Intel's Arc B390 integrated graphics scored 57,001 points in OpenCL benchmarks, approaching the performance of Nvidia's RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPU and signaling a major shift in laptop design.
What's new: A Geekbench leak reveals the Arc B390 running inside a Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro laptop powered by Intel's Core Ultra X7 processor. The chip combines 4 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores, and 4 low-power cores with 12 Xe3 compute blocks running at 2500 MHz.
The Arc B390 handles frame rendering, video processing, and creative tasks without requiring a discrete graphics card.
By the numbers: The Arc B390's 57,001-point score puts it in the same performance tier as the RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU in Geekbench 6 OpenCL tests, demonstrating that integrated graphics can now compete with mainstream discrete cards.
The Arc B390 posted a 7% gain over earlier tests on the same laptop model, signaling ongoing optimization before Panther Lake's official launch.
Why it matters: Integrated graphics now match discrete cards from two years ago, making separate GPUs unnecessary in mid-range laptops. This shift can reduce laptop weight, extend battery life, and lower prices by eliminating dedicated graphics hardware.
Picture a graphic design student rendering 3D models without a bulky gaming laptop. Or a remote worker video conferencing smoothly on a thin-and-light device while traveling between client sites.
For students choosing laptops before fall semester, this means powerful graphics in ultraportable designs—no trade-offs between weight and creative software performance.
The big picture: Intel's previous Arc Graphics generation lagged behind AMD's Radeon 780M and 890M. The Xe3 architecture closes that gap, marking Intel's most competitive integrated GPU in years.
Thermal design power still matters. Benchmarks show potential, but real-world tests will reveal whether Arc B390 sustains this speed when laptops heat up or memory fills.
Gaming at 1080p, editing 4K video, running Blender—these workloads push chips harder than synthetic tests.
What's next: If Intel's driver team refines API support and power efficiency, Panther Lake laptops could deliver the largest integrated GPU leap in years. The question is whether software optimization keeps pace with silicon capability.
Manufacturers now face a choice: Do they keep adding discrete GPUs to mid-range models, or do they trust integrated graphics to handle the workload?
The bottom line: If your next laptop's built-in graphics match yesterday's gaming cards, why pay extra for discrete GPUs? The answer may reshape how you shop for portable power.
