An interesting leak has appeared in the Geekbench database – a test with the Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake processor, deployed in the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 thin gaming notebook. The test results revealed that the new Arc Xe3 integrated graphics offer performance that is unexpectedly close to the level of the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU.
It’s no coincidence that the ROG Zephyrus was the one that made the test. This is a real, slim 14-inch chassis with a strict power and cooling setup – exactly the kind of laptop where every wattage percentage makes sense. If Intel’s Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake can squeeze near-dedicated card-like performance out of an Xe3 iGPU in such an environment, it’s a clear signal that Intel is serious about internal graphics in the Panther Lake generation, and we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
Performance and testing in practice
The Geekbench leak revealed not only scores, but also stable behavior in repeated runs. The Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake achieved a CPU boost of around 4.8 GHz, while the integrated Xe3 iGPU was running at around 2.5 GHz. Everything ran on pre-production drivers and BIOSes, which means that the final configurations can still deliver a few percent more performance. Interestingly, there were multiple runs in the Geekbench database with very similar results – so this is not a single lucky test, but a consistently powerful chip.
Panther Lake architecture and configuration
On the graphics side, Panther Lake delivers the biggest leap in the history of Intel’s integrated solutions. The new Arc Xe3 graphics uses 12 cores (96 compute blocks) and, according to internal data, delivers more than a 50% increase in performance over the previous Xe2 generation. This shift can be felt in games, in rendering, and in graphics and computing applications where efficiency is as important as performance itself. The Xe3 architecture can handle more work in the same temperature and power budget, which is key for thin notebooks where every watt counts.
On the processor side, there are 16-core CPUs divided into 4 performance (P-cores), 8 efficiency (E-cores), and 4 low-power (LP-E) cores. This hybrid design gives Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Panther Lake the ability to seamlessly switch between high performance and power saving mode according to the current workload.
Test Results and Specifications
In the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 benchmark, the Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake was confirmed to deliver a noticeable shift in graphics performance. The Xe3 iGPU is no longer just an add-on – in practice, it can compete with entry-level dedicated GPUs and offers smooth performance even beyond the lowest end. The Geekbench results show that this is a stable and well-tuned chip that performs very convincingly even in the pre-production phase.
| Parameter | Value |
| Platform Test | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Panther Lake |
| CPU configuration | 16 cores |
| CPU clock speed (boost) | approximately 4.75 – 4.8 GHz |
| Graphics (iGPU) | Intel Arc Xe3 – 12 cores (96 compute blocks) |
| GPU clock (observed) | approximately 2.5 GHz |
| Geekbench 6 OpenCL score | 46,000 – 52,900 points |
| Relative performance | geForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU level |
| Test sample status | early sample, unfinalized BIOS and drivers |
Availability and what to expect
The official unveiling of the Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake is yet to come, but according to leaks, manufacturers are already testing the first samples of laptops with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor. They should go on sale during 2026, especially in premium and thin models like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus series.
With this chip, Intel is targeting a segment that needs high performance without the need for dedicated graphics. Thanks to the efficient architecture and 12-core Arc Xe3 iGPU, the new laptops can handle both gaming and creative tasks while maintaining low power consumption and quiet operation. For users, this again means more performance in a smaller, lighter body.
Conclusion Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake
Intel Core Ultra X7 Panther Lake confirms that the era of weak integrated graphics is coming to an end. The new Arc Xe3 iGPU raises the performance bar to a level we thought was the prerogative of cheap dedicated cards just a year ago. Stable test results, real-world deployments in the ROG Zephyrus G14, and a balanced performance/efficiency ratio show that Intel has found the right direction.
If the expected performance in final configurations is confirmed, Panther Lake will deliver a generation of laptops that offer full-featured performance without the need for a separate GPU. This is a shift that changes the definition of mobile performance – quiet, efficient, yet powerful enough for the modern gamer or content creator.