Intel is going after the entry-level mobile GPU market and AMD’s high-power APU chips with new Intel Arc G3 and G3 extreme processors, packing 14 CPU cores and up to 12 Xe3 GPU cores in a single die. With a maximum TDP of just 35W for the top model, these chips could power a range of new handheld devices and lightweight gaming laptops, Ars Technica reports.
As the world and its dog struggle to afford (or even find) enough DDR memory for their system and enough VRAM for their GPU, entry-level gaming systems are becoming increasingly popular. Although they have traditionally offered weak gaming performance, with onboard GPUs only able to do so much, the latest iterations have grown increasingly capable, even challenging entry-level dedicated GPUs. Intel’s Arc G series could offer an intriguing alternative and improve the availability of more affordable, capable graphics solutions.
The 14 CPU cores in both the G3 and G3 extreme are spread across two performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power efficiency cores. This is a similar strategy to Intel’s Wildcat Lake CPUs, which combine a couple of high-powered cores in the high-4GHz range with additional, leaner cores for more efficient operation. However, with 14 to use, these chips should offer strong multi-threading capabilities—plenty for gaming and a couple of extra cores to handle background tasks.
Credit: Intel
It’s the graphics which could be the real standout with these CPUs, though. With 10 Xe3 cores on the G3 and 12 on the G3 Extreme, these chips could be extremely capable for gaming. The G3 Extreme, in particular, has the same number of Xe3 GPU cores as Intel’s current-generation mobile flagship, the Core Ultra X9 388H. In testing at our companion site, PCMag, this chip delivered impressive performance, exceeding that of entry-level GPUs like the RTX 4050 in some games.
It even managed playable frame rates at 1080p Ultra in Cyberpunk 2077 without upscaling.
But it’s that upscaling that could really put these chips over the top. With support for Intel’s Xess, AMD’s FSR, and XeSS multi-frame generation, they could deliver much higher frame rates in supporting games than older hardware can manage.
As with most mobile CPU and GPU SoCs, though, much of the G3 and G3 Extreme’s capability will depend on how much power and thermal headroom they have. That will be more down to the individual device manufacturer, but the scope seems to be there for these chips to be very capable if built into the right device.
Intel will show these chips off for the first time at Computex 2026 next week, with handheld devices based on Intel G3 processors launching later in June.
