The handheld gaming PC scene is expanding rapidly, and we still have plenty more to look forward to - most notably the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go 2 using AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU. However, one of the best handheld gaming devices right now, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, has just received an exciting update.

As reported by Notebookcheck, Intel's new Arc Graphics Driver 32.0.101.6734 optimizes power management for the Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors, specifically handheld gaming PC iGPUs: the key takeaway here is basically that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the MSI Claw 7 AI+ (both using the Core Ultra 7 258V) now have much better game performance.

The driver patch notes highlight improvements on 'frame pacing' at lower power modes, allowing users to game at lower TDPs (essentially lower wattages) while still providing great FPS and frame pacing results. The latter is ideal, especially when using features like XeSS Frame Generation: lower TDPs usually result in poor frame pacing, regardless of how high your fps is, leading to a less consistent gaming experience.

With Intel targeting this, XeSS Frame Generation may feel much smoother, especially if base frame rates are high enough (a recommended native framerate is usually around 40 fps or above). It could also help extend your gaming sessions, with the improved power management granting less battery consumption compared to older graphics drivers.

Hold øje med, hvordan AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme klarer sig i den håndholdte gaming scene. I øjeblikket fører Intel med sine kraftfulde SoCs i nye gaming-enheder, som viser imponerende ydeevne, der synes at overgå konkurrenter som Asus ROG Ally X. Selvom jeg endnu ikke har testet disse enheder selv, tyder anmeldelser og ydeevnedata på, at de er stærkt konkurrencedygtige.

Den kommende AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU forventes at blive lanceret senere i år, sandsynligvis med debut i Lenovo Legion Go 2. Rygter om ydelsesresultater antyder, at der vil være inkluderet Radeon 880M eller 890M integrerede GPU'er, selvom selve chippen endnu ikke er frigivet.

Jeg håber, at Ryzen Z2 Extreme vil levere en betydelig ydeevneforbedring i forhold til sin forgænger, Z1 Extreme, og måske endda udfordre high-end processorer som Intels Core Ultra 7 258V.

Hvis det ikke sker, er der stadig gode nyheder: AMD's FSR 4-opskalerings-teknologi kan snart blive tilgængelig for RDNA 3.5-hardware, hvilket vil forbedre spilpræstationer og grafik. I øjeblikket er FSR 4 eksklusiv for RDNA 4-GPU'er, såsom Radeon RX 9000-serien. Det er spændende at se håndholdte gaming-enheder få den opmærksomhed, de fortjener, med lovende forbedringer i ydeevne og spiloplevelser.