This $100 Intel GPU pushes Cyberpunk 2077 to 150 FPS and Borderlands 4 to 120 FPS with an RTX 3060 and a $7 Steam app
Combining two GPUs to boost in-game performance is a long-lost method from the past, but with modern frame generation tools, the dual-GPU setup might be making a comeback. Lossless Scaling is one such frame generation app available on Steam, and it’s a genuinely useful tool that leverages machine learning algorithms to improve performance. The best part is that it works with games that don’t have a built-in frame generation solution. YouTuber ETA Prime recently showcased a dual-GPU setup in a gaming PC build, dedicating one of them solely to offloading the frame generation task.
The YouTuber used the following components in their gaming PC: An Intel Core i5-11400F CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with 12GB VRAM, and an Intel Arc A380 with 6GB VRAM. The setup also had 16GB memory.
After a brief setup process, which involved setting up the RTX 3060 as the default GPU for gaming and starting the Lossless scaling app, the YouTuber began their testing. Firstly, ETA Prime tested Borderlands 4 at 1440p with medium settings and DLSS set to balanced. Without frame generation, the RTX 3060 struggled to maintain high frame rates, dipping frequently below 60 FPS. However, with the Arc A380 dedicated to frame generation via Lossless Scaling, performance saw a significant uplift.
Using a fixed 2x multiplier, the system pushed past 120 FPS without any noticeable input lag, as per the YouTuber. Even when experimenting with 3x scaling, the experience remained stable, though 2x proved to be the sweet spot.
Next up was Cyberpunk 2077, tested at 1440p ultra settings with DLSS set to quality. On its own, the RTX 3060 averaged around 48 FPS. Once Lossless Scaling was enabled on the Arc A380, generated frames pushed performance into the 150 FPS range.
Impressively, common issues with HUD elements and crosshairs that plagued earlier versions of the app were nearly eliminated, making the gameplay smooth and visually consistent, the YouTuber claimed.
ETA Prime also tested Oblivion Remastered. At 1440p high settings, the RTX 3060 alone couldn’t always hold 60 FPS. With Lossless Scaling set to 2x, average performance comfortably crossed 100 FPS, once again demonstrating the effectiveness of the secondary GPU for frame generation.
What makes this setup particularly noteworthy is the efficiency of the Arc A380. Despite being a budget card that doesn’t require external power, it was able to handle frame generation with around 70–80% utilisation, drawing only about 34 W. Meanwhile, the utilisation on the RTX 3060 remained between 90 to 100%.
Although this dual-GPU method isn’t a replacement for upgrading to a modern high-end GPU, it offers an innovative way to squeeze more performance out of mid-range hardware, and many users in the comments seemed to agree.
One commenter said their “1050 Ti has a new life”, while another mentioned that they own an GTX 1660 Ti, which they now plan to pair with an RTX 2070 Super.
If you’re curious about the setup process and want to try it out yourself, you can check out the video linked below.
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