Does anyone have an idea how much of a performance hit the Intel UHD Graphics will take given that the RAM is single-channel instead of dual? I know the Framework Laptop 12 is the last laptop anyone should get for GPU-intensive tasks, but hearing that existing benchmarks on this iGPU won’t reflect the performance on the Laptop 12 because the RAM is single-channel makes it hard to guesstimate its limits.
Look at any of the i5 1334u or 1335u or 1235u gaming performance videos on YouTube it should be pretty similar, IIRC those videos have dual channel DDR4 which should be similar performance to single channel DDR5.
I know the difference in performance between single and dual channel ram is a lot less with DDR5 than it is with DDR4. However, most of the benchmarks I can find that show this involve systems with a dedicated GPU.
I did find this video showing the performance of Intel UHD graphics on an i3 1215U with a single 8GB DDR4 ram. The average framerate in most of the games seems decent at a glance, but the 1 percent lows and frametime don’t look good.
I plan on installing a Kingston Fury DDR5 32GB module in a base model i3 1315U FW12. This ram is dual rank and CL38 at 5200MHz, so I’m curious to see how well it performs.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nav3UZfRZE Here is the i5-1335u in an ASUS Vivobook 15 (A1504) with 16gb DDR4
I asked ChatGPT how it might compare to Steam Deck performance:
The Intel Core i5-1335U and the Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU (Aerith) are both low-power chips aimed at thin laptops and handheld gaming respectively—but they’re very different in performance profile and gaming capability.
Specs Comparison
| Feature | i5-1335U | Steam Deck APU (Aerith) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 10-core (2P + 8E), up to 4.6 GHz | 4-core/8-thread Zen 2, up to ~3.5 GHz |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe (80 EUs) | RDNA 2 GPU (8 CUs @ 1.6 GHz) |
| TDP | 15W (up to ~55W boost) | 15W (fixed, optimized for handheld) |
| Process Node | Intel 7 (10nm ESF) | TSMC 7nm |
| Platform | Ultrabooks, light laptops | Steam Deck (Linux-based gaming handheld) |
Gaming Performance Overview
Steam Deck Wins at Gaming
- RDNA 2 GPU in the Steam Deck is vastly superior to Intel’s Iris Xe graphics.
- Even though the i5-1335U has more CPU threads and higher boost clocks, most games are GPU-bound at 720p or 800p, where the Deck performs better.
- The Steam Deck can handle modern games at native 1280x800 with FSR, often around 30–60 FPS on optimized settings.
i5-1335U Weak for Gaming
-
Iris Xe (80 EU) struggles with AAA games. Even at 720p/low settings, expect:
- Elden Ring: 20–25 FPS (unplayable)
- CS:GO / Valorant: ~60–80 FPS
- Cyberpunk 2077: 15–20 FPS (unplayable)
- Skyrim / Witcher 3 (low): ~30–40 FPS
-
Great for older or indie titles, but not for modern, GPU-intensive games.
Real-World Benchmarks Summary
| Game | Steam Deck (800p Low–Medium) | i5-1335U (720p Low) |
|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | 30–40 FPS (with FSR) | 20–25 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30–40 FPS (with tweaks) | 15–20 FPS |
| GTA V | 50–60 FPS | ~30 FPS |
| Skyrim SE | 60 FPS | 30–40 FPS |
| Hades / Dead Cells | 60+ FPS | 60+ FPS |
| Doom Eternal | 30–45 FPS | Not playable (~20 FPS) |
Conclusion
- Steam Deck is significantly better for gaming thanks to its RDNA 2 GPU and handheld-optimized platform.
- The i5-1335U is fine for light gaming, emulators, and indie titles, but not a good choice for modern AAA games.
- If you’re looking for portable gaming, the Steam Deck is far superior.
- If you just want a laptop for light gaming, the i5-1335U works only with very modest expectations.
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https://youtu.be/h5dspiGOtD4?si=2raZc6KuotOKtzxm Here’s 30 game benchmarks with the i5 1345u with 16gb DDR4
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I am so relieved to see it running Rocket League at 1080p around 70-80fps. Bullet dodged!
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I’m looking forward to playing Sins of a Solar Empire on this thing, maybe even SOASE2.
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Me personally, I wanna see if it can play Prototype at (near) max settings…
I’ll have to report back with whether Subnautica runs on the i3. I think it will on med/low settings, but if not I’ll stick to Stardew Valley.
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I bet it’ll be able to run Vintage Story on low settings easy. 
I just got my Framework 12:
- i5 CPU
- 32GB ram
- Bazzite
- Joycons
I’ve tried the following games:
- Hades, works fine out of the box
- Enter the Gungeon, performance-wise is fine but it doesn’t like my joycons for some reason
- Yakuza 0, have to turn down the specs to make it playable. At these settings, the game still looks great and no longer drops frames
- Resolution 1152x720 (16:10)
- Vertical Sync Disabled
- Graphics Quality Low
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Are you just gonna pretend everybody should know about those joycon mounts?
I need some info if you‘re gonna tease me like that!
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Thanks! I made a Framework post as well as a more detailed personal blog post. You can find the files on Printables too but it’s just a proof of concept for now.
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That’s fuckin sick! It seems like it would be pretty heavy. how’s the weight?
Not the most comfortable thing in the world, but honestly still playable.
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