Benchmark Leak Reveals Intel Arc G3 Extreme Handheld Chip Outperforms Ryzen Z2 Extreme by 25%, Showcasing the Powerful B390 iGPU

The gaming landscape is about to be revolutionized with the leakage of benchmarks for Intel’s upcoming cutting-edge gaming handheld system-on-chip (SoC), the Arc G3 Extreme. This new chip promises to outshine the Ryzen Z2 by an impressive 25%, signaling a potential shift in the portable gaming market.

Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme: Power-Packed with Battlemage GPU and 14 CPU Cores

Earlier reports highlighted the unveiling of Intel’s first Arc G3 gaming handheld, which has started appearing on various e-commerce platforms. Although initial listings lacked extensive details about the specific SoC, recent revelations provide an intriguing glimpse into its specifications and performance benchmarks.

At the heart of the Intel Arc G3 Extreme, we find a highly capable CPU configuration boasting 14 cores and 14 threads. This configuration marks a significant evolution in Intel’s architecture, distinct from prior Panther Lake offerings. According to the PassMark listing, the CPU includes two P-Cores derived from the Panther Cove architecture, complemented by 12 E-Cores based on the Darkmont design. This results in a unique 2 P-Core, 8 E-Core, and 4 additional performance-optimized cores.

Intel Arc G3 Extreme CPU specifications with a measured speed of 3.69 GHz — Image Source: PassMark

Performance-wise, the chip operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz, with the capability to boost up to 4.60 GHz. Onboard is 12 MB of L3 cache and a substantial 18 MB of L2 cache, all enhancing data processing efficiency.

Intel Arc G3 Extreme multithread and single thread ratings — Image Source: PassMark

One of the standout features of the Arc G3 Extreme is its integrated GPU. It utilizes the remarkable Arc B390 iGPU, which has consistently impressed with its performance since the initial launch. Featuring 12 Xe3 cores, this GPU is ideally suited for handheld gaming, delivering robust performance alongside support for advanced technologies like XeSS 3 and variable VRAM capacities. In contrast, the standard Arc G3 configuration is likely to be equipped with the Arc B370 iGPU, which includes 8 Xe3 cores.

In terms of raw performance metrics, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme achieves 29, 622 points in multi-thread tests and 4, 288 points in single-thread tests. This not only showcases a 25% advantage in multi-thread performance over AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme but also an 8% edge in single-thread processing—all while leveraging its innovative CPU architecture.

Comparison table of Intel Arc G3 Extreme, AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H — Image Source: PassMark

When comparing it to a 12-core Panther Lake chip, such as the Core Ultra 5 338H, the Arc G3 Extreme shows that it holds its own against high-power competitors. While the 338H operates at a higher power state (25W), the G3 Extreme is designed for constrained power environments (15W-30W), thereby unlocking its potential at lower power constraints.

On the GPU front, the Arc G3 Extreme boasts over 50% performance improvement compared to the Radeon 890M and current Arc 140V GPUs, which incorporate 8 Xe2 cores. With AMD’s anticipated handheld upgrades not arriving until the first half of 2027, Intel appears poised to capture significant market share in this competitive segment.

However, prospective buyers should prepare for high pricing, as recent listings indicate a $1, 500+ price point for devices like MSI’s Claw 8 handheld featuring the G3 Extreme. For those on a budget, there is hope that the final pricing may settle around $1, 000 for the Extreme model and between $500-$600 for the standard G3 variants.

Overall, the release of Intel’s Arc G3 SoCs is highly awaited, with expectations that Intel will make a substantial impact in the burgeoning handheld gaming market.

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