Graphics card manufacturers provide optimizations for popular games to make them run better on your system, so why don’t processor vendors offer the same? As it turns out, some do—Intel now provides direct optimization through its new Intel APO tool.
What Is Intel APO?
Intel Application Optimization (APO) is a program that boosts frame rates in games by optimizing the performance of Intel processors. It’s not an overclock; instead, Intel APO tweaks how the CPU schedules threads, similar to how Nvidia optimizes its GPUs to perform in specific titles. This helps to remove bottlenecks and meet the unique demands of certain games.
However, Intel APO does not take the place of your other graphical software and drivers, as it only manages the CPU. This means Intel APO still works whether you useintegrated graphics for onboard gaming, havecustomized graphics settings with GeForce Experience, or havetweaked AMD Radeon Settings for gaming performance.
Intel APO won’t conflict with your CPU overclock or graphical settings and is meant to work alongside them to provide increased performance. The only real requirement is that you have an Intel processor that supports Intel APO.
Download:Intel Application Optimization(Free)
Which CPUs Can Use Intel APO?
The problem is that not all Intel users can take advantage of this FPS boost. Currently, Intel APO works best with Intel’s most powerful processors, including itsnewly-named Intel Core Ultralineup.
These processors currently support Intel APO:
Supported Desktop CPUs
Supported Laptop CPUs
Even if you find your processor on the list, it isn’t plug-and-play. You’ll have to enable some hardware features before you install the app.
Follow these steps to get Intel APO running on Windows:
For those who don’t yet have areason to upgrade to an Intel 14th Gen CPU, there’s still hope on the horizon. Support for other processors is in the works, namely for Intel’s 13th-Gen and 12th-Gen processors, along with the Core Ultra 5 and Core i5 variants.
If you have one of these older processors, you can still beta-test how Intel APO performs with your games. After installing the app, enable “Advanced Mode” from the user interface to get started. Be aware, however, that early reports show mixed results for processors with limited support.
What Games Can Intel APO Boost?
You’ll only see performance gains in specific games directly supported by Intel APO. It is also worth mentioning that the available games can vary based on your PC configuration.
Intel APO currently provides optimizations for more than 20 titles, with highlights like Cyberpunk 2077, Counter-Strike 2, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. The list is likely to change as Intel updates the app to support more titles, so you shouldvisit the Intel APO websitefor an always up-to-date list of supported games.
When you first run the app, Intel APO will analyze your hardware and installed games to show you what’s supported and what percentage of FPS boost you can expect. You can leave Intel APO turned on by default for all games. But if you’re worried about it causing unexpected slowdowns, you can also set the tool to only kick in for specific titles.
Ultimately, the FPS gains you get will be modest in most cases. But every little bit can help you experience smoother gameplay—especially if you’re hovering around 60 FPS in an intense racing game like Dirt 5.
Intel is actively working on expanding the number of titles supported as it moves to compete with AMD for the crown ofbest gaming CPU. If you don’t see your processor and games on the list now, check back to see if they’ve been added in future updates.
