NEWS  Games  April 22, 2024  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

The MSI Claw, the first Intel Meteor Lake gaming handheld, may have just received the performance boost it needed to close the gap with competitors like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. MSI has announced a new BIOS and GPU driver update that promises significant improvements in gaming performance, with frame rate boosts of up to 43.5%. While initial benchmarks showed that the Claw was falling behind its competitors, these updates could mark a turning point for the handheld gaming PC.

Game-Changing Performance Gains

According to MSI, the latest BIOS and Intel Arc GPU driver 31.0.101.5382 bring substantial performance improvements to the MSI Claw, with specific gains reported in several popular games.

In F1 2023, gamers can expect an up to 43.5% increase in frame rates. Other significant improvements include up to 27.6% in Hogwarts Legacy, 22.6% in Diablo IV, 21.9% in Dead Space, 18.4% in Forza Horizon 5, and 10.3% in Helldivers 2. If these numbers hold true, they could reposition the MSI Claw as a competitive handheld gaming device.

Updated Benchmarks Pending

While these improvements sound promising, they are based on MSI's internal testing. We have yet to see independent benchmark comparisons that confirm these performance boosts. As more users install the updates and share their experiences, we will better understand the real-world impact of these changes. Given that MSI is attempting to regain ground in a competitive market, transparency and reliable benchmarks will be crucial in validating their claims.

Easier BIOS and Graphics Driver Updates

In addition to performance boosts, the latest BIOS update simplifies the process for users. No longer requiring an external USB drive, the update process is more straightforward, allowing for easier adoption by gamers.

Updating the graphics driver is equally simple, thanks to MSI Center M. Users need to navigate to the "Settings" section and then "Live Update" to get the latest driver version.

For more detailed instructions, MSI has provided a comprehensive guide on its official forum, which can be found here.

What's Next for the MSI Claw?

As updated benchmarks start to surface, gamers and industry analysts will be watching closely to see if the MSI Claw can indeed deliver on these promised performance gains. With the handheld gaming market becoming increasingly competitive, a successful boost from MSI could redefine its position in the industry and reignite interest in Intel's foray into handheld gaming. Until then, cautious optimism seems to be the best approach.

 IMAGES CREDITS: MSI