Intel’s Lunar Lake processors may not have generated significant excitement among gamers initially, but recent updates have improved the performance of the Core Ultra 7 258V chip in the MSI Claw 8. Initially plagued by mis-set power limits, the device now boasts a significant boost in gaming capabilities.
According to TechPowerUp’s testing, the updated device shows a notable improvement in performance, with some games experiencing a near 30% jump in frames per second. While other games see around 10% improvements, this still represents a substantial increase for early buyers who wouldn’t have had access to such power enhancements.
However, Intel’s decision not to partner with more handheld manufacturers may be a result of its CPU pedigree being tarnished by recent power efficiency issues. This could mean the MSI Claw 8 is one of the last devices to utilize Lunar Lake hardware.
The updated power limits setting PL2 now exceeds PL1 in wattage, unlocking additional power and increasing performance. While this update has improved the device’s capabilities, it also highlights Intel’s current struggle with power efficiency.
Source: https://www.extremetech.com/computing/lunar-lake-power-limit-update-on-msi-claw-8-nets-30-performance-gains