Tag: Arrow Lake Refresh

  • Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus Impresses with Geekbench Results

    Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus Impresses with Geekbench Results

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel has launched the Core Ultra 200S Plus Arrow Lake Refresh series, featuring the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 9 290K Plus processors, but canceled the latter.
    2. The leaked Core Ultra 9 290K Plus showed impressive Geekbench scores, achieving 3,747 (single-core) and 26,117 (multi-core), indicating a significant performance upgrade over the Core Ultra 9 285K.
    3. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus reportedly offers a 15% improvement in single-core and a 20% enhancement in multi-core performance compared to the Core Ultra 9 285K, outperforming the Ryzen 9 9950X in both metrics.
    4. The cancellation of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus may be due to financial reasons, as the more affordable Core Ultra 7 270K Plus competes closely with the Ryzen 9 9950X at a much lower price point.
    5. The Core Ultra 200S Plus processors are a solid choice for users seeking performance upgrades while using the new LGA1851 socket, especially until the upcoming Nova Lake series arrives.

    Intel has unveiled its new desktop CPUs called the Core Ultra 200S Plus Arrow Lake Refresh. This series includes just two processors: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus. It seems that Intel has decided to cancel the high-end Core Ultra 9 290K Plus. A leaked Geekbench benchmark shows that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus would have provided a significant upgrade when compared to the Core Ultra 9 285K.

    Performance Insights

    A user named HXL on X discovered that the 24-core Core Ultra 9 290K Plus achieved impressive scores on Geekbench 6.5, with single-core and multi-core results of 3,747 and 26,117, respectively. Like other processors in the Arrow Lake Refresh series, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus had a boost clock speed of +100 MHz (5.8 GHz) over the Core Ultra 9 285K and utilized the new Intel Binary Optimization (IBOT) technology.

    Comparison to Previous Models

    In our own tests, the Core Ultra 9 285K reached single-core and multi-core Geekbench 6.5 scores of 3,260 and 21,688. The leaked Core Ultra 9 290K Plus reportedly shows a 15% improvement in single-core performance and a 20% enhancement in multi-core performance. This also indicates that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus outperforms the Ryzen 9 9950X by 10% in single-core and 22% in multi-core Geekbench 6.5 tests.

    Market Implications

    If Intel had launched the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus together with the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, it would have easily outperformed the Ryzen 9 9950X in both single-core and multi-core tests. The reason for the cancellation of the flagship Arrow Lake Refresh model remains unclear; it might have been due to financial reasons, as the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus competes closely with the Ryzen 9 9950X at a much lower price point. The Ryzen 9 9950X is currently priced around $513 on Amazon, whereas the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is available for just $299, making it over $200 cheaper.

    In conclusion, the Intel Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs are solid additions to the market. If you’re using the new LGA1851 socket and are looking for a significant performance boost to tide you over until Nova Lake arrives, the Core Ultra 200S Plus processors are definitely worth considering.

    Source:
    Link

     

    Tags: , ,
  • Intel Core 5 Ultra 250K Plus Beats AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in Benchmarks

    Intel Core 5 Ultra 250K Plus Beats AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in Benchmarks

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus features an 18-core configuration with 12 E-cores and 6 P-cores, replacing the 14-core Core Ultra 5 245K.
    2. Passmark results show a 2.1% increase in single-thread performance and a 16.3% increase in multicore performance for the 250K Plus.
    3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is over 66% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in multithreaded tasks, and 4% faster in single-core performance.
    4. The Arrow Lake Refresh series also includes the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, which has additional E-cores and improved turbo clocks; the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has been canceled.
    5. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K was already outperforming the Ryzen 5 9600X, but the latter may still be better for gaming performance.

    We have discussed various leaks regarding “Arrow Lake Refresh” before, and now we got some new info about the Core Ultra 250K Plus appearing on Passmark, showing some really impressive performance gains.

    Specifications Overview

    The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is set to take the place of the 14-core Core Ultra 5 245K. This new chip is anticipated to feature an 18-core configuration, consisting of 12 E-cores and 6 P-cores. An earlier Geekbench listing suggested that the performance for single-core was almost the same, but the multicore performance was significantly lower. This was likely due to it being an early sample that couldn’t perform at its best yet.

    Performance Insights

    However, the results from Passmark tell a different tale. The single-thread score shows an increase of merely about 2.1%, while the multicore score has surged by an impressive 16.3%. It’s clear that the extra four E-cores are making a difference, complemented by a boost of 100 MHz in the P-core and E-core clocks.

