So, I recently got my hands on the MSI Claw and decided to test it out on some games. Despite some issues at launch, I found that the Claw worked surprisingly well with Hogwarts, so I wanted to share my experience with you all.
Here I focused on the performance mode, which is the same performance you would get in AI mode. I didn't bother with lowering TDP with other modes because this game really needs the power. I tested it on both 1080p and 720p, and for the settings I used the low preset with nothing else ticked on. This is similar to what I would use on my Z1 extremes.
Hogwarts has always been a pain to run on handhelds, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well it worked on the Claw. It's not perfect and it can have some skips and stutters, but it's definitely an improvement from testing the game on other handhelds.
When it comes to combat, it can be a bit tricky depending on how many enemies you're fighting. But for the most part, it works well. I recommend locking the game to 30 fps no matter what, and the same goes for the Claw. It's almost always my recommendation to lock it down to 30 fps, even if you're at 720p.
If you plug the Claw in, the performance improves and you'll get similar FPS, maybe even a little better. Combat is also smoother, but it's still going to depend on how busy the screen is.
Switching to 720p with the same settings makes the game much more enjoyable. It's still recommended to lock it down to 30 fps, but overall, the experience is smoother and there are definitely fewer stutters.
While there's definitely room for improvement with the drivers and VRAM options, the Claw handles Hogwarts surprisingly well. Like I said it's not perfect, but it's certainly a step up from other handhelds I've tested it on.