MSI Claw Handheld to Feature Intel Arc G3 Extreme CPU: Early Benchmarks Impress
Recent retail leaks have confirmed that MSI is preparing to launch a new Claw handheld gaming device powered by Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme dedicated handheld CPU. This upcoming processor, paired with the Arc B380 integrated GPU, has already surfaced in early benchmark results, offering a glimpse into its performance capabilities.
Intel Arc G3 Extreme vs. AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme: Benchmark Comparison
According to a recent PassMark benchmark, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme delivers strong results in both multicore and single-core CPU tests. The chip achieved a multicore score of 29,622 points and a single-core score of 4,288 points. In comparison, the widely used AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, a staple in many handheld gaming devices, scored 23,649 in multicore and 3,964 in single-core tests. This positions Intel’s new chip as over 20% faster than its AMD counterpart in these early CPU benchmarks.
It’s important to note that the thermal design power (TDP) of the 14-core Intel processor during these tests has not been disclosed. Historically, Intel’s handheld CPUs have faced challenges in maintaining high performance at lower power levels, a critical factor for portable gaming devices. As such, real-world performance may vary depending on power and thermal constraints in the final product.
GPU Performance Expectations for the Arc B380
While PassMark has yet to publish GPU benchmark results for the Arc B380, the integrated graphics are expected to deliver competitive performance. The Arc B380 is based on the same 12-core Xe3 architecture as the Arc B390, with only a minor 200 MHz reduction in GPU clock speed. Previous testing of the Arc B390 has shown it to outperform AMD’s Radeon 890M by a significant margin, suggesting that the Arc B380 should offer similar advantages in gaming and graphics-intensive applications.
As the MSI Claw handheld prepares for its official debut, these early benchmarks indicate that Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme CPU could set a new standard for performance in the handheld gaming market, challenging AMD’s dominance and offering gamers a compelling new option.