    When you compare this to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, which is currently priced at $190 on Amazon, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is now over 66% faster in multithreaded tasks. In single-core performance, the 250K Plus takes the lead by a more modest 4%. This result isn’t surprising, given that the 245K was already outperforming the 9600X in benchmarks. Yet, it’s worth noting that the 9600X has been recognized as the better choice for gaming performance, and it may maintain that edge even after the arrival of the 250K Plus.

    Additional Models in the Lineup

    In addition to the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, the Arrow Lake Refresh series will also include the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, which will have four more E-cores and enhanced turbo clocks. However, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has been scrapped due to product overlap that Intel found unacceptable.

    This information was uncovered by TechPowerUp on Passmark.

    Source:
    Link

     

    Tags: , ,
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Tops Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Test

    Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Tops Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Test

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus features a 24-core configuration with 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, increasing efficiency cores from the 265K model.
    2. It has a base and boost clock speed that is 100 MHz faster than the Core Ultra 7 265K.
    3. In Geekbench 5 tests, the 270K Plus scored 21,368 in multi-core performance and 3,235 in single-core performance, showing slight improvements over the 265K.
    4. The performance increase from the 265K to the 270K Plus is modest, with about 5.5% improvement in single-core and 3.7% in multi-core performance.
    5. Future Intel Nova Lake desktop CPUs are not expected soon, making the Arrow Lake Refresh the main option for new Intel-based builds in the near future.

    Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 270K Plus “Arrow Lake Refresh” has made another appearance on Geekbench, showing results that align closely with earlier leaks. The performance increase from the Core Ultra 7 265K to the 270K Plus is not much, thanks to higher clock speeds and more efficiency cores.

    Specifications of the 270K Plus

    The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is set to have a 24-core configuration, which includes 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores. This new model will have 4 more efficiency cores than its predecessor, the 265K, and features a base and boost clock that is 100 MHz faster, as per industry chatter. The test setup used a Gigabyte Z890 Eagle motherboard, which is currently priced at $210 on Amazon, along with 64 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM.

    Performance Insights

    In the Geekbench 5 test, the 24-core Core Ultra 7 270K Plus achieved a score of 21,368 in multi-core performance and 3,235 in single-core performance. For context, the 20-core Core Ultra 7 265K recorded scores of approximately 3,065 for single-core and 20,613 for multi-core, showcasing a slight yet noticeable improvement – about 5.5% in single-core and 3.7% in multi-core performance. With quicker memory and additional tuning, the Arrow Lake Refresh processors may offer even better performance enhancements.

    Future Considerations

    Given that new Nova Lake desktop CPUs from Intel are not anticipated in the near future, anyone wanting to create a new Intel-based computer will have to make do with the small upgrades that come with the Arrow Lake Refresh. Also, due to the soaring DRAM prices, putting together a new PC in 2026 might turn out to be quite a hefty investment.

    Geekbench, noted by TechPowerUp.

    Source:
    Link

     

    Tags: , ,
  • Arrow Lake Refresh: More Disappointing Than Anticipated

    Arrow Lake Refresh: More Disappointing Than Anticipated

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is implementing operational changes to improve the company’s performance.
    2. The Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs are expected to have quicker clock speeds but will continue using the outdated NPU 3, rather than upgrading to NPU 4.
    3. The updates for the Arrow Lake Refresh are minor, with no changes to core counts and only specific SKUs (‘K’ and ‘KF’) expected to receive enhancements.
    4. Intel will not introduce a new series name for the Arrow Lake Refresh; it will remain within the Core Ultra 200 series.
    5. The exact increase in clock speeds for the refreshed CPUs is unclear, with the launch expected in the latter half of the year.

    Intel has been facing challenges for some time, but new CEO Lip-Bu Tan is making efforts to improve the situation. Significant changes in operations have occurred since his leadership began, impacting future product launches. The company plans to update its Arrow Lake range of CPUs, but if the latest leaks are correct, the upgrades may be less significant than what was initially anticipated.

    Upcoming Changes

    A report from early July indicated that the Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs would feature quicker clock speeds and an updated NPU. The Arrow Lake chips, which include the Core Ultra 200S desktop CPUs, currently utilize NPU 3—an older version that debuted with Meteor Lake chips in late 2023. This particular NPU has a performance capability of just 11.5 TOPS, which makes it ineligible for Copilot+ certification. The report suggested that the Arrow Lake Refresh would introduce NPU 4, similar to the Lunar Lake chips, which can achieve 48 TOPS. However, it seems that Intel will continue using NPU 3 for the refresh instead.

