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| The efficiency gains with Panther Lake makes the ExpertBook Ultra quite special from a gaming perspective |
The buzz from CES 2026 has materialized into hard data. Intel officially unveiled its next-generation Panther Lake architecture at the show, and the first real-world benchmarks are now in. We’ve spent time with one of the first systems to feature the new silicon: the Asus ExpertBook Ultra, powered by the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. The results, particularly from its integrated Arc B390 GPU, are not just promising—they’re genuinely disruptive for thin-and-light laptops.
Synthetic Showdown: Beating Dedicated GPUs
The headline grabber comes from 3DMark. In these standardized tests, the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics inside the ExpertBook Ultra doesn't just beat common laptops equipped with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU—it leaves them in the dust. The performance advantage is so significant that it often places the sleek Asus laptop within spitting distance of more powerful systems running an RTX 4050.
To put numbers to the claim, our aggregated 3DMark data shows the ExpertBook Ultra scoring 78.3 points. That’s a staggering 28% faster than the average RTX 3050 6GB laptop and a massive 43% lead over the 4GB variant. This isn't a minor generational bump; it's a leap that redefines what's possible from integrated graphics.
Gaming in the Real World: A More Nuanced Victory
Of course, synthetic benchmarks only tell part of the story. How does this translate to actual gaming? The news is still overwhelmingly positive, though with some expected caveats.
In modern, demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3, the Panther Lake iGPU consistently delivers a superior experience compared to RTX 3050 laptops, even before leveraging any AI upscaling. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p High settings, the ExpertBook Ultra managed a very playable 104.3 fps, demolishing the RTX 3050 4GB's average of 39.7 fps.
The advantage narrows in some older or less demanding titles. Games like GTA V or Dota 2 Reborn might still run slightly better on the older NVIDIA architecture, a reminder of long-established driver optimization. However, for the latest game releases, Intel's graphics hold a clear edge.
The AI and Efficiency Factor
This performance comes within an impressively tight 60W to 70W total system power envelope. Laptops with RTX 3050 or 4050 GPUs require a dedicated, power-hungry chip, making the Asus system significantly more lightweight and efficient. You're getting similar or better performance without the bulk, heat, and battery drain of a discrete GPU.
There is a catch, however, on the AI front. Intel's Xe Super Sampling (XESS) and frame generation ecosystem still lags. In titles like Arc Raiders, frame generation is currently exclusive to NVIDIA (DLSS 3) and AMD (FSR 3). Our attempts to enable XESS in other games sometimes resulted in performance hiccups, indicating the software layer needs to mature to match the raw hardware prowess.
A New Era for Thin-and-Light Laptops?
The takeaway is profound. With Panther Lake, Intel has created an integrated graphics solution that can genuinely compete with entry-level discrete GPUs from the previous generation. For anyone seeking a supremely portable laptop that can also handle serious gaming and creative tasks, the landscape has just changed.
You can find our complete set of benchmarks, thermal analysis, and battery life tests in our full, dedicated review of this fascinating machine: The Asus ExpertBook Ultra Review: 1 Kg of Panther Lake Power.
What do you think? Are dedicated GPUs in budget laptops becoming obsolete? Let us know in the comments below.