Handheld gaming at just 8W: leak details affordable Intel Arc chip

Although the Intel Arc G3, with 14 processor cores and an Intel Arc B370 iGPU featuring ten Xe3 cores, is significantly faster than the Steam Deck’s chip, the Intel processor is also far more expensive, and requires between 8 and 30 watts of power, whereas the Steam Deck’s Ryzen chip can operate with a power dissipation of just 5 watts.

The next Intel Arc SoC could become a much more interesting alternative to the Steam Deck. After rumors revealed initial details about the specifications a few days ago, VideoCardz has now been able to uncover further details about this chip. Intel is said to be incorporating four performance cores, four low-power efficiency cores, and an Xe3 iGPU with four GPU cores. The chip can reportedly operate with a TDP of 8 to 25 watts. It remains to be seen whether the processor can still deliver usable performance at the lower end of this range to enable longer battery life, at least for less demanding games.

The name of this handheld processor is not yet known, but it’s safe to assume that the chip will be part of the Intel Arc G3 family. With 60 percent fewer GPU processing units compared to the standard Arc G3, performance is likely to be significantly lower – though this should also result in a much lower price. This makes the chip particularly appealing for more affordable handhelds designed primarily for retro and indie games.