    Leaker Insights

    Known leaker Jaykihn has been providing updates about the Arrow Lake Refresh for some time. In his most recent post, responding to one of his earlier insights, he claims neither the desktop nor the high-end laptop CPU SKUs will see any changes to the NPU. This implies that the new CPUs will merely receive a boost in clock speeds, resulting in yet another minor update. It also indicates that the core counts will likely stay the same.

    Naming and Specifications

    Regarding naming conventions, Intel is not expected to introduce a new series for the Arrow Lake Refresh, meaning it will still fall under the Core Ultra 200 series. Additionally, it’s disappointing that not all SKUs in the lineup will be updated; only the ‘K’ and ‘KF’ SKUs are anticipated to receive the special enhancements.

    The exact increase in clock speeds remains uncertain. For context, the flagship Arrow Lake processor, Core Ultra 9 285K, has a boost clock of 5.5 GHz, which is lower than that of the 14th Gen Core i7 and Core i9 processors. Nonetheless, Intel is projected to unveil the refreshed lineup sometime in the latter half of this year, although a specific date has yet to be confirmed.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • Intel Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs: Faster Clock Speeds for Desktops

    Intel Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs: Faster Clock Speeds for Desktops

    Key Takeaways

    1. Launch Timeline: Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs are expected to be released in the second half of 2025.

    2. Performance Improvements: The new CPUs will feature higher clock speeds and will include NPU 4, though specific clock speed details are not yet available.

    3. Comparison to Previous Generations: The flagship Core Ultra 9 285K has a boost clock of 5.5 GHz, which needs to increase by over 8% to match the performance of the 14th-gen Core i9-14900K.

    4. NPU Integration: The Arrow Lake Refresh will incorporate NPU 4, which has seen limited practical applications on Windows, raising questions about its utility in desktop CPUs.

    5. Gaming Landscape: The second half of 2025 is shaping up to be exciting for gamers, with new Intel CPUs and anticipated launches of desktop GPUs from AMD and Nvidia.

    While Intel is gearing up to introduce Nova Lake as the next significant CPU architecture for desktops, the company is also working on the Arrow Lake Refresh chips. Similar to previous updates, the Core Ultra 200 Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs are not anticipated to deliver drastic changes. Nevertheless, there are certain important aspects where Intel aims to enhance performance.

    Upcoming Release

    As reported by ZDNET Korea (via @harukaze5719 on X), the Intel Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs are set to launch sometime in H2 2025, featuring quicker clock speeds and NPU 4. The specifics regarding the improvement in clock speeds for the Arrow Lake Refresh chips remain unclear, as the report does not provide any numerical details.

    Key Specifications

    To put it into perspective, the Core Ultra 9 285K, which is the leading Arrow Lake processor, has a boost clock of 5.5 GHz. This represents a significant reduction compared to the 14th-gen Core i9-14900K (Available on Amazon). In order for the Arrow Lake Refresh flagship to match the 14th-gen models, it will need to achieve a boost clock increase of over 8%.

    NPU Enhancements

    Currently, the Core Ultra 200S desktop CPUs utilize NPU 3, an earlier version that Intel first rolled out with Meteor Lake chips in late 2023. Intel later integrated the much-improved NPU 4 into the Core Ultra 200V Lunar Lake mobile chips. This is the NPU that Intel is reportedly planning to implement in the Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs.

    Despite the potential power of the NPU that Intel includes in its new processors, there are not many truly practical applications for an NPU on Windows at this moment. Thus, it raises the question of whether it’s wise to allocate valuable silicon for something as underused as an NPU in desktop CPUs.

    Exciting Times Ahead

    Overall, H2 2025 seems to be quite promising, as both AMD and Nvidia are also rumored to be launching new desktop GPUs within a few months. Alongside the new Intel CPUs, gamers will have plenty to look forward to this upcoming holiday season.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • 42-Core Intel CPU Architecture Makes a Comeback for Desktops

    42-Core Intel CPU Architecture Makes a Comeback for Desktops

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel has a history of canceling CPU designs, including the Royal Core project and Arrow Lake-S refresh.
    2. New information suggests that the Intel Arrow Lake Refresh for both desktops and mobile devices has been revived.
    3. The Arrow Lake-S Refresh will use the same interface as current Core Ultra 200 processors, allowing existing LGA 1851 motherboard users to upgrade without new hardware.
    4. Leaks indicate that the Arrow Lake-S Refresh could feature up to 42 cores, potentially improving multi-core performance by 30-50%.
    5. Readers should be cautious about the validity of the leaked information, as it is over 1.5 years old.

