According to recent reports, Intel is set to release its new Core Ultra 200K series processors, codenamed "Arrow Lake," next month. The initial launch will feature five models, including the corresponding Z890 motherboard. As the launch date approaches, details about the processors' specifications and performance scores have been revealed.
The flagship model, Core Ultra 9 285K, comes equipped with 8 performance cores and 16 energy-efficient cores, totaling 24 cores and 24 threads. This generation of performance cores does not support Hyper-Threading and features a base frequency of 3.7GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency reaching 5.7GHz. It boasts a substantial 40MB of L2 cache and 36MB of L3 cache, a notable arrangement where the L2 cache is larger than the L3 cache, indicating a significant performance enhancement. The base power consumption is rated at 125W, peaking at 250W under maximum turbo conditions.
The Core Ultra 7 265K/265KF features 8 performance cores and 12 energy-efficient cores, amounting to 20 cores and 20 threads. These cores can reach speeds up to 5.5GHz and include 36MB of L2 cache and 30MB of L3 cache. Similar to the flagship, it has a base power consumption of 125W and a maximum of 250W.
The Core Ultra 5 245K/245KF comprises 6 performance cores and 8 energy-efficient cores, totaling 14 cores and 14 threads, with performance cores reaching up to 5.2GHz. This model includes 26MB of L2 cache and 24MB of L3 cache, with a base power consumption of 125W, and peaks at 159W.
While the core architecture specifics are not detailed, earlier reports suggest that this series will employ the first generation of Xe architecture rather than the latest second-generation Xe2 found in the Lunar Lake Core Ultra 200V series. However, the impact is expected to be minimal as these processors are typically paired with dedicated GPUs.
Benchmark scores for the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 7 265KF have surfaced on Geekbench 6. The Core Ultra 9 285K, with a peak frequency of 5.7GHz, achieved a single-core score of approximately 3450, marking an 11% improvement over the Core i9-14900K and showing a slight edge over the Ryzen 9 9950X. Its multi-core score reached 23376, showing a 12% lead over its predecessor and an 8% advantage over the Ryzen 9 9950X.
The Core Ultra 7 265KF scored 3219 in single-core tests, outperforming the Core i7-14700K by 9% and reaching nearly 96% of the Ryzen 7 9700X's performance. In multi-core tests, it scored 19799, which is about 3% higher than the Core i7-14700K and about 14% ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X.
As of now, results for the Core Ultra 5 245K/245KF are not available, so its performance remains unverified. It is essential to note that these preliminary benchmarks are subject to change until the official release.
Current information suggests that the Core Ultra 200K series performs impressively, leading its peers in theoretical benchmarks. However, real-world scenarios such as office tasks, gaming, and design work are where performance truly matters, and further testing will be required post-launch.
The initial release will include five high-end models, with non-K variants expected to debut at CES 2025 early next year.