Its latest driver update explains it is changing the drivers for the integrated GPUs in its Core CPUs to some sort of legacy branch. This includes processors from the Comet Lake family, which debuted in 2020, and previous models.
Only for its Gen12 (Iris Xe) and Arc graphics products Intel will provide game improvements and frequent driver upgrades. Support for Gen9, Gen9.5, and Gen11 iGPUs integrated and 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generations of Intel processors, "Skylake," "Kaby Lake," "Coffee Lake," "Ice Lake," and "Cascade Lake," will be relegated to a legacy, quarterly driver update cycle that includes only critical updates and security vulnerabilities, but not game optimizations.
As of July 27th, 2022, Intel will be moving 6th - 10th Gen Intel Processor Graphics and related Intel Atom, Pentium, and Celeron® processor graphics to a legacy software support model. Intel will provide software support for affected products on critical fixes and security vulnerabilities only. Software updates for these products will move to a quarterly release cadence or with software releases as needed.
The following product families are impacted by this transition:
Codenames: Skylake, Apollo Lake, Kaby Lake, Amber Lake, Coffee Lake, Whiskey Lake, Comet Lake, Gemini Lake, Ice Lake, Lakefield, Jasper Lake, Elkhart Lake.
10th Generation Intel® Core® processors with Intel® Iris® Plus graphics (Codename Ice Lake)
10th Generation Intel® Core® processors with Intel® UHD Graphics (Codename Comet Lake)
9th Generation Intel® Core® processors, related Pentium®/Celeron® processors, and Intel® Xeon® processors, with Intel® UHD Graphics 630 (Codename Coffee Lake-R)
8th Generation Intel® Core® processors, related Pentium®/ Celeron® processors, and Intel® Xeon® processors, with Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 655 and Intel® UHD Graphics 610, 620, 630, P630 (Codename Kaby Lake-R, Coffee Lake)
Intel Pentium® and Celeron® processor family (Codename Gemini Lake)
7th Generation Intel® Core® processors, related Pentium®/Celeron® processors, and Intel® Xeon® processors, with Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 640, 650 and Intel® HD Graphics 610, 615, 620, 630, P630 (Codename Kaby Lake)
6th Generation Intel® Core®, Intel® Core® M, and related Pentium® processors with Intel Iris® Graphics 540, Intel® Iris® Graphics 550, Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 580, and Intel® HD Graphics 510, 515, 520, 530 (Codename Skylake)
Intel® Pentium® Processor family and Intel® Celeron® Processor family (Codename Jasper Lake),
Intel® Core® Processor with Intel® Hybrid Technology (Codename Lakefield)
Intel® Atom®, Pentium® and Celeron® processor family (Codename Elkhart Lake)
FAQsQ: What is changing with the driver package for Intel Windows DCH* graphics drivers?
A: In addition to the above, the Intel Graphics Driver package will now include the driver files for 10th Gen Intel Processors and older with the driver files for 11th Gen Intel Processors and newer. This means there will be two drivers contained within the single driver package.
However, there is no change to the method used to install the driver. Continue to use the installer executable for installation. The graphics installer will automatically install the correct graphics driver for your system.
Q: Why do I see two version numbers for Intel Windows DCH* graphics drivers in the Download Center?
A: The driver package contains two separate driver files (one for 10th Gen Intel Processors and older and one for 11th Gen Intel Processors and newer) so two driver versions will be listed on the Download Center page moving forward.
Q: How do I know which driver to install?
A: Use the single installer.exe file on the Download Center page for installation. The graphics installer will automatically choose and install the correct graphics driver for your system.
Q: Will fixes be provided for 10th Generation and older Intel processors?
A: Only critical fixes and security vulnerabilities will be addressed in quarterly driver releases going forward.
Q: Will Intel Graphics drivers for 10th Generation and older Intel processors provide Day 0 Game support?
A: Day 0 Game support will be no longer available on these products.
Q: How often will Intel release new Graphics drivers for 10th Generation and older Intel processors?
A: Updates can be expected on a quarterly basis, or as needed to address critical issues or security vulnerabilities.
Q: How often will Intel release new Graphics drivers for 11th Generation and newer Intel processors?
A: Regular updates can continue to be expected on a monthly cadence as well as releases throughout the year aligned to Day 0 game support.