    Intel has a history of canceling CPU designs, as suggested by various leaks. Just last year, many reports indicated that the company had scrapped Jim Keller’s Royal Core project and the upcoming Arrow Lake-S refresh. With the supposed cancellation of the Arrow Lake Refresh, it seemed like Intel wouldn’t have a counter to AMD’s Zen 5X3D and possibly even Zen 6 until the arrival of Nova Lake.

    Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh Resurfaces

    However, new information suggests that the Intel Arrow Lake Refresh is back in action. According to a post by Golden Pig Upgrade Pack on Weibo, both the Intel Arrow Lake-S Refresh for desktops and the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh for mobile devices have supposedly been revived. The ARL-S Refresh will maintain the same interface as the current Core Ultra 200 desktop processors. This means that users with an LGA 1851 motherboard won’t have to invest in a new one.

    Moreover, the leaker has mentioned that AI PCs “are getting bigger and stronger.” Since this is a machine translation, we may be missing some context, but it appears that both Arrow Lake S and Arrow Lake HX Refresh will feature more powerful NPUs and possibly additional cores.

    Speculations on Performance

    Unfortunately, there is a lack of current information regarding the specifications of the Arrow Lake-S Refresh and Arrow Lake-HX Refresh processors. Nonetheless, some hardware details were revealed in a leak from Moore’s Law Is Dead in 2023. According to MLID, the Arrow Lake-S Refresh could include up to 42 cores, combining 8 Lion Cove P-cores, 32 Symont E-cores, and 2 LP E-cores. As the ARL-R is expected to launch without hyperthreading, this top SKU will be restricted to 42 threads.

    This high core count is likely to lead to a significant improvement in multi-core performance, with MLID estimating a 30-50% boost. However, the increase in single-core performance is projected to be only a modest single-digit percentage.

    Caution on Information Validity

    That being said, it’s uncertain how much of this leak remains valid, as it is over 1.5 years old. Therefore, readers should consider this information with a large grain of salt.

    In conclusion, the revival of Arrow Lake-S Refresh and Arrow Lake-HX Refresh brings good news for Intel enthusiasts who have been waiting for something to cheer about in recent months. AMD has been leading the desktop CPU market without significant competition from Intel. Team Red has just introduced its latest Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, which are designed for productivity while also delivering top-tier gaming performance.

    Source:
    Link

    42-Core Intel CPU Architecture Makes a Comeback for Desktops
    Tags: , ,
  • Intel Nova Lake Desktop CPUs Rumored to Feature Up to 52 Cores

    Intel Nova Lake Desktop CPUs Rumored to Feature Up to 52 Cores

    Intel is planning to launch its next series of desktop CPUs, known as ‘Nova Lake’, in 2026, though there are many speculations regarding their specifications. Recent leaks suggest that one configuration could feature a whopping 52 cores, which is more than twice that of the previous models. Right now, not much is known about the Nova Lake CPUs or the Arrow Lake Refresh, which might not follow the expected trends.

    Configuration Insights

    A popular leaker, using the handle @Jaykihn, responded to an earlier leak on X that outlined potential configurations for the four anticipated Nova Lake CPUs. The initial report mentioned 48 cores, consisting of 16 Performance cores (P cores) and 32 Efficient cores (E cores) for the Nova Lake S CPU. However, Jaykihn revealed that there are also 4 Low-power Efficiency cores (LP E cores) included in this setup, bringing the total to 52 cores. Likewise, the Nova Lake HX CPU is rumored to have 28 cores rather than the previously thought 24, and the Nova Lake H CPU might come with 16 cores instead of only 12.

    Core Specifications

    In addition, the leaker has confirmed that these CPUs will include Coyote Cove P cores and Arctic Wolf E/LP E cores. It is anticipated that the Nova Lake series will be part of Intel’s Core Ultra 400 series, while the Arrow Lake Refresh will likely offer Core Ultra 300 series processors.

    Earlier, it was thought that Intel would increase the number of E cores to 32 for an Arrow Lake Refresh SKU, which, along with 8 Lion Cove P cores, would mean a total of 40 cores. However, another well-known leaker recently dismissed this rumor on the Chinese platform Weibo, suggesting that Intel may only enhance the NPU aspect of the chip.

    Unofficial Speculations

    As highlighted before, these are merely speculations, and there is no confirmed information about the configurations or how many SKUs will be available for Nova Lake or Arrow Lake Refresh processors.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,