Start with 1920×1200, 120Hz, VRR enabled, XeSS Quality, a Medium/High custom preset, ray tracing disabled, and a performance-oriented power mode while plugged in. Cap the game at 100 FPS and switch to XeSS Balanced only when Quality cannot hold the target. Use XeSS Performance as a last resort.
That is a practical starting point—not a guarantee that every game will reach 100 FPS. The earlier MSI Claw 8 AI+, normally equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, is substantially different from the newer Claw 8 EX AI+. Do not apply EX AI+ benchmark results to the earlier model.
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First, confirm which Claw 8 you own
“Claw 8 AI+” can be confused with the later Claw 8 EX AI+. They are different performance classes. PC Gamer lists separate results for both devices; for example, its Cyberpunk 2077 upscaling test recorded approximately 48 FPS on the earlier Claw 8 AI+ and 73 FPS on the EX AI+.
The EX AI+ also has newer Intel Arc G3 Extreme graphics hardware. Windows Central’s reports of very high displayed frame rates using XeSS Multi-Frame Generation—including 157 FPS in LEGO Batman—apply to that newer EX model and should not be treated as evidence that the earlier Claw 8 AI+ can deliver the same result.
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This guide is aimed primarily at the earlier MSI Claw 8 AI+. The general setup logic also applies to the EX AI+, but its results, display behavior, power modes, and frame-generation features must be assessed separately.
Recommended XeSS profiles
Use these profiles as decision points rather than universal performance promises. XeSS mode changes the internal rendering resolution relative to the output resolution; it does not guarantee a particular FPS increase. If a game is CPU-limited, shader-compilation-limited, or restricted by its engine, lowering the internal resolution may have little effect.
| Goal | XeSS mode | Graphics profile | Suggested cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best image quality | Ultra Quality or Quality | Medium/High | 60–90 FPS |
| 100-FPS attempt | Quality | Medium/High, ray tracing off | 100 FPS |
| Best balance | Balanced | Medium/High custom | 90–100 FPS |
| Maximum performance | Performance | Low/Medium custom | 100–120 FPS |
| Battery play | Quality or Balanced | Medium | 45–60 FPS |
XeSS Quality: the default choice
Choose XeSS Quality first at the Claw’s 1920×1200 output resolution. It generally offers the best compromise between reconstructed detail and performance, particularly for text, foliage, distant geometry, and thin objects.
Quality is appropriate when the game is already reasonably close to the desired frame rate. Its disadvantage is that it leaves more GPU work than Balanced or Performance, so it may not be enough for demanding modern games.
XeSS Balanced: the practical fallback
Move to XeSS Balanced when Quality misses the target by a meaningful margin and the game is clearly GPU-limited. On the Claw’s small built-in display, Balanced can be a sensible trade-off for smoother frame delivery.
Expect somewhat softer distant detail and a greater chance of ghosting, shimmering, or crawling foliage. Test it in actual gameplay rather than judging only a static menu.
XeSS Performance: use selectively
XeSS Performance can help when a game is exceptionally demanding, but it should not be the first setting you change. At 1920×1200, its lower internal resolution can make thin geometry, foliage, particles, and interface elements look unstable or noticeably soft.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBefore choosing Performance, disable ray tracing and reduce volumetrics, shadows, reflections, and crowd density. If those changes still do not produce an acceptable result, Performance may be worthwhile when responsiveness matters more than image quality.
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XeSS Ultra Quality: for games that already run well
Ultra Quality is useful when the game is already near 100 FPS or when visual stability is more important than extracting every last frame. It is not normally the setting to use when the device is struggling to reach the target.
The best plugged-in 100-FPS setup
- Set the display output to 1920×1200. This is the panel’s native resolution on the relevant Claw 8 configurations.
- Open Windows Settings → System → Display → Advanced display. Select the internal display and choose the highest available refresh rate, normally 120Hz on the applicable configuration.
- Enable VRR if Windows, the display driver, and the current firmware expose the option.
- Connect the official charger or a suitable USB-C PD charger. A low-output phone charger may prevent the handheld from sustaining its performance profile.
- Open MSI’s control software and select its highest suitable performance-oriented scenario. Exact labels can change with BIOS and MSI software versions.
- Launch the game and select 1920×1200. Confirm that the game has not selected a lower resolution or a dynamic-resolution range that conflicts with your test.
- Enable XeSS Super Resolution and select Quality.
- Disable ray tracing. Ray-traced workloads are among the least realistic candidates for a rendered 100 FPS on the earlier AI+.
- Use a custom Medium/High preset. Start by reducing volumetric fog and clouds, shadows, reflections, and crowd or NPC density.
- Turn off motion blur. Film grain and chromatic aberration are optional, but disabling them usually makes the handheld image cleaner.
- Set a 100-FPS cap. Use the game’s limiter first; if frame pacing is poor, compare it with the driver or overlay limiter.
- Test a repeatable scene for several minutes. Record average FPS, 1% lows, frame-time behavior, power mode, and whether any frame-generation feature is active.
VRR smooths uneven presentation inside its operating range, but it does not make the Claw render more frames. A stable 90 FPS can feel better than an unstable attempt at 100 FPS.
What to lower before changing XeSS
If XeSS Quality is close to the target, reduce the settings that are expensive on this class of integrated graphics:
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- Volumetric fog and clouds: use Medium or Low.
- Shadows: Medium is often a good compromise.
- Reflections: reduce them before sacrificing XeSS Quality.
- Crowd and NPC density: reduce these in CPU-heavy open-world games.
Do not lower every setting indiscriminately. Texture quality can often remain higher if the game has enough shared memory, while some settings have little performance impact but a large visual cost.
When is 100 FPS realistic?
Good candidates
Competitive shooters, esports games, efficient racing titles, older AAA releases, indie games, and well-optimized XeSS-supported games are the strongest candidates. PC Gamer’s published testing recorded about 85 FPS for the earlier Claw 8 AI+ in its F1 24 upscaling test, illustrating why racing games and other efficient engines can be suitable targets.
Possible with tuning
Modern rasterized AAA games may approach the target with ray tracing disabled, a Medium/High custom preset, and XeSS Quality or Balanced. Results depend heavily on the game engine, driver, power limit, and the particular scene.
Usually unrealistic without severe compromises
Ray-traced Cyberpunk-style workloads, CPU-heavy open-world games, poorly optimized releases, and titles with weak XeSS implementations are unlikely to sustain a rendered 100 FPS on the earlier AI+. PC Gamer’s published upscaling results ranged from approximately 33 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong to 85 FPS in F1 24 on that model.
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These are published test results under specific settings and should not be treated as universal benchmarks. They demonstrate the central point: XeSS helps, but it cannot remove a CPU, engine, power, thermal, or driver limitation.
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- Display: 8" FHD+ (1920x1200) 120Hz 100% sRGB IPS-level Touch Screen
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Rendered FPS, XeSS, and frame generation are different
Rendered FPS is the rate at which the game engine produces actual frames. XeSS Super Resolution reconstructs a higher-resolution image from a lower-resolution render; it is not the same as generating extra frames. Frame generation inserts synthetic frames between rendered frames.
A 100-FPS counter that includes generated frames is not equivalent to 100 FPS of native game rendering. Frame generation can make a stable 50–70 FPS base feel smoother, but it does not increase the game’s simulation rate or provide the same input latency as genuinely rendered frames.
Use frame generation only after establishing a stable base frame rate. It is a poor solution for a game running in the 20s or suffering severe frame-time spikes. When testing, report the base/rendered FPS separately from the generated or displayed FPS.
Windows Central’s examples of 130-plus FPS in 007 First Light and 157 FPS in LEGO Batman concern the newer EX AI+ and XeSS Multi-Frame Generation. They should not be generalized to the earlier Claw 8 AI+.
Battery settings
A plugged-in 100-FPS profile is not a sensible default for battery play. Battery-preservation modes reduce available performance, and the result can be unstable frame pacing, lower clocks, or a frame rate well below the target.
