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Intel Xe 2 vs. AMD RDNA 3.5: Gaming Benchmarks Face-Off

6/08/2025

Intel Xe 2 vs. AMD RDNA 3.5: Gaming Benchmarks Face-Off

Intel’s Xe 2 (Battlemage) and AMD’s RDNA 3.5 (RDNA 3 Enhanced) integrated graphics, powering 2025’s laptops and PC handhelds, promise console-like gaming without discrete GPUs. Found in Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs and AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series, these architectures compete fiercely in devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S and Asus ROG Ally X. This review compares their gaming benchmarks, drawing from recent tests and community buzz on X, to help gamers choose the best for portable play.

Benchmark Performance

  • Intel Xe 2 (Battlemage): Found in Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake), Xe 2’s 128 EUs at 2.1 GHz deliver 4.5 TFLOPS. In Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, low), it hits 45 FPS, while Elden Ring reaches 60 FPS. Its 8-core GPU with enhanced ray tracing shines in Forza Horizon 5, averaging 75 FPS, but struggles in Starfield at 32 FPS.
  • AMD RDNA 3.5: Powering Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (Radeon 890M, 16 CUs at 2.9 GHz, 6.8 TFLOPS), RDNA 3.5 leads in raw power. It achieves 52 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 65 FPS in Elden Ring, and 82 FPS in Forza Horizon 5. Starfield runs smoother at 38 FPS, benefiting from optimized drivers.
  • Power Efficiency: Xe 2 consumes 15-25W, edging out RDNA 3.5’s 20-30W in handhelds, extending battery life by 10-15% in tests. However, AMD’s higher TFLOPS give it a 10-20% FPS lead in AAA titles.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Intel Xe 2 excels in efficiency and ray tracing, ideal for thin-and-light laptops and handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Its Arc-based architecture improves driver stability over Iris Xe, but it lags in raw performance, especially in demanding open-world games. AMD RDNA 3.5, used in devices like the Ayaneo 2S, dominates AAA gaming with higher frame rates and better upscaling via FSR 4.0. However, its power draw shortens battery life, and driver issues persist in some titles.

Community Buzz

X users praise RDNA 3.5’s “beastly” performance, with one calling it “a handheld game-changer” for titles like Black Myth: Wukong. Xe 2 earns kudos for smoother battery life, but some criticize its lower FPS, with a user noting, “Intel’s close, but AMD’s still king for AAA.” Debates highlight AMD’s edge in high settings versus Intel’s value for casual gamers.

Verdict

AMD RDNA 3.5 takes the crown for gamers prioritizing frame rates and AAA performance, especially in handhelds like the Legion Go S. Intel Xe 2 is a strong contender for budget-conscious or casual gamers, offering efficiency and solid 1080p play in lighter titles. As handhelds evolve, both push integrated graphics to new heights, but AMD’s raw power wins for now.

Disclaimer: Performance varies by device and driver updates; results are based on early 2025 benchmarks.