r/MSIClaw

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Hi everyone,

Has anyone heard any news about a possible restock of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ in Canada?

It seems to be sold out everywhere, and I haven't been able to find any information on when Canadian retailers might receive more stock.

Has anyone spoken with MSI, Best Buy Canada, Memory Express, Canada Computers, or any other retailer and received an estimated restock date?

If you've managed to order one recently or have any insider info, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Hey all, would it be worth it to trade my PS5 for an MSI Claw A1M? Ultra 7 version, 512GB.

And how is the device doing nowadays? I heard a lot of issues with it back in the days, but haven heard much after. thanks!

Hey folks. I recently got the Claw 8EX AI+, and this thing is an absolute beast. I am really loving the experience and the performance is offered is simply incredible. Intel knocked it out of the park here...well, except this one thing.

So most games I have managed to run - RE9, 007, Rivals, SM2, etc, I can easily go above 60fps most of the time, but the games don't feel as smooth as they should. There is always this screen judder present in the background when I pan the camera and the games even at 100fps+ don't feel like 100fps and more like 40fps.

I have VSync and VRR enabled (for fullscreen and windowed mode) in the Intel Graphics Software, the screen's refresh rate is 120Hz, and I have even tried capping the games at 60fps to see if it reduces the judder but to no avail. I have enabled and disabled Vsync in the game but it makes no difference.

I am not sure what's happening here. Any ideas? I feel like the VRR isn't working right and the judder is there due to screen tearing which the system is trying its best to remove but doesn't do it successfully.

I have a legion go OG z1e and a steam deck oled. The hand held market is all over the place with prices now. I was thinking rather then having 2 older handhelds maybe I should sell them and buy 1. Something like a msi claw. Thoughts ?

Both powerbank and anker nano gets stuck at 24w,i use 100w cable and i tried with 2 different ones.tried with og charger and it works fine.

Hey guys, is it worth daily driving the claw a1m with the steamOS beta I've seen online or wait until valve makes it stable enough? Im just itching to ditch windows as i purely just want to play my steam indie games here and don't play triple A here as I have the ps5 for that.

And if I install steamOS and ever decide to switch back to windows 11, as I assume the device will be wiped, will windows be reinstalled? Just not so good and tinkering anymore these days. Thanks for those of you who will provide some helpful comments about this.

Enjoy gaming guys!

So, I’m basically just wondering. For those who have both of these devices, my main questions are:

Is the screen on the XBOX ALLY X a problem?

Which ones software is better, and better yet easier to navigate and handle

How different do the ergonomics feel, and is it a deal breaker for the Claw?

Does the XBOX ally feel “cheap” or does the Claw just feel a little more “premium”

Are the buttons really a “problem” per se on the XBOX Ally X, and are the joy cons not being hall a deal breaker?

My main things are: comfortability/ergonomics, power, easy to navigate software, and not “cheap” feeling.

Currently using a Legion Go 2 but looking to upgrade to Panther Lake. Right now, I mostly use Bazzite for gaming as I've found I get better performance there. The frametime on Linux is smoother than Windows while average FPS is slightly higher.

However, how are Linux OSes on the Panther Lake chip? Do you get better frametime and better performance? I know historically Intel isn't great on Linux in contrast to AMD but I've heard there have been some improvements recently.

Also for those that have/had a AMD device, is Windows on Intel smoother than for Windows on AMD?

Currently on a Legion Go 2 (Z2E) and trying to decide between the OneXFly Apex and the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. Main games are Spider-Man Remastered, trying to get a clean 120fps at low settings, and Forza Horizon 6 at medium. I get some stutter on the Legion Go 2 even at low settings in Spider-Man, not sure if that’s a power thing or just how the game runs no matter what hardware you use, so curious if either of these actually fixes it.

Wondering about performance at 17w as that seems to be a big improvement point of the Claw EX vs Z2E.

I’m mostly playing in hotel rooms and my living room, so charging setup matters more to me than max battery life unplugged. I’ve read the Apex uses a proprietary 240W GaN barrel charger instead of real USB-C PD, so if anyone’s tried a USB-C path for it, even at lower wattage, let me know if that actually works. Also curious how mature the Claw 8 EX AI+ drivers are right now since it’s brand new silicon, and I’ve seen some reviews mention rough edges with multi-frame-gen and endurance modes.

