Intel Arc G3 Extreme Delivers Impressive 1440p Docked Gaming Performance

Handheld gaming PCs are still closing the gap between handheld and desktop gaming. Newer processors provide more CPU and GPU power, and these systems are no longer 1080p gaming systems. The latest example is Intel's Arc G3 Extreme, which can deliver enough power to run the most demanding AAA titles at 1440p with the addition of a dock and increased power ratings.

The chip has been tested in the MSI Claw EX AI+ and OneXPlayer 3 and shows a significant performance boost once it leaves the standard handheld power setting. Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor features 32GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 8533 MT/s on both the MSI Claw EX AI+ and OneXPlayer 3. The OneXPlayer 3 features a larger battery and an OLED display, but since its hardware is identical to the OneXPlayer 2, gameplay is pretty much the same.

A Different Experience of Power Limit

These handhelds are usually restricted to ~35W out of the box. Using that level of power for portable gaming is enough, but it's an entirely different ballgame when docked. The Intel Arc G3 Extreme can provide a much more viable gaming experience at 1440p by raising the power limit on both the central CPU and integrated Arc B390 GPU.

The processor's power limit with ThrottleStop was raised from the default 35W to around 52W. In the real game, power consumption was kept between 48W and 50W, though it didn't reach the maximum limit.

A power measurement while running CPU stress tests indicated the processor was utilizing approximately 43W, with the addition of the GPU load approaching a total of 54W.

This seems to be the case when playing games, though, where the system remained in the 48W to 50W range, meaning both the CPU and the GPU were clocked much higher than the stock settings. Obviously, this is designed for docked games, not battery use.

The extra power comes directly from an external display via the USB Type-C or an HDMI dock and is enough to make a noticeable difference in virtually all games tested.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and 720p

Cyberpunk 2077 has been tested at 1440p on the High preset with XeSS Quality enabled. The Arc B390 ran at about 50W, with clocks between 2300MHz and frame rates in the mid-50s. It failed to hit 60 fps, but it was still playable, given that it was all running on an integrated GPU.

Even closer to the 60fps goal by switching from Quality to Balanced in XeSS. The best results were achieved by enabling Intel's XeSS Multi-Frame Generation.

Multi-Frame Generation has been introduced to boost average frame rates to over 100 fps and ensure smooth gameplay with X3. Common problems with frame generation, including HUD artifacts and object distortions, were minimal. For this hardware, the best balance of responsiveness and image quality was still achieved with X3.

Forza Horizon 6 Also Delivered Good Performance

When on the High setting with XeSS Quality enabled at 1440p, fps consistently remained above 70, and the processor draw averaged about 45W. At the moment, the game only supports DLSS Frame Generation, not XeSS Frame Generation, so Intel can only upscale.

Despite that, if more performance is desired, Balanced XeSS offers little to no visual quality loss. The desired 60 fps limit is not met by native 1440p, so upscaling is the more favorable option to ensure accurate gameplay.

Red Dead Redemption 2 comes out this year and exceeds expectations. This year, we see Red Dead Redemption 2, which is better than expected. The game performed better than expected at 1440p, as Red Dead Redemption 2 proved more capable than anticipated. The average performance across the Ultra, High, and Medium graphics settings, combined with FSR 2 Quality, exceeded 65 fps.

While XeSS isn't included in this game, FSR 2 delivers solid performance. Faster than that, and lower FSR becomes Balanced, which provides even more headroom, but still a good compromise for those who want to maintain a native 1440p image quality. With a VRR monitor, the game caps at 60 fps, providing a smoother gaming experience with little to no screen tearing in more demanding scenes.

Mixed Results in Other AAA Games

One of the more challenging games was Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. At 1440p, on Medium settings with XeSS Balanced, frame rates sometimes dropped below 60 fps. Performance would often reach 70fps and 80fps during light scenes, but would drop back again at times.

If the game uses VRR, displays with VRR support help to minimize the fluctuations during play. Fallout 4 did not have any of these issues. Older games have seemed to benefit from the extra power budget, with frame rates regularly exceeding 90 fps at Ultra settings and 1440p.

The game was another challenge for Intel's integrated graphics, and Crimson Desert remains one of the hardest games. At Medium settings, XeSS Balanced and Multi-Frame Generation X3 averaged over 70 fps. Stutters were still occasionally visible, which has been a problem since the game's release, but with the driver updates, stability is now better. Those few interruptions do make the game a bit smoother on larger screens, even with those snags.

If the Intel Arc G3 Extreme is bumped up from 35W to about 50W, it becomes a serious living-room gaming computer.

Its integrated GPU directly benefits from the extra power, enabling many newer games to be played at 1440p. With XeSS upscaling and, if available, Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), high-end games like AAA titles are much more accessible on smaller devices. Though some games still need compromise with the setting or scaling mode, the overall results show that the handheld platform is powerful and offers a lot to offer when power constraints are lifted.

At present, the performance and compatibility of the Intel Arc G3 Extreme while docked are already decent, and driver updates will continue to improve them over time. The new handhelds are quite versatile, thanks to the higher power limit and the Arc B390 integrated graphics card, for those who want to use their handhelds as portable gaming machines and living room systems.