MSI Claw Optimization Guide: More FPS and Battery Life

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The MSI Claw is the Intel-powered Windows handheld — which gives it one quirk the AMD devices don’t have: its Intel Arc graphics gain serious performance from driver updates, and XeSS is its native upscaler. Get the drivers, TDP, and frame caps right and the Claw punches well above where it launched.

MSI Claw Optimization Guide: More FPS and Battery Life

The Claw’s Arc GPU keeps getting faster through drivers. Update first, then tune — a locked frame rate still beats a jittery one every time.

Sharing the Windows-handheld DNA of the ROG Ally and Legion Go (and the broader principles in our Steam Deck guide), the Claw’s difference is Intel Arc — drivers and XeSS.

Update Intel Arc drivers first

This is step zero on the Claw. Intel Arc graphics have improved enormously through driver releases, especially in older DirectX 9/11 titles.

  1. Update via MSI Center M or Intel’s Arc software.
  2. Re-test a game that ran poorly before — the gain from drivers alone can be large.
  3. After updating, let shaders recompile and clear the shader cache if you see stutter.

Set the TDP profile in MSI Center M

Press the Quick Settings button and choose a performance mode in MSI Center M:

  • Super Battery / low TDP — light games, longest run time.
  • Balanced (~15–20W) — everyday default.
  • AI Engine / High (28–35W, plugged in) — demanding games; use while charging.

Tune per game to the lowest wattage that holds your target FPS.

Cap the frame rate and use VRR

  1. Pick a sustainable target FPS for your chosen TDP.
  2. Cap it via the in-game limiter or RTSS — see How to Cap Your FPS Correctly.
  3. Enable VRR on the Claw’s panel to keep pacing smooth and prevent screen tearing.

Upscaling and in-game settings

  • Use XeSS where available — it’s the best-quality upscaler on Intel Arc hardware. Background: DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS.
  • FSR works too when a game lacks XeSS.
  • Render at 720p–1080p and upscale rather than forcing native on heavy games.
  • Drop shadows, volumetrics, and effects first — same approach as our per-game settings guides.

Windows handheld tweaks

The Claw runs full Windows, so apply the desktop playbook:

  1. Game plugged in for the high TDP profiles — the plugged-in rule again.
  2. Apply Windows 11 24H2 best gaming settings.
  3. Keep Arc drivers current (worth repeating on this device).

The free win: timer resolution

The Claw runs Windows, so the timer resolution tweak applies — tighter frame pacing and lower input latency at no battery or thermal cost. On a handheld where the power budget is tight, a free latency win is exactly what you want.

Read The Ultimate Guide to Timer Resolution for Gaming, then install Tier1Timer to apply and lock the optimal timer automatically.

Optimize the MSI Claw by updating Intel Arc drivers first, matching TDP to each game in MSI Center M, capping FPS with VRR, leaning on XeSS upscaling, and applying the Windows tweaks plus low-latency timer resolution via Tier1Timer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get more FPS on the MSI Claw?

Set a high TDP profile in MSI Center M while plugged in, keep the Intel Arc GPU drivers fully up to date (they improve performance significantly over time), cap your frame rate with VRR, and use XeSS or FSR upscaling. Driver updates matter more on the Claw than on AMD handhelds.

Why do Intel Arc drivers matter so much on the MSI Claw?

The Claw uses Intel's Arc graphics, which have improved dramatically through driver updates, especially in older DirectX 9 and 11 games. Keeping drivers current can yield large FPS and stability gains, so update them before blaming the hardware.

How do I improve MSI Claw battery life?

Lower the TDP profile in MSI Center M to the minimum that holds your target FPS, cap the frame rate, enable VRR, reduce brightness, and use XeSS or FSR upscaling so the GPU renders fewer pixels. The Claw's larger battery helps, but TDP is still the main lever.

Does the MSI Claw run competitive games well?

Yes. It runs full Windows so anti-cheat titles work, and XeSS upscaling suits its Intel Arc GPU. Cap FPS for stable pacing, game plugged in on a high TDP profile, keep Arc drivers current, and apply Windows tweaks like timer resolution for low input lag.