Intel’s Arc B390 Pulls Ahead of AMD in Linux Gaming Benchmarks

Intel Panther Lake Arc iGPU performance on Linux now mirrors the gains previously seen on Windows. Earlier testing showed Intel’s Arc iGPU can match the Xbox Series S in terms of gaming performance, and new benchmarks suggest Linux users may see even stronger results.

New testing indicates Intel’s latest integrated graphics outperform AMD’s current flagship AI iGPU when systems run on Linux, giving Intel a clear edge in low-power gaming.

Intel Arc B390 delivers clear Linux gaming gains over AMD

According to Phoronix, Intel’s Panther Lake integrated graphics, branded as Arc B390, deliver a consistent performance advantage over competing AMD and older Intel platforms in Linux gaming workloads.

The review focuses on a laptop powered by an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H with Arc B390 iGPU. Phoronix compared it against systems running AMD Ryzen AI processors and earlier Intel Core Ultra designs.

Results show Arc B390 maintaining the same lead on Linux that reviewers already observed on Windows.

Benchmark results versus AMD and older Intel iGPUs

Phoronix reports the following average gaming performance uplifts on Linux:

• 1.23× higher performance compared to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 iGPU
• 1.53× higher performance compared to Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake)
• 1.72× higher performance compared to Core Ultra 7 155H (Meteor Lake)

These gains position Panther Lake as one of the fastest integrated graphics solutions for Linux users focused on gaming and GPU-accelerated workloads.

Power profiles play a key role in performance

Intel emphasized the importance of proper power tuning. The tested laptop shipped with a conservative, balanced mode that limited performance.

In MSI’s default balanced configuration, power limits ranged from roughly 15W to 30W, with average CPU power around 16.9W. After switching to a dedicated performance profile and applying recommended workarounds, average CPU power climbed to about 28W.

Peak power reached roughly 1.25× higher than the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 system, which helped Arc B390 sustain its performance lead.

Phoronix warns that Arc B390 results vary widely depending on laptop firmware, power limits, and active performance profiles. Early Panther Lake laptops may require software updates and manual tuning to consistently hit the higher performance levels shown in testing.

For Linux users, this means Panther Lake offers strong potential, but real-world results will depend heavily on OEM configurations.

In related Intel Arc news, users recently pushed Arc A380 FPS higher using XeSS 3 workarounds. However, rumors suggest Intel may cancel the Arc B770 due to rising VRAM pricing pressures, which could limit future high-end Arc desktop options.

Via VideoCardz