Intel has released its first Panther Lake CPUs, branded Core Ultra Series 3, and introduced a new version of its XeSS 3 upscaler that adds multi-frame generation to gaming on lightweight devices.
At a Glance
- Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs now available.
- XeSS 3 adds 2x-4x frame generation to upscaling.
- Asus Zenbook Duo demonstrates mixed performance gains.
- Why it matters: Mobile gamers can now push frame rates without expensive GPUs, but visual fidelity trade-offs remain.
The announcement arrives after a period of speculation about Intel’s gaming ambitions. The company now offers a complete solution that pairs its new CPUs with an AI-powered upscaler capable of generating additional frames.
Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3
Intel’s new line includes 14 different processors. Two of the high-end models carry an “X” in their name:
| Model | GPU cores | Intended use |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra X7 | 12 Xe3 | Gaming laptops |
| Core Ultra X9 | 12 Xe3 | Gaming laptops |
These chips use the Arc B390 microarchitecture, which promises solid graphics performance without a significant rise in power consumption.
XeSS 3 and Frame Generation
XeSS 3 is Intel’s device-agnostic AI upscaler. Unlike Nvidia’s DLSS 4.5 and AMD’s FSR Redstone, XeSS works on any hardware. It can also generate multiple frames between fully rendered ones.
- 2x frame generation: Adds one frame per rendered frame.
- 3x frame generation: Adds two frames per rendered frame.
- 4x frame generation: Adds three frames per rendered frame.
The software can override in-game graphics settings, but it sometimes fails to detect installed titles.
Performance on the Asus Zenbook Duo
The Asus Zenbook Duo was used to benchmark the new technology. On “Ultra” settings at 1080p, the laptop achieved about 50 fps. When the maximum resolution of 2,880 × 1,800 was used, the frame rate dropped to roughly 36 fps.
Enabling XeSS alone raised the rate to around 45 fps, depending on whether “performance” or “quality” mode was chosen. With ray tracing set to “low,” the device still maintained playable frame rates thanks to XeSS upscaling.
Frame Generation Impact
Once frame generation is active, frame rates approach:
- 2x: near 60 fps
- 3x: near 80 fps
- 4x: close to 90 fps
However, the higher the generation factor, the more noticeable the visual artifacts. At 4x, ghosting of streetlights and flickering of screens were reported. The technology works best when the base frame rate is already close to 60 fps.
Visual Impact and Trade-offs
Players who value graphical fidelity may find the “fake frames” unsettling. The trade-off is clear:
- Higher frame rates at the cost of fuzzy textures and ghosting.
- Lower resolution rendering can still produce impressive results, but the image quality suffers.
In games like Hogwarts Legacy, the laptop reached over 90 fps indoors at low settings. With XeSS balanced, the frame rate fell to 40-50 fps indoors and 30-40 fps outdoors. Adding 4x frame generation with ray tracing ultra produced a generated frame rate of about 20 fps, which still felt sluggish.
Future Outlook
Intel has hinted at a handheld-specific chip, the Core G3, and expects to see Intel-based handheld PCs from brands such as Acer and MSI later this year. These devices aim for 1080p gaming on smaller screens, where visual inconsistencies are harder to spot.
For now, Intel’s fake-frame solution remains a mixed bag. Enthusiasts who prioritize raw frame rates may overlook the artifacts, while purists may prefer to keep settings lower.
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