Key Takeaways
1. The Intel Panther Lake’s built-in Arc B390 GPU offers 1.5 to 2 times the graphics performance compared to previous models without AI upscaling.
2. Thin-and-light laptops can achieve higher speeds with less noise and longer battery life due to the new GPU.
3. The Asus ExpertBook Ultra requires mains power for optimal processor performance, resulting in a 10 to 15 percent drop when using battery.
4. Many laptops with integrated GPUs do not experience significant performance loss on battery, unlike the ExpertBook Ultra.
5. Despite battery performance limitations, the ExpertBook Ultra remains one of the fastest 14-inch laptops in its weight class.
Arguably, one of the biggest advantages of moving to Intel Panther Lake is its new built-in Arc B390 GPU. This GPU operates within similar power limits as the prior Arc 140V/140T series or the competing AMD Radeon 890M, yet it delivers between 1.5 to 2 times the raw graphics performance, not even counting any AI upscaling. As a result, thin-and-light laptops can perform at higher speeds than before without needing noisier fans or shorter battery life.
Dependence on Power Supply
On the Asus ExpertBook Ultra, the highest processor performance comes with a specific requirement: it must be plugged into mains power. As indicated by the screenshots below, using battery power can reduce performance by about 10 to 15 percent. The MyAsus software even displays a red warning saying, “this performance mode is not supported when using the battery as the power source.”
Performance Comparison with Other Laptops
The performance reduction while on battery is notable, since most other laptops featuring integrated GPUs do not show such a significant decline. For instance, the Dell 14 Premium equipped with Arrow Lake-H has a much smaller performance gap between mains and battery operation.
Despite this performance drop when not plugged in, the ExpertBook Ultra still stands out as one of the fastest 14-inch laptops in its weight category. We suggest taking a look at our comprehensive review of the Asus system for additional benchmarks and comparisons.