Key Takeaways
1. Intel has officially canceled the release of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, focusing instead on the Core Ultra 200S Plus series.
2. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus processors already meet Intel’s goals for performance and value, eliminating the need for a new flagship model.
3. The cancellation follows updates to Intel’s roadmap, indicating that the decision was made after considerable development progress, including circulated engineering samples.
4. Concerns about overlapping product lines contributed to the cancellation, as the 290K Plus would be too similar to existing models like the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.
5. The Core Ultra 9 285K remains Intel’s top desktop chip, with no new flagship expected until the next-generation Nova Lake-S platform is introduced.
Intel has made it clear that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus will not be released, putting an end to the rumors and leaks that have circulated for months about this new flagship Arrow Lake Refresh SKU. The company informed PC Games Hardware that it is focusing on models that appeal to a broader audience within the Core Ultra 200S Plus series.
Performance and Value Goals
Florian Maislinger, the Tech Communication Manager at Intel Germany, stated that the recently launched Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus processors already fulfill the company’s objectives for performance and value. Thus, Intel believes a new flagship SKU is not needed at this time.
Intel is thrilled to provide great value with their Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus are designed to offer impressive gaming performance and remarkable value when compared to other competitors. Our goal was to enhance performance for the desktop SKUs that are widely accessible. Therefore, the company has decided not to release a U9 290K Plus SKU. — Florian Maislinger, Tech Communication Manager, Intel Germany.
The Road Ahead for Intel
This cancellation comes after earlier updates to their roadmap shared with partners, where the 290K Plus was subtly removed from the plans. However, this statement serves as the first public acknowledgment from Intel regarding the decision.
The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus had been seen in leaks and even benchmark listings, implying that the development was fairly advanced. Reports suggest that engineering samples were being circulated both internally and externally, which indicates that the decision to cancel was made later in the process.
Overlapping Product Lines
The cancellation might also relate to product overlap concerns. The 290K Plus was believed to have a 24-core configuration, which would be quite similar to the existing Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. This proximity left Intel with little motivation to add another model to the mix. According to PC Games Hardware, the 270K Plus can already compete with or even outperform the 285K in certain tests, thanks to various software and hardware optimizations, which lessens the necessity for a new flagship model.
For the time being, the Core Ultra 9 285K continues to be Intel’s leading desktop chip, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus occupies the next tier down in the updated Arrow Lake family. It is anticipated that Intel will not unveil a new flagship desktop processor for LGA 1851 until the next-generation Nova Lake-S platform is introduced.
PC Games Hardware
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