Microsoft has introduced a feature that could dramatically alter the performance landscape of modern GPUs, particularly for ray tracing workloads. Shader Execution Reordering (SER), part of DirectX Shader Model 6.9 and integrated into the latest Agility SDK update, allows applications to dynamically sort rays for optimized parallel execution. Initial benchmarks suggest Intel's Arc B-Series GPUs could see up to a 90% performance increase, while NVIDIA's Blackwell-based GPUs, including the RTX 5080, are expected to achieve around 80% improvements.
This technology is not yet implemented in real-world games, so its practical impact remains speculative. However, the potential for such significant gains could prompt IT teams to reconsider upgrade timing, especially when evaluating GPUs with ray tracing capabilities. The feature's effectiveness will likely depend on how developers integrate it into game engines, which could take several months.
Key specs and performance metrics
- Performance Gains:
- Intel Arc B-Series: Up to 90% improvement
- NVIDIA Blackwell (RTX 5080): Around 80% improvement
- NVIDIA RTX 4090: Approximately 40% improvement
The performance gains observed in benchmarks are likely under ideal conditions, which may not translate directly to real-world applications. For example, a GPU capable of rendering at 10fps with traditional ray tracing might achieve 18fps (an 80% increase) but still fall short of playable frame rates without additional optimizations like DLSS or FSR.
For IT teams, this development introduces a new variable in hardware selection. GPUs that previously struggled to deliver smooth performance with ray tracing enabled could see substantial improvements, potentially extending the lifespan of existing hardware or justifying earlier upgrades. However, the full extent of these gains will only become clear once game developers begin integrating SER into their engines.
The most significant change this technology represents is the potential for a step-function improvement in ray tracing performance, which could reshape how IT teams prioritize GPU upgrades. Whether this translates to real-world improvements in game performance remains to be seen, but the benchmarks suggest a meaningful shift in how GPUs handle ray tracing workloads.
