Intel recently unveiled its “Panther Lake” chips at CES 2026, showcasing a commitment to high-performance integrated graphics. A key feature is the Arc B390 graphics, which has sparked interest in the tech community.
Early tests show some impressive numbers. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on “Ultra” settings with ray tracing, Intel’s Core Ultra X9 388H model reached 28 frames per second (FPS). That might not sound earth-shattering, but when you compare it to AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 equipped with Radeon 890M graphics—which scored only 14 FPS—Intel’s performance seems strong.
Intel also claims that its “Panther Lake” chip is 73% faster using upscaling technologies and 82% faster at native resolution than the AMD competitor, making it a promising option for gamers. In fact, this data suggests that the Arc B390 can produce 100% more frames in certain settings compared to its AMD rival.
In desktop GPU comparisons, Intel’s performance is now on par with the AMD Radeon RX 6600, which recorded 27 FPS under the same game conditions. Intel is partnering with game developers to effectively implement its latest upscaling tech, known as XeSS3, in new releases. This technology is designed to boost frame rates significantly; for instance, in Cyberpunk 2077, XeSS3 has achieved about three times the frame rate improvements compared to the earlier XeSS2.
Moreover, Intel asserts that its XeSS3 surpasses NVIDIA’s DLSS performance, especially when looking at innovations that support multi-frame generation—something the NVIDIA RTX 4050 lacks.
These insights illustrate a competitive and evolving landscape in the graphics market. As technology advances, gamers and consumers alike are becoming more discerning, giving rise to debates on performance versus price. With the latest metrics and real-world results, Intel is making a significant comeback in the gaming industry, and it will be interesting to see how AMD and NVIDIA respond moving forward.
For more on Intel’s latest developments and comparisons in the graphics sector, check out Digital Foundry.