If anyone’s used both, or switched from a Legion Go 2, would love to hear how it went.

Hey everyone,

I've left the PC handheld space last year when I sold my steam deck OLED, I'm looking to get another handheld for travel purpose without breaking the bank since it won't be my main way of playing games, I'm looking at the used market and the cheapest option is the MSI claw ultra 5 at 200-250€ they still come with factory warranty and the original box, is it worth it at that price point?

The joysticks on the EX are awful. They’re so loose and I can’t shoot on FPS games.

I keep seeing reviews that benchmark the same games over and over again: Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon, Spider-Man, or Forza Horizon. These are all well-optimized titles, but what about games like:

• Assassin's Creed
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Resident Evil 9
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• Alan Wake 2
• Star Wars games
• Onimusha Demo
• Or other Unreal Engine 5 titles

I'm especially interested in whether Kena: Bridge of Spirits still suffers from the infamous water rendering glitch on the MSI Claw 8 AI+.

Personally, I don't really care whether a handheld can run Hollow Knight 2 at 300+ FPS. I'd much rather see how it performs in demanding, less optimized games that actually push the hardware.

Unfortunately, it'll still be a while before my unit arrives. Otherwise, these are exactly the games I would have tested first.

In my MSI Claw 8 Ai + usage, some with opticlick,(optiscaler easy settings by onehoon for DLSS to XeSS framegen) fps for a bunch of games. Max tdp 30/37 unless lower powered game, some marked capped 60fps were with endurance on but I typically keep max tdp. I applied many optimization tips like disable core isolation, Performance Bios, performance on and off battery to best performance, and downloaded XboxFSE+AnyFSE and have Steam Big Picture Mode autlaunched on boot.

AC Shadows with XeSS framegen average of around 80-90 frames* just tried now after newest patch average 70-75.

Re9 with framegen 70 in dense area but otherwise 80-100 fps.

Elden Ring around 50 to 55+, locked it to 45. Probably could get around 60 lowering settings to mostly low but didn't want that.

MGSDelta with opticlick/optiscaler 70-80 average fps until The End boss at least, need to finish it.

Avowed I can't exactly remember but it played above 40fps for sure.

NBA 2k26 60fps forced cap online in Rec, I don't play park or other online mode, 90-100+fps in offline games, cpu and gpu usage is heavy and can occasionally cause game to force close usually heading into MyTeam which I don't recommend anyhow.

ES4 Oblivion Remaster didn't get too far but without framegen/opticlick at low settings maybe 1680x1050 or 1440x900 resolution I was getting 40fps in early open world and imperial City, probably 80+ with framegen.

Outer worlds 2 played for a couple hours, 60+ fps with XeSS, no framegen.

Palworld I don't remember what I was getting but I was using opticlick and it played WAY better than what my steam deck was doing back in the day, at minimum 40ish fps no framegen with mixed settings.

Ready or Not only started it up at the main base, was getting around 80fps. I'd expect 45-60 in a mission.

Crimson Desert with XeSS FG 80-90fps average mostly low settings

FF7 Remake(not rebirth yet gotta beat remake) 80 fps average after capping to 90(able to get to 110-120 but inconsistent)

007 first light turned off fps overlay after awhile and just played because it felt great is all I can say with auto resolution adjust on in settings, averaged over 45-55 with overlay on

Dragon's Dogma 2 with opticlick about 60-70 average fps with low settings+1440x900p and medium textures I believe, not particularly good but not bad.

Tainted Grail Fall of Avalon absolute trash fire. Somehow able to get up to 70 fps with opticlick, but entering combat or wandering in heavy areas causes constant frame drops or weird stutters even at all minimum settings and 1200x800p resolution, extremely disappointing.

Other random games shorter so someone stumbling through Google may find. Most below are mix of low to medium settings targeting 1920x1080p, some lowered to 1680x1050p maybe lower or raised to 1920x1200p if above 60 without a lot of tinkering, feel free to ask. Played a bunch of lesser known indies, hundreds really, feel free to ask in case I may have played them on the Claw.

