Dithering/FRC on New Lunar Lake Chips with Integrated Arc Graphics?

[WesternBlues]

I have searched this community and found a number of old threads regarding desktop Arc gpus. My question is regarding the mobile chips, and the new Arc 140v and 130v in Lunar Lake chips.

If you have a true 8-bit monitor or 10-bit monitor, is dithering disabled by default?

If so, I saw some posts saying you must be using hdmi, but what if your laptop only has usb-c connectors (thunderbolt 4) thus its DP 2.1, but it's a USB C connector.

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WesternBlues,

Thank you for posting in the community. For Intel Arc GPUs on true 8-bit and 10-bit displays, dithering is not enabled by default, and currently, there is no option to toggle dithering on or off in Intel Graphics Software. As long as the source's bits per pixel (bpp) match the destination, dithering isn't necessary. In typical SDR desktop scenarios (8bpc), dithering is enabled only when the panel is less than 8bpc, such as 6bpc.

However, for mobile processor GPUs, there are currently no options available to control the dithering status. You may want to consult with your laptop's Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to see if they offer any additional tools to manage dithering. Let me know if you have other questions and inquiries.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WesternBlues]

Hi, yes I understand that. But my question is about mobile arc igpus not Arc desktop gpus. I know desktop Arc gpus do not by default. But the question is regarding the igpus which are integrated graphics and very different, and different drivers. Can you confirm dithering behavior on the integrated igpus of mobile lunar lake chips?

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WesternBlues,

Before delving into the dithering behavior of mobile processors' iGPUs, I want to clarify your question. Are you asking whether dithering on iGPUs is disabled by default and if there are options to control it, similar to Arc GPUs?

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WesternBlues]

Hi,

I have already confirmed you cannot control it based on other Intel posts and documents.

So I just wanted to know if dithering is enabled by default on a true 8-bit monitor? Or true 10-bit monitor? (Specifically for Lunar lake igpu ARC mobile chips). Thanks

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hi WesternBlues,

I understand. Let me look into this further and I'll provide you with an update soon.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hi WesternBlues,

Thank you for your patience. I'm pleased to inform you that Intel's new Arc graphics in the Lunar Lake series, along with DP 2.1 output via USB-C, should natively support 10-bit color, provided the connected monitor also supports it. In these setups, dithering or FRC should not be enabled by default, as long as both the monitor and GPU are properly configured for 10-bit color depth.

However, some software or drivers may still apply dithering or FRC if the system detects issues with color depth. This can depend on the configuration of the display output or driver settings.

Additionally, always consider the Monitor Capabilities: you need to ensure that your monitor supports the desired color depth and that the laptop is outputting the correct signal.

Cable Quality: make sure you're using high-quality cables that can handle the bandwidth required for higher color depths, especially with USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 to DP 2.1.

In summary, if you are using a true 8-bit or 10-bit display, dithering and FRC should not be enabled by default, regardless of whether you're using HDMI or USB-C/Thunderbolt 4. However, checking your display settings and ensuring everything is configured correctly will help prevent dithering from being inadvertently applied. However, if you still need more clarification you may contact your laptop original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to further check the capabilities of your system display.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WesternBlues2]

Perfect! Thanks so much.

( I had to make a new account because intel required a text verification to login to my old account and I no longer had that phone number so made this just to let you know I saw your reply and appreciate it. Thanks!)

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hi WesternBlues,

No worries at all. It seems I have addressed your inquiry, so I will proceed to close this case. If you require further assistance, please feel free to submit a new question, as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician