Intel has officially announced its Intel Core Ultra 200S series (codenamed Arrow Lake-S) in desktop PCs after the weeks of leaks and speculation. Chock full of power efficiency, performance tweaks and new AI capabilities, these processors form an exciting new chapter in Intel’s lineup. Here’s all you need to know about this next generation release.
Major Improvements: Reduced Consumption Power
Exceptionally, the Intel Core Ultra 200S processors bring improved efficiency. Though Intel hasn’t necessarily outperformed the previous generation, operating temperatures and power consumption are substantially lowered. But according to Intel, these types of CPUs can run up to 17°C chiller and consume 165W less power, a big update when compared to previous generation CPUs like the Core i9-14900K that routinely ran at extreme temperatures and power limits.
A large part of this efficiency increase is the result of improvement in the E cores (efficiency cores). Even without HyperThreading — where every core runs two threads — increasing the core count and keeping the better instruction per cycle (IPC) will be helped by the better E cores.
Performance: What’s New?
In terms of raw performance, the previous generation Intel Core Ultra 200S series appears to offer the same levels of performance most applications. Nevertheless, changes in the efficiency cores may bring some enhancements in the given workloads. Already further optimized P cores (performance cores) and E cores have been created to handle performance intensive tasks with low power consumption, making the new processors appealing to get everyone from gamers to content creators.
The new AI capabilities are highlighted also by Intel in a press release, though the AI adds perks for future software optimizations rather than improvements for branch predictions through AI. The real world difference will be in areas like machine learning tasks or AI augmented gaming for most PC owners.
Specifications. Pricing
The first of these, for example, will come in the form of five processors that will replace the Core i9, i7, i5 monikers with Core Ultra 9, 7, and 5. Below is a detailed comparison of the specs:
| Processor | Cores / Threads | Base Speed (P / E Cores) | Boost Speed (P / E Cores) | Cache (L3 / L2) | TDP (PL1 / PL2) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 24/24 (8P + 16E) | 3.7 / 3.2 GHz | 5.7 / 4.6 GHz | 36MB / 40MB | 125W / 250W | $589 US |
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 20/20 (8P + 12E) | 3.9 / 3.3 GHz | 5.4 / 4.6 GHz | 30MB / 36MB | 125W / 250W | $394 US |
| Core Ultra 7 265KF | 20/20 (8P + 12E) | 3.9 / 3.3 GHz | 5.4 / 4.6 GHz | 30MB / 36MB | 125W / 250W | $379 US |
| Core Ultra 5 245K | 14/14 (6P + 8E) | 4.2 / 3.6 GHz | 5.2 / 4.6 GHz | 24MB / 26MB | 125W / 159W | $309 US |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 14/14 (6P + 8E) | 4.2 / 3.6 GHz | 5.2 / 4.6 GHz | 24MB / 26MB | 125W / 159W | $294 US |
Prices that are only slightly different than the Intel Core 14 Series however, we are still waiting for confirmation.
Key Changes: No More HyperThreading
The Starline Core Ultra 200S is a notable change from previous generations, because it removes HyperThreading, as found in previous generations, where there could be two tasks being run by a core. It may appear to be a downgrade at first glance, but Intel has boosted core count and increased IPC with the chips’ efficiency cores. For most real world applications, this change should leave or even improve performance without requiring new processing threads.
Real World Use: What to Expect
These processors should mean better power efficiency and cooler temperatures, though the improvements there will differ by workload. Games, multimedia editing, and AI chores will see incremental boosts, while multi-threading reliant chores will find themselves stuck at a plateau. That said, Intel’s improvements to the E cores should make the overall user experience smoother and more responsive.
Final Thoughts: A Leap in Efficiency
Now Intel Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake-S) processors also bring exciting improvements, mainly in terms of power efficiency, which is of course exciting for those who really care about heat and energy consumption. They might not be lightning fast in every scenario, but the efficiency gains are enough to make them worth considering for someone that is building, or upgrading a PC.
To be continued: We’ll look at these processors up close and personal, grapple with the benchmarks, and cover what they’ll do in real life experiences as well!