Intel Arc iGPU Shows Desktop-Class Efficiency in a Laptop Form Factor

Intel’s latest Arc iGPU demonstrates major gains in efficiency and frame rates compared to previous integrated graphics generations.

Hardware by Katmin on Feb 10, 2026

Integrated graphics have long been treated as the CPU's appendix, a vestigial organ, and the laughingstock of PC gaming. Over the last couple of years, though, AMD has made massive strides in iGPU performance, turning what used to be an afterthought into something genuinely usable.

Now, Intel is stepping into the ring with a new contender that aims to challenge AMD's recent dominance in this space.

Intel Arc iGPU, Shows Desktop-Class Efficiency, Laptop Form Factor, NoobFeed

Intel Arc Enters the iGPU Conversation

Word on the street is that Intel's new Arc B390 iGPU is a beast. Not an AMD Strix Halo kind of beast, which is more of a high-end APU category, but a serious iGPU that competes directly with AMD's already impressive 780M and 880M solutions.

We want a maximum core frequency of 2.5 GHz and 12 Xe-cores, whatever that means in terms of real-world scalability. We tried the iGPU with Intel's newest CPU, which seems to have gotten its moniker by tossing darts at a postcode directory. Strangely, they didn't include "AI" in the name, which is strange given current trends.

A Look at the Dual-Display ZenBook

Before diving into performance, we spent some time with the laptop Intel sent over, a dual-display ASUS ZenBook. It's evident from the start that ASUS is serious about its design. The small, square 100W power brick is cute in a strange way. The unboxing experience is much better, with that unmistakable high-end electronics fragrance.

On the underside, alongside some other interesting design touches, we find the new Intel branding. However, the Copilot PC label underneath is far less exciting. There's also a built-in kickstand designed to prop up the dual-screen setup.

In terms of I/O, one side features Thunderbolt ports that appear to be Thunderbolt 5, though it's unclear whether every port meets that spec. On the other side, there's another Thunderbolt port and a square USB port that seems to double as the power button. Ventilation cutouts reveal some genuinely good-looking heatsinks, which is always a promising sign.

Modular Keyboard and Usability

Opening the laptop confirms that one-hand opening works smoothly, helped by a thicker lower chassis. The standout feature here is the modular keyboard. Typing directly on a touchscreen is never great, but this detachable keyboard transforms the experience. It snaps magnetically into place, connects via contact pins, and feels solid rather than gimmicky.

The keyboard also supports Bluetooth, letting you place it on a desk while using more exotic dual-display configurations. The result looks futuristic and, more importantly, practical. It's one of the better dual-display laptop implementations we've seen.

Setting the Baseline With AMD's 780M iGPU

To understand where Intel's Arc iGPU stands, we first revisited current AMD iGPU performance. For this, we used a mini PC powered by a Ryzen7 7840HS with a 780M iGPU.

This isn't AMD's newest option, as the 880M is slightly faster, and the higher-end 890M can be up to 30% quicker according to manufacturer testing. Keep that in mind when interpreting the results, as AMD does offer stronger iGPUs.

Esports Performance on the 780M

With CS2 running at 1080p on low settings, the 780M delivers well over 100 fps. That's a genuinely playable experience and even works well with high-refresh-rate 1080p displays.

For esports-focused players, this level of performance is more than usable and shows just how far iGPUs have come.

Intel Arc iGPU, Shows Desktop-Class Efficiency, Laptop Form Factor, NoobFeed

Pushing Into AAA Territory

Cyberpunk at 1080p medium settings is far more demanding. Here, we saw mid-30fps performance. While that doesn't feel amazing, it's still impressive given that this is an iGPU running a modern AAA title at 1080p medium. Compared to older solutions like UHD630, which struggled at 720p low settings years ago, the progress is obvious. That said, we wouldn't personally want to play Cyberpunk like this for extended sessions.

Battlefield 6 at 1080p on medium settings tells a similar story. After dealing with secure boot frustrations, performance landed in the low 30 fps range. It runs, but it doesn't feel good, especially in online multiplayer. Still, the fact that it's even playable at these settings on an iGPU is noteworthy.

Unreal Engine5 Stress Test

Stalker2, powered by Unreal Engine5, really pushes the hardware. At 1080p low settings, visual fidelity takes a hit, but performance lands close to what we saw in Cyberpunk at medium settings. Frame rates often dip into the mid-20fps range, which isn't ideal, but again, the fact that it runs at all on an iGPU is impressive.

First Impressions of Intel Arc iGPU Gaming

After enduring the usual Windows11 setup experience, the dual OLED displays immediately stand out as stunning. Once in-game, Intel's Arc iGPU starts to show its strengths.

In CS2, performance jumps dramatically, often exceeding 200fps depending on the scene. Compared to the 780 M's average of around 140fps, this is a substantial uplift. The game runs much more smoothly, and the lowest frame rates are much higher.

Cyberpunk Performance and Efficiency

At 1080p with medium settings, Cyberpunk's performance started in the mid-30s and climbed to almost 60fps. In general, this is about a 55% performance boost over the 780M. More importantly, it turns a rough experience into something actually usable.

Enabling ultra-quality upscaling pushes performance comfortably beyond 60fps, delivering a solid gaming experience on an iGPU that isn't a flagship halo product.

Power Draw, Thermals, and Acoustics

One of the most impressive aspects is efficiency. Under full GPU load, Intel's performance overlay showed around 100% utilization while power draw fluctuated between 12W and 16W. By comparison, the 780M was pulling around 30W during gaming.

That efficiency translates directly into excellent acoustics. During Cyberpunk testing, the laptop remained effectively silent, delivering a near-MacBook-like experience. Thermals are just as impressive, with the GPU sitting around 65 °C under load.

Battlefield 6 and Memory Behavior

In Battlefield 6, performance jumped from roughly 29fps on the 780M to nearly 50fps on the Arc iGPU. That difference dramatically improves how the game feels, especially once light upscaling is enabled.

Interestingly, Battlefield 6 used nearly 8GB of video memory on the Intel system. When we retested on the AMD system with a full 8GB allocation, we didn't see any performance improvement. This suggests that the GPU's raw power, not the amount of memory, was the problem.

Intel Arc iGPU, Shows Desktop-Class Efficiency, Laptop Form Factor, NoobFeed

Stalker 2 Revisited

Stalker 2 had trouble with stutters at first, probably because it was using a lot of RAM, which peaked at about 27GB. The system's performance improved significantly after it was restarted and memory pressure was reduced. The frame rate went from 28 fps to about 45 fps, a 65% increase.

The iGPU used a little more power in this title, peaking at about 22W, but that's still a lot less than the 780M used. The balance between performance and efficiency is still quite good.

Final Thoughts

Intel might truly be back. This Panther Lake-based chip delivers efficiency that rivals, and in some cases embarrasses, Apple's silicon. More than anything, it builds excitement for future Arc GPUs. If Intel can scale this efficiency and performance into desktop Arc products, there's real potential for a serious competitor in the GPU market.

That wraps up our deep dive into Intel's latest iGPU. If you're excited about efficient gaming on integrated graphics, this is a very promising step forward.

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