AMD just got schooled by this new Intel gaming CPU for Steam Deck rivals

There's an Intel gaming CPU for handhelds with performance that now smashes its AMD counterparts, according to new benchmark data. A recent review of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ led Intel to work with the reviewer, pointing them to improved power settings that, once the tests were rerun, resulted in an improvement of over 30% in some games, with frame rates that beat every AMD handheld the site had tested.

This isn't the first time that this MSI handheld has shown off the potential of its Intel gaming CPU. A recent MSI Claw benchmark leak showed the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V offering seriously competitive performance in its 30W power mode, although this new test shows even better results. Our best handheld guide is littered with AMD options, but a seriously powerful Intel contender makes for exciting competition.

This data, published by TechPowerUp, shows the MSI Claw's performance boost is all down to a tweak to the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V CPU's power settings. The PL1 and PL2 settings set the CPU's power usage. PL1 handles the long-term power limit for the CPU, while PL2 is the short-term power limit that it can use for boosting over short periods of time. The first tests had PL1 and PL2 both set to the default 37W, the maximum TDP for Lunar Lake chips such as this one.

However, Intel's advice is to configure PL1 and PL2 differently. Instead, the company advised TechPowerUp that the official spec for Lunar Lake states to set PL2 one watt higher than PL1, with an update coming for MSI's software to ensure this is always the case on these handhelds. According to TechPowerUp, Intel claims this can lead to a 10% boost to frame rates in games, although it can vary.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the improved settings allowed for a 32% performance boost, shifting frame rates from 24fps on average to 33fps at 25W, and 29fps to 35fps at 30W. That's a big improvement in a game that's both CPU and GPU-intensive, but it isn't consistent. For instance, Hogwarts Legacy shows a boost of only 2.6% at 25W, with the 30W result actually lower the second time around.

The end result? According to TechPowerUp, this MSI Claw handheld "is the highest-performing device" the tech site has tested "across the board, even surpassing AMD-based devices." Given how little luck Intel has had on gaming PCs in recent years, that's an astonishing success for the company.

If Intel can replicate this performance on other handhelds, then Intel Lunar Lake is ready to give the company a much needed boost. We'll be keen to put this MSI Claw 8 AI+, along with future Lunar Lake handhelds, to the test ourselves to see just how far it can match up to AMD's best alternatives.

Need a powerful and portable rig for gaming? Check out our best gaming laptop guide for AMD and Intel-powered options to suit any budget.

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