essential, but hardware upgrades will be necessary for true competition with NVIDIA and AMD.
The latest driver update signals Moore Threads’ commitment to continuous improvement, but whether this will be enough to bring the S80 and S70 GPUs up to par with competing models remains uncertain. The company’s journey is just beginning, and success will ultimately depend on its ability to overcome hardware limitations and deliver a more competitive gaming experience.