I attempted gaming on an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip — and it kicks off a brand new period of PC gaming

Intel confirmed off the way it raised the bar on built-in graphics in laptops at CES 2026, due to the arrival of its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs. Now, after seeing the most recent PC video games like Battlefield 6 pushing effectively previous 120 frames per second (FPS) at max settings on a laptop computer not constructed for gaming, I’m blown away by the outcomes.

No discrete GPU right here, only a chip utilizing Intel Arc B390 graphics (a.ok.a. 12 Xᵉ cores) that options all the things you’d anticipate from the most recent graphics playing cards. That contains what Intel calls “Modern Rendering,” with XeSS 3 tech that includes ray tracing, AI-based upscaling and multi-frame technology as much as x4. If something, it places Nvidia’s lower-end RTX 50-series GPUs on discover.

With Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors, we’re getting a 77% bump in quicker graphics and 53% improve in quicker AI in comparison with the earlier Lunar Lake chips. That’s a big soar, and the top result’s skinny and lightweight laptops with the ability to play the most recent big-budget PC video games with out needing a devoted graphics card — and at a excessive stage.

I received an opportunity to check out lots of the newest titles throughout a hands-on demo, and I’m already impressed by the high-level efficiency and easy body charges Intel’s next-gen Core Ultra Series 3 chips carry to laptops. One factor’s for certain: your subsequent gaming laptop computer could not want a devoted GPU in spite of everything.

A major leap for integrated graphics

As Intel boldly claimed during its big keynote, the Arc B390 in Core Ultra X9 and X7 chips will see Battlefield 6 at Overkill settings (the highest visual settings) and Super Resolution running at 59 FPS. Turn on its multi-frame generation tech, though, and this can be upscaled to a super-smooth 145 FPS.

That was fully on show during a brief demo I tried. Now, Battlefield 6 was already a well-optimized game when I tested it on an RTX 5070 gaming PC, where I was getting over 200 FPS at 4K with DLSS 4 switched on. However, this doesn’t take away from how well a laptop sporting a Core Ultra Series 3 chip can handle it, as I was seeing detailed visuals and buttery-smooth framerates as explosions and gunfire went off all around me.

But there was more on show. I also got to try Dying Light: The Beast, where I saw framerates reaching 196 FPS at what appeared to be high settings. As expected, it was stunning running around, dropkicking zombies with beautiful visuals thanks to ray tracing.

Also on show was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Marvel Rivals and Painkiller, and while I couldn’t see their frame rates or settings, Intel has confirmed that we can expect over 100 FPS with 1080p at high settings using XᵉSS Super Resolution.

Not only does it make playing competitive shooters on an Intel Core Ultra X9/X7-based laptop a breeze, but these new chips can also offer upscaled visuals in demanding PC titles — and that x4 multi-frame gen tech certainly helps.

Outlook

If there’s one laptop I’m keeping an eye out for in 2026, it’s one boasting an Intel Core Ultra X9 or X7 processor. Team Blue has pushed integrated graphics on its next-gen chip even further with Intel Arc B390, and from the games I’ve played, it’s looking to kick off a new era of PC gaming on thin and light laptops.

Of course, we’ll have to put these Intel-based machines through their paces in our testing labs once we get our hands on them, but it’s looking like we could see these laptops creep into our list of the best gaming laptops — especially for gamers on the move (and if the price is right, no less).

Speaking of, with Intel also announcing an entire handheld gaming platform with Panther Lake chips, gamers will have a lot to look forward to this year.

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