Key Takeaways
1. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H shows significant improvements in multi-core performance and power efficiency.
2. The 12-core Arc B390 integrated GPU (iGPU) demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving over 30 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on ultra settings with low power consumption.
3. Intel’s Panther Lake APUs are set to dominate the handheld gaming market by 2026, outperforming competitors like AMD’s Radeon 8060S at lower power levels.
4. At 15 and 20 watts, the Core Ultra X9 388H consistently outperforms the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, achieving higher frame rates in games like Black Myth Wukong.
5. The Intel Panther Lake APUs fully support XeSS 3 with Multi-Frame Generation, enhancing gaming performance compared to the AMD Strix Halo.
First impressions of the Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra X9 388H APU have been released, and it looks like Intel has really outdone themselves. After thoroughly examining the Core Ultra X9 388H, we discovered that Intel has significantly improved both the multi-core performance and power efficiency of this new model.
Impressive iGPU Performance
One of the most remarkable features of the Core Ultra X9 388H is its 12-core Arc B390 integrated GPU (iGPU). This new iGPU shows exceptional performance improvements compared to the previous Arc 140V and AMD Radeon 890M. It performs especially well at low thermal design power (TDP) levels, up to 30 watts. For example, during our tests, the Arc B390 achieved over 30 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on ultra settings without utilizing Frame Generation, and it was limited to just 20 watts. Reports indicate that the Arc B390 can compete effectively with the Radeon 8060S found in the Strix Halo at these lower TDP levels.
Dominating Handheld Gaming
Looking at The Phawx’s benchmarks for the Core Ultra X9 388H under lower power constraints, it’s evident that Intel’s Panther Lake APUs are poised to take over the handheld gaming market by 2026. In the game Black Myth Wukong, the Arc B390 in the Core Ultra X9 388H ran the game at 30 FPS at 720p on low settings while consuming only 10 watts.
When we raised the TDP to 15 watts, the average frame rate increased to 46.6 FPS, with 1% lows sitting at 37 FPS. The Radeon 8060S could only reach an average of 39 FPS and 1% lows of 31.8 FPS at the same power level. Moreover, the Core Ultra X9 388H slightly outperformed the AMD Strix Halo at 20 watts.
Performance Comparison in 1080p
The results at 1080p for Black Myth Wukong followed a similar trend. The Core Ultra X9 388H clearly outperformed the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 at both 15 watts and 20 watts. At 15 watts, the Core Ultra X9 388H averaged 29.3 FPS, while the AMD Strix Halo was at 22.6 FPS. As we increased the power to 20 watts, both APUs saw significant performance boosts, but the Intel Panther Lake APU had a notable lead of 23%, achieving an average of 37.8 FPS compared to 30.7 FPS for the Ryzen.
A comparable performance was observed in Cyberpunk 2077 using the Steam Deck preset, as well as in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Doom: The Dark Ages.
In conclusion, at lower power limits, the Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the Arc B390 easily surpasses the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 Strix Halo APU, which only starts to lead when power exceeds 30 watts. As things look right now, the Intel Panther Lake APUs with the Arc B390 seem to be excellent options for handheld gaming devices.
This becomes even more apparent when considering that, unlike the Strix Halo, the Intel Panther Lake APUs fully support the latest XeSS 3 with Multi-Frame Generation, which greatly enhances average FPS, as we highlighted in our analysis of the Arc B390.
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