At CES 2026, Intel provided exclusive access to test its newest Panther Lake “Core Ultra Series 3” CPU, featuring the highly anticipated “Arc B390” iGPU. Built on the bleeding-edge 18A process technology and the latest Xe3 architecture, this chip promises a generational leap in integrated graphics performance. (Sources)
Our hands-on experience confirms the hype: the Arc B390 is a legitimate powerhouse. Testing a Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 equipped with the top-tier Core Ultra X9 388H CPU (featuring the full 12 Xe3 core configuration), we found that Intel has not only closed the gap with competitors but arguably leapfrogged them in efficiency and raw performance.
The Setup: Stunning Performance Under 50W
During the Core Ultra Lounge Tour, we pushed the hardware to its limits. The test laptop was configured with a base TDP of 25W, with PL1 set to 85W and PL2 to 95W.
Remarkably, despite these high power limits, actual gaming power draw rarely breached the 50W barrier. This efficiency translated directly to user experience: the laptop remained whisper-quiet even under heavy load. In a demo room that had quieted down significantly, the lack of fan noise was mind-boggling, promising excellent battery life for gamers on the go.
Intel Arc B390 iGPU Gaming Benchmarks
Here is the breakdown of the performance we achieved across several major titles.
| Game Name | Settings | Average FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p, RT Medium, XeSS Balanced, FG 2x | 73.15 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p, Medium, XeSS Balanced, No FG | 99.45 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 1080p, High, XeSS Quality, No FG | 111 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 1080p, Ultra, XeSS Quality, No FG | 68 FPS |
| F1 25 | 1080p, High, XeSS Balanced, No FG | 104 FPS |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | 1080p, High, XeSS Balanced, No FG | 58.4 FPS |
| Borderlands 4 | 1200p, High, XeSS Balanced, No FG | 50.2 FPS |
| Ghost of Tsushima | 1080p, High, XeSS Balanced, No FG | 53 FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Shadows | 1080p, Medium, XeSS Balanced, FG 2x | 118 FPS |
| Battlefield 6 | 1080p, High, XeSS Balanced, FG 4x | 192 FPS |
Deep Dive: Game-by-Game Analysis
Cyberpunk 2077: Beating the Competition
This title remains the ultimate stress test, and the results were illuminating.
- Native Performance: At 1080p Medium (XeSS Balanced), the Arc B390 delivered an impressive 99.45 FPS. For context, this significantly outperforms the competition. The AMD Radeon 890M delivers just ~59.72 FPS, and the Arc 140T hits 58.12 FPS in similar scenarios.
- Vs. Strix Halo: While the massive AMD Strix Halo iGPU scores slightly higher (111.92 FPS) at a similar wattage, Intel achieving ~100 FPS with just 12 Xe cores represents a massive efficiency win.
- Frame Generation Advantage: Crucially, when we enabled Frame Generation (2x) at 1080p High, the Arc B390 hit 122.97 FPS. In contrast, the Strix Halo dropped to 72.10 FPS with similar settings due to apparent frame-gen optimization issues.
- Ray Tracing: Even with Ray Tracing set to Medium, the chip maintained a playable 73.15 FPS.
Forza Horizon 5: Silky Smooth Racing
Racing games demand fluidity, and the B390 delivered in spades.
- High Settings: At 1080p High (XeSS Quality) without frame-gen, we hit a solid 111 FPS, offering a high-refresh-rate experience natively.
- Ultra Settings: Pushing the preset to Ultra still resulted in a silky-smooth 68 FPS. This proves that the iGPU can handle maxed-out details without sweating, and users can enable frame-gen to push this even higher.
F1 25: Optimization Matters
Knowing that F1 25 is heavily optimized for Intel, we tested limits.
- Ultra High: At 1080p Ultra High (XeSS Quality), the chip managed 44 FPS.
- High: However, simply dropping to the High Preset (XeSS Balanced) skyrocketed performance to 104 FPS. Since the game supports frame-gen, hitting 60+ FPS at Ultra is easily achievable with a simple toggle.
Doom: The Dark Ages
The latest entry from id Software is graphically punishing. While many current iGPUs struggle to run this title at all, the Arc B390 managed between 58.4 FPS on average at 1080p High (XeSS Balanced). With Frame Gen 2x enabled, this jumped to a blistering 97.8 FPS, making this “next-gen” title fully accessible on a thin-and-light laptop.
Borderlands 4: Unreal Engine 5 Test
As one of the heaviest Unreal Engine 5 titles released last year, Borderlands 4 crushes hardware.
- 1200p Resolution: Even at a higher 1200p resolution on High settings, the Arc B390 averaged 50.2 FPS.
- Frame Gen Boost: Enabling 2x Frame Generation pushed this to a comfortable 82.2 FPS, validating Intel’s new architecture for heavy next-gen engines.
Ghost of Tsushima & Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Ghost of Tsushima: A very well-optimized title. We saw 53 FPS native and 89 FPS with Frame Gen (1080p High).
- AC Shadows: This recent release is graphically intensive. Yet, the B390 managed 58 FPS native (Medium). With Frame Gen 2x, performance doubled to 118 FPS, showcasing excellent scaling.
Battlefield 6: The MFG Showcase
Perhaps the most shocking result came from Battlefield 6. Using Intel’s new Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) 4x mode, the framerate exploded to 192 FPS (up from 47.5 FPS native). This demonstrates the massive potential for high-refresh-rate competitive gaming on integrated graphics.
The Verdict: A True Generational Leap
Our early impressions of the Intel Arc B390 iGPU are overwhelmingly positive. Intel has successfully broken the 50W barrier while delivering performance that rivals and often beats competitors like the AMD Strix Halo in efficiency.
The combination of Xe3 architecture, 18A process nodes, and advanced XeSS Frame Generation makes Panther Lake a formidable contender in the mobile gaming space. For consumers, this means the next generation of thin-and-light laptops won’t just be for work they will be genuine gaming machines.