Intel Arrow Lake Refresh leak details fresh “Plus” models and specs

Following a rather disappointing launch, Intel is set to update its Arrow Lake-S desktop CPU range with three new models that promise slight enhancements. As reported by Videocardz, the company is getting ready to introduce the Core Ultra 290K Plus, Core Ultra 270K Plus, and Core Ultra 250K Plus processors, marking the last offerings for the current LGA 1851 socket before transitioning to LGA 1954 for Nova Lake.

The new flagship of Intel's Core Ultra line only introduces faster CPU cores. The company has not developed new Arrow Lake silicon aimed at increasing core counts, making the Ultra 9 290K PLUS essentially a speedier variant of the Ultra 9 285K.

Both the Ultra 7 270 PLUS and Ultra 5 250K PLUS come with an additional four E-cores, enabling improved multi-threaded performance. Additionally, the Core Ultra 7 270K PLUS operates at a lower clock speed compared to the Ultra 9 285K but supports higher memory speeds.

It remains unclear whether Intel has altered the interconnect speeds for its new Core Ultra 200 series CPUs. There is a possibility that Intel could be delivering these new processors with enhanced Fabric (SOC Tile/NGU) and Die-to-Die (D2D) speeds aimed at reducing latencies and improving performance. If this is indeed the case, Intel could significantly boost the out-of-the-box performance of its new “PLUS” series CPUs in specific workloads, potentially enhancing gaming performance as well.

Although Intel's forthcoming CPUs are on the horizon, for those seeking high-end gaming capabilities right now, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D continues to be the standout processor. Boasting cutting-edge 3D V-Cache technology, it delivers a considerable advantage in gaming performance while maintaining proven efficiency, making it an ideal choice for gamers in pursuit of smooth framerates and exceptional responsiveness today. As always, for the latest news on hardware launches and industry developments, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.