MSI Claw Optimization Guide: TDP, ClawTweaks, More FPS

The fastest wins on an MSI Claw are, in order: update the Intel Arc graphics driver, set the TDP per game in MSI Center M (or with the free community widget ClawTweaks), cap the frame rate with VRR on, and use XeSS upscaling. The Intel Claws have one quirk the AMD handhelds don’t: their Arc graphics gain serious performance from driver updates, and XeSS is their native upscaler. Get the drivers, TDP, and frame caps right and the Claw punches well above where it launched.

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.

ClawTweaks: the community alternative to MSI Center M’s quick settings

ClawTweaks is a free, open-source Xbox Game Bar widget for Intel-based MSI Claws that gives you finer TDP control than MSI Center M’s preset modes, plus per-game profiles. It is a community project by the GitHub developer enterTheVoidCode, not an MSI product, and is a fork of GoTweaks (the equivalent widget for the Lenovo Legion Go) with the AMD-specific parts replaced by Intel equivalents. It is licensed AGPLv3 and costs nothing.

Which Claws ClawTweaks supports:

MSI Claw model	Chip	ClawTweaks
Claw A1M (original)	Intel Meteor Lake	Supported
Claw 8 AI+ / Claw 7 AI+	Intel Lunar Lake	Supported
Claw 8 EX	Intel Panther Lake	Supported
Claw A8 EX	AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme	Not supported

What ClawTweaks adds over MSI Center M:

• TDP slider with a separate PL2 boost slider, instead of only picking a preset mode — set the exact wattage a game needs.
• Per-game profiles that switch automatically when a game launches, with separate plugged-in and battery values.
• FPS limits through Intel’s driver (60/40/30) or RTSS (30–120), plus an RTSS on-screen overlay.
• Controller tools: button remapping, gyro aiming, and a controller/mouse mode toggle.
• Fan curve and battery charge limit, both written to the handheld’s embedded controller.

Before you install it:

1. Keep MSI Center M installed. ClawTweaks is designed to hide or disable Center M’s own quick settings but still relies on it for the MSI button and controller handling. If you tried another Center M replacement before, the developer advises uninstalling it and reinstalling Center M cleanly first.
2. Download it only from the project’s GitHub releases page — the full setup installer, then update the Game Bar widget when prompted. Copies on random download sites are not the project’s.
3. Controller emulation needs ViGEmBus and HidHide; RTSS frame limits need RTSS installed.
4. Because the fan curve and charge limit live in firmware, they keep applying even with the device asleep or off — set them back in ClawTweaks if you uninstall it.

Should you use it? If MSI Center M’s preset modes already hold your target frame rate, you don’t need it. ClawTweaks earns its place when you want one game at, say, 15 W and another at 22 W without changing modes by hand each time.

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 Tier1Suite to apply and lock the optimal timer automatically.

Recommended gear

Get more out of the MSI Claw with a couple of inexpensive add-ons:

• A high-speed SanDisk Extreme microSD so game installs don’t fill the internal drive.
• A JSAUX 6-in-1 dock for charging plus monitor and accessory output.
• A protective case for safe travel.

Related guides

• ROG Ally Optimization Guide
• Legion Go Optimization Guide
• Steam Deck Optimization Guide
• Clear Shader Cache to Fix Stuttering
• DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS for Gaming
• MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Optimization Guide

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 Tier1Suite.