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| Intel's Core Ultra 7 366H processor may only feature a 4-core iGPU. |
A new and intriguing Geekbench listing has surfaced, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the graphics performance of Intel's upcoming Panther Lake processors. The benchmark suggests its integrated GPU could be a significant step forward, potentially positioning it as a genuine competitor in the thin-and-light laptop segment.
A Closer Look at the Leaked Panther Lake GPU Performance
The listing, spotted for a chip identified as the Intel Arc B390 iGPU, follows the earlier reveal of Panther Lake's graphics ambitions last month. This new leak provides a more complete picture of how these next-gen integrated solutions might stack up against current offerings.
For context, the previously spotted Arc B390 demonstrated impressive gains, scoring over a third higher than Intel's current Arc 140T mobile GPU and a staggering 92% improvement over the Arc 140V found in popular ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13. The latest data continues this trend of generational uplift.
The specific benchmark in question, which you can view directly here, shows a Vulkan score of 22,813 in Geekbench 6.5.0. This performance level is particularly noteworthy as it places the unnamed Panther Lake iGPU roughly on par with AMD's Radeon 840M, a discrete mobile GPU found in many modern lightweight laptops.
The leak was first highlighted by the reliable hardware monitoring account @BenchLeaks on X/Twitter, with further analysis provided by @realVictor_M.
Decoding the Specs and Competitive Positioning
One challenge with early Geekbench listings is the lack of detailed specifications. The benchmark does not reveal how many Arc Xe3 cores this particular iGPU contains. However, analysts speculate this could be a variant similar to those expected in the upcoming Core Ultra 5 336H and 338H processors, rather than the higher-end 10-core configurations like the Arc B360 or B370.
This positioning is crucial. If the performance holds, it means Intel's mid-range Panther Lake iGPUs could effectively compete with entry-level discrete mobile GPUs from AMD, offering laptop manufacturers a compelling all-in-one package that balances strong CPU and GPU performance without the need for a separate graphics chip.
The competitive landscape becomes clear when comparing scores:
- The Panther Lake iGPU (est. 22,813 points) matches the AMD Radeon 840M.
- It significantly outperforms the iGPU found in the current Core Ultra 7 366H (found in the Dell Precision 7680 successor) by around 25-34%.
- It still trails the powerhouse Radeon 890M by approximately 50%, which is expected given the 890M's position as a premium mobile graphics solution.
What This Means for Future Laptops
The most immediate sighting of a Panther Lake CPU has been in the Dell Pro Precision 7 16, a workstation-grade machine. This suggests Intel is targeting both the premium ultraportable and professional creator markets with its next-generation graphics architecture.
The potential here is for a new wave of thin, light, and powerful laptops that don't require discrete graphics to handle casual gaming, content creation, and accelerated AI tasks. For consumers, this could translate to better battery life, lighter designs, and more affordable prices for solid all-around performance.
You can see the current generation of sleek, powerful laptops that this new tech aims to improve upon, like the Dell XPS 13 available on Amazon.
The Bottom Line
While it's essential to treat early benchmarks with caution, the consistent data points for Intel's Panther Lake iGPUs paint an encouraging picture. Intel appears to be making substantial strides in integrated graphics performance, a critical battleground as AI and graphics workloads become increasingly important for everyday laptops.
If these results reflect final silicon performance, Panther Lake could seriously challenge AMD's reign in the value-oriented discrete GPU space for portables, giving consumers more choice and potentially raising the bar for what's expected from a CPU's built-in graphics. The battle for the laptop GPU crown is heating up, and that's always good news for users.
