Intel’s rolling out a new feature which will shift all the workload of scanning the computer for threats from the CPU to the Integrated Intel GPU. Microsoft will be the first to use this new feature as it’ll significantly free up CPU resources which can be used elsewhere.
Scanning your computer for threats and keeping it safe from external malware attacks is so important, especially these days. There are all kinds of malware out there, some viruses tend to deploy cryptocurrency miners in your computer which use your PC’s CPU without you even knowing it. Some viruses, known as ransomware lock the files on your PC until a price is paid for them. Softwares like Windows Defender are crucial in keeping your PC secure.
However, the reason why many computers get infected is that many people may opt to turn the Windows Defender or any other security application off due to the amount of CPU power it uses. Scanning the entire PC for threats and viruses can bring CPU consumption up to 20%, leaving fewer CPU resources for other tasks. Intel seems to have found a solution though, by shifting the workload to its built-in GPUs. Many CPUs come with an Intel HD integrated GPU which not many people use at all. Something that’s a part of your PC that doesn’t get used at all.
Instead of letting the unused resource go to waste, now the responsibility of scanning your computer goes to the GPU, enabling CPU consumption to go down to as low as 2 percent. The new feature is known as Accelerated Memory Scanning or Intel Threat Detection Technology. All 6th gen and above Intel CPU chips have this capability and the feature is now live.
However, only Microsoft so far has agreed to use this technology. Having the technology is one thing, but getting people on board to use it is what makes the difference. Since Microsoft has agreed, the core chips will work with Windows Defender’s Advanced Threat Protection. The technology is also open to other anti-malware companies and given its implications, it’s not long before other companies sign up as well.
Intel’s Threat Detection Technology doesn’t end there though, as it also has what Intel likes to call the Advanced Platform Telemetry. The APT will use machine learning and platform telemetry to better understand which threats are more serious and which threats require action. This will thus lead to a more efficient use of the computer’s resources.
There is some concern about how the workload will be managed if people actually do use their Integrated GPUs. The underlying assumption is that since most people’s Integrated GPUs remain idle, it’s better to make the GPUs handle the task of scanning the computer instead of the CPU. However, this can cause problems for people who actually do use their GPUs, be it running games or anything else. There should be a mechanism in place which should balance the load on both the GPU and CPU otherwise solving one problem may lead to another.
Intel’s latest feature is surely bound to attract attention as many people want a fix for their ‘unnecessary’ CPU usage problem. By offering to shift the load to the GPU, Intel believes that Threat Detection Technology should also convince people to purchase an Intel-based PC instead of AMD.
Intel’s been putting in a lot of work over the past few months trying to further give people options why Intel should be their go-to choice for their machines. They recently announced the new Core i9 processor that will have 6 cores instead of 4, for laptops. The addition of Threat Detection Technology will only make things better for Intel in the market.