Is the Intel Arc A730M Laptop a Game-Changer in 2022?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Design and Build Quality
3. Display
4. Keyboard and Touchpad
5. Performance
6. GPU Performance
7. Gaming Performance
8. Content Creation Performance
9. Noise and Temperature Levels
10. Battery Life
11. Conclusion

🖥️ Intel Arc A730M Laptop: A Worthy Contender for 2022?

Are you on the lookout for a new gaming laptop that can go head-to-head with the likes of Nvidia and AMD? Well, Intel is making its way into the GPU market with the release of its dedicated GPU lineup, and we have the Arc A730M laptop in our Studio for a thorough review. In this article, we will explore whether the Arc A730M is a worthy consideration for gamers and tech enthusiasts in 2022.

Design and Build Quality

The first impression of the Arc A730M is its striking resemblance to the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. With a well-designed chassis that can hold its own against the big players in the market, the Arc A730M stands out as a sleek and sturdy gaming laptop. The materials used in its construction feel premium to the touch, and its build quality is on par with mid-range competitors. However, the slightly wobbly display is a minor drawback.

Display

The Arc A730M features a 16-inch 16:10 QHD display, which is a great choice for a modern gaming laptop. With above-average brightness, solid contrast, and excellent color gamut coverage, the display delivers an immersive visual experience for gaming and entertainment purposes. The fast response times make it ideal for fast-paced shooters, and the accurate factory calibration ensures high-quality visuals out of the box.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard of the Arc A730M adheres to well-known standards, featuring full-size keys with a pronounced pressure point and decent travel. It offers a comfortable typing experience for both work and gaming. The touchpad, although slightly small, is sufficient for a gaming laptop and provides smooth tracking. Overall, the keyboard and touchpad of the Arc A730M meet the expectations of most users.

Performance

Powered by Intel's mainstream gaming CPU, the i7-12700H, and equipped with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the Arc A730M delivers impressive performance across various tasks. In synthetic tests, the CPU performs on par with similar chips in the market. The system performance is excellent, as shown by its PC Mark 10 scores, ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day applications.

GPU Performance

Now, let's delve into the main attraction of the Arc A730M - Intel's first dedicated mainstream gaming GPU. With 24 XE cores, 24 dedicated ray tracing units, and 12GB of VRAM, the GPU exhibits promising performance in synthetic tests. In some cases, it performs on par or even surpasses the powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 found in laptops like the Legion 5 Pro. However, real-world gaming performance tells a different story.

Gaming Performance

While the Arc A730M holds its own against the RTX 3060 in certain games such as Elden Ring, Cyberpunk, and Forza Horizon 5, it falls behind in others. The performance gap widens when gaming beyond Full HD and QHD resolutions. Intel's GPU struggles to achieve a solid 60fps in native QHD resolution, making it less suitable for demanding AAA titles. Further improvements in driver support are needed for the Arc GPUs to become a viable alternative to Nvidia and AMD.

Content Creation Performance

When it comes to content creation, the Arc A730M performs reasonably well. In benchmarks such as Blender, the GPU delivers satisfactory results. However, when compared to CPU rendering or CUDA rendering, it falls behind. The difference becomes more apparent when utilizing the RT-enabled OptiX renderer. In video editing software like Resolve 18, the Arc A730M shows promise, with faster export times compared to similarly equipped laptops.

Noise and Temperature Levels

The Arc A730M manages fan noise and temperatures quite effectively. The fan noise is not too intrusive, and the laptop stays within safe temperature margins during intensive use. While it may not win any endurance battles under load, it competes well against the Legion 5 Pro with the i7-RTX 3060 combo during casual usage such as streaming Netflix.

Battery Life

As for battery life, the Arc A730M provides decent performance for a gaming laptop. It can handle regular usage without draining too quickly, but it's not designed for extended periods of gaming on battery power. When compared to the Legion 5 Pro with the i7-RTX 3060 combo, the Arc A730M falls short in endurance tests. However, it holds its own in typical day-to-day tasks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Intel Arc A730M laptop shows promise as an early entry into Intel's dedicated GPU lineup. It offers competitive performance and a well-designed chassis at a slightly lower price point compared to similar models in the market. However, it still lags behind the established GPUs from Nvidia and AMD in terms of real-world gaming performance. If Intel can provide more mature drivers and position their GPUs at an even more attractive price point, the Arc A730M could become a worthwhile investment for gamers. As of now, it's an option for early adopters who are willing to embrace the potential limitations of a first-gen product.

Highlights

• Sleek and sturdy design, comparable to established gaming laptops
• 16-inch QHD display with above-average brightness and excellent color gamut coverage
• Comfortable keyboard with full-size keys and responsive touchpad
• Impressive overall performance, thanks to Intel's i7-12700H CPU and ample RAM
• Promising GPU performance in synthetic tests, but falls behind in real-world gaming
• Decent battery life for a gaming laptop, although not intended for long gaming Sessions