Sekiro easy 60+fps, Kunitsugami with opticlick 80ish fps, RuneScape Dragonwilds high 40-60 fps felt great, Shape of dreams 60fps easy, gothic remake opticlick over 70fps average fps, The Precinct 60fps+, Judgment and Y0+Y:LAD+Gaiden MWEHN+LAD:IW+Pirate Yakuza all over 60fps XeSS, Black Ops 3 with Clean ops and custom maps 115-120fps, Skyrim SE high+ settings no custom mods just SE mods 60fps, Deathloop 60fps

Red Dead 2 medium most settings high textures 58-65 fps online 50+, GTA enhanced edition online 50ish fps, Trails in the Sky first chapter 60fps capped, P3 reloaded 60+fps, P5 Royal 110-120fps, Guardians of Azume 60+ fps, Hades + H2 120fps, Battlefield 6(not recently season 1) 60-65fps, DBZ XV2 and Kakarot 60+ fps, Hitman WoA 60+ fps, Nier Automata 60fps+, Coral Island 60 fps+, Division 2 60fps, Re4 high 50-60+

No Rest for The Wicked about 60fps if I remember right, Ghost of Tsushima with opticlick above 70fps average without maybe 30, Returnal 50+ fps some dips sometimes above 60, Kingdom Come 2 60ish fps, Sniper Elite 5 and Resistance around 60fps, Death Standing 1 playing around with settings somewhat consistent 60fps, Warhammer Space Marine 2 without framegen lowest settings maybe eeks above 45fps but normally in combat above 40

Witchfire above 60fps for sure can get to 90 with lower settings, Where Winds Meet XeSS no frame gen 60fps more with opticlick I believe, The Bazaar 60fps capped, The Legenda of Khiimori XeSS FG 2x 80ish fps, Mina the Hollower 120fps, Octopath Traveler 1+2 60+fps, Civ 7 60+fps, Starsand Island 60+fps, Windblown 60+fps, Overwatch 90 capped fps

Far Far West it capped itself to 40 oddly when I played it could go higher or lower but I had it uncapped and stayed at 40, Baldurs Gate 3 initial area and post tutorial alien ship place above 50fps, Easy Delivery Co well over 60fps

Arc Raiders 60fps capped, Outriders 45-60fps fluctuations, Saleblazers 60+ fps, Everspace 2 60ish fps, Elden Ring Nightreign 50+fps, Sworn 60fps capped, Cyberpunk custom settings 60 capped, Deadzone Rogue 60fps capped, Roboquest 60 fps capped, DQ 11 60 capped, Sniper Contracts 2 45-55 on tutorial 50 or less on first mission, Far Cry primal and Far Cry 4 60+ customer settings, Gunfire Reborn 60+ fps

Slay the Spire 2 60 capped still drops a bit sometimes weirdly taxing even with lowered settings but can occasionally get 90 or more uncapped, Days Gone 45fps or so didn't love how it ran, We Who are about to die 80+fps, Little Kitty big city 60+, Cairn around 50+ish frames, Trepang 2 60 capped, Predecessor with FSR medium textures 1680x1050 60fps capped with occasional 1-2 frame drop.

Monster Hunter stories 1 60fps capped, Dinkum 60+fps, Deep Rock Galactic about 60fps average, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor 60fps capped, Retro Rewind 60fps capped, Waterpark Simulator 60fps capped, TCG card shop simulator 60 fps capped, Slime Rancher 2 been awhile but I believe 50ish fps, Mortal Kombat 1 weird red hue everywhere fixable with a community patch but fps was not consistently good 40-60fps

The Rogue Prince of Persia 60-90fps capped at 60 to avoid fluctuations, Quarantine Zone 60fps capped, Starvaders 60fps capped oddly taxing game dips below but rarely, Warhammer Darktide fluctuating 60fps but had weird artifacting that I couldn't fix, Jusant 45ish fps can go higher to 60 but taxing game, Promise Mascot Agency 60fps, Goat Simulator 3 60capped but will drop in heavy situations caused by explosions/wackiness, Neon Abyss 2 60 capped, Nova Drift 60+ but I capped to 60.