For battery gaming, begin with:
- 1920×1200 output.
- 120Hz and VRR enabled if available.
- XeSS Quality for lighter games or Balanced for demanding games.
- Medium settings with ray tracing off.
- A stable 45-, 50-, or 60-FPS cap.
PC Gamer’s EX AI+ testing showed substantially lower results in Endurance mode than Default mode in several games, including 20 versus 41 FPS in Metro Exodus Enhanced and 47 versus 66 FPS in Horizon Zero Dawn. Those figures apply to the EX model, but they illustrate why battery-saving modes are unsuitable for a demanding 100-FPS target.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Diagnosing common XeSS problems
XeSS is missing
- Confirm that the game actually supports XeSS.
- Update the game and Intel graphics driver.
- Look under the resolution-scaling, anti-aliasing, or upscaling submenu.
- Restart the game after changing its graphics API.
- Check whether a launcher option or another upscaler is controlling the setting.
Avoid random DLL replacements unless the source, version, and rollback process are documented. They can introduce instability or make future troubleshooting harder.
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- Move from Performance to Balanced or Quality.
- Disable excessive sharpening and test the game’s sharpening slider carefully.
- Confirm that the output really is 1920×1200.
- Disable dynamic resolution if it is fighting the XeSS scaler.
- Compare native resolution and XeSS at the same frame-rate cap.
Foliage shimmers or objects ghost
Test XeSS Quality, reduce sharpening, and compare with frame generation disabled. If the game offers another anti-aliasing option, test it in the same scene. Some artifacts are specific to the game’s temporal implementation rather than the Claw itself.
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The FPS counter is high but gameplay stutters
Check frame-time graphs rather than relying on the average counter. Possible causes include shader compilation, CPU limits, background Windows activity, conflicting VRR and frame-cap settings, thermal or power-limit changes, and frame generation operating on an unstable base rate.
Try a stable 90-, 72-, or 60-FPS cap, disable frame generation, allow shader compilation to finish, close browsers and overlays, and compare plugged-in and battery behavior.
If 100 FPS remains out of reach
- Keep XeSS Quality and lower ray tracing, volumetrics, shadows, and reflections.
- Switch to XeSS Balanced.
- Reduce crowds and other CPU-heavy simulation settings.
- Choose a stable 90, 72, or 60 FPS cap.
- Test frame generation only if the base rate is already stable.
- Accept the lower target if the game is fundamentally CPU- or engine-limited.
XeSS mainly reduces GPU rendering work. It cannot solve poor game-thread performance, large-world simulation, draw-call bottlenecks, or shader-compilation stutter.
Accessories that can help—but cannot create FPS
The official charger or a sufficiently capable USB-C PD charger is the most relevant accessory for sustained plugged-in performance. Avoid low-output phone chargers and cables that negotiate insufficient power.
A compatible dock, high-refresh external monitor, stand, or cooling pad can improve desktop use, but none can overcome a game-specific GPU or CPU bottleneck. Storage upgrades mainly improve capacity and loading convenience; a faster SSD does not materially increase GPU FPS.
Verify the exact Claw variant before buying storage or accessories. The EX AI+ review identifies a full-size M.2 2280 slot and a 65W USB-C PD adapter, but those specifications must not automatically be applied to every Claw 8 configuration. MSI’s regional product listings are available at MSI.
Bottom line for the earlier MSI Claw 8 AI+
Use XeSS Quality at 1920×1200 with a 120Hz/VRR display configuration, ray tracing off, a Medium/High custom preset, and a performance-oriented plugged-in power mode. Reduce expensive effects before moving to XeSS Balanced; reserve Performance for games where image quality is an acceptable sacrifice.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems100 FPS is realistic mainly in lighter, older, competitive, racing, and well-optimized games. For demanding modern AAA titles, a stable 60, 72, or 90 FPS is often the better result. Always separate rendered FPS from generated FPS, and never use benchmarks from the newer Claw 8 EX AI+ as proof of what the earlier Claw 8 AI+ can deliver.
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