The Intel graphics driver for some 12th-generation Intel CPUs using integrated GPUs wreaks havoc in Chrome and Edge browsers, causing severe lag and even system freezes. This kind of issue is frustrating for any laptop, but it gets worse because it affects the latest Intel CPUs.
The problem is a graphics driver for Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 770, which is a nasty look as many are eagerly waiting for the company’s discrete ARC GPUs here in the US market. For its part, Intel acknowledges the issue, saying: “Modern Intel UHD Graphics 770 drivers for 12th generation Intel Core™ processors are causing significant delays in Edge* and Chrome*. Browsers behave as if they are almost frozen. Click response delay is 2 seconds Passing is severely delayed and intermittent.”
Intel points its finger at having multiple tabs open at the same time while trying to scroll and click on things. I don’t know if anyone has told them, but this seems like an accurate description of how people surf the internet on a daily basis. They also mention that it has a connection with the use of mechanical hard drives, but that seems suspicious because most systems today use SSDs. If you don’t use an SSD in your system, please check out our guide on how to choose the best for your laptop.
Enough of this, let’s fix it.
According to Intel, this is the best solution to the problem.
1. Update your browser to the latest version.
2. Update Windows® to the latest version and run any pending updates.
3. Try a clean installation of Intel graphics drivers in Windows using the latest custom driver provided by your motherboard manufacturer (OEM) or using generic Intel drivers available in our Download Center.
4. Disable hardware acceleration in the browser or switch from HDD (mechanical hard disk drive) to SSD (solid state drive).
last thoughts
We suggest defragmenting your hard drive as it may help, especially if you’re still using a mechanical hard drive. However, before you go through all this, make sure that you have a system that is affected by the driver issue. Below is a list of laptops and desktops that use the Intel UHD Graphics 770 driver.
Intel will likely have a better fix for this issue in a future update, but for now these are your best options for getting a backup of your Chromium-based browser. And Intel is better off jumping in because the launch of ARC GPUs is coming soon, and with early reports looking like they may not deliver on Intel’s promised performance, such issues could erode consumer confidence in Intel’s first discrete GPUs.
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