Not a bad first try from Intel. It will only get better from here, if they bite down on their mouthpiece and keep swinging for a change, and don't say no mas. It looks like forced obsolescence is what both Intel and AMD are choosing to do with their entry level GPUs. Using the cards in older systems means being penalized. More so with the Arc if this testing extends to lower visual settings. The performance penalties on the 6400 are rarely from playable to unplayable. Only testing at settings that exceed the 4GB and using games that are the most intensive and poorly optimized really allow reviewers to do Leonardo DiCaprio pointing. The rest is working hard to foster drama.
Steve does a good job of explaining the way they test. I still don't care for it. "Understanding behaviors" is great "for science", it is pointless for us budget gamers. Test it the way we would use it. 1080p mix settings in demanding games. Res scaling or 900p if no other choice. High and Ultra are for older games when using cards like this. ETAPrime does this the best of bigger channels.
And if you are doing it for science, then don't compare performance in the conclusion. You can't say the games are unplayable the way you tested on the cards, then conclude if they are worth gaming on. I don't care what the testing might reveal about the higher end card coming out either. I want to know for example, if the card being tested can do 60fps avg in F1 at 1080p, and if so, which settings get it there.
I lulzed at the build quality compliment at the end. It is as dumb as TPU making the PCIE version a plus/pro. The 6400 sips power, it doesn't need a beefy build quality. Why do I need a big shroud and heatsink, or 2 fans for a card that is going to mostly use about 50W? GTfudgeO! Yet another reviewer that is out of touch with the hobby. That piece of paper as he called the 6400, can go in a tiny build, that's a good thing for the niche. Again, ETAPrime represents us best in these areas.
Anyways, I am encouraged by what Intel has done here. They have a lot of wood to still chop, but it's a start.