Intel has officially announced the new Core Ultra 200 series CPU, marking the first instance of 'Ultra' naming on their desktop processors. This change in nomenclature, while innovative, might cause some confusion to those familiar with the traditional Core i3, i5, and i7 names. To clarify, the Core Ultra system introduces more complex numeric designations, posing a challenge for those looking to differentiate between models quickly.

However, understanding the new product line-up can be straightforward once you recognize the pattern. The updated Core naming system follows a consistent template: Ultra 'X' corresponds with the former i5/i7 models, followed by a three-digit number and a suffix. The first digit of this number is always '2', indicating the second generation. The second digit signifies the series, while the last digit is always '5'. Continuing from past definitions, the suffix 'K' denotes unlocked multipliers, 'F' indicates a lack of integrated graphics, and the absence of a suffix means the processor has locked multipliers and features its own integrated graphics.

Essentially, you can determine a processor's series by examining the middle digit. Even though the digits range from 0 to 8, they follow a straightforward pattern: simply add 1 to align with the previous naming convention. Due to the limited release of 14th generation Core products, they can be matched with the 13th generation versions, maintaining a coherent naming approach.

For example, the Ultra 9 285K model becomes equivalent to the Core i9-13900K after adjusting the middle number 8 to 9. Similarly, Ultra 7 265KF aligns with Core i7-13700KF when the middle number is incremented from 6 to 7. Seeing it laid out this way, isn't the new system much simpler?

A noteworthy exception is the Core Ultra 3 215. Since the earlier Core line lacks a product akin to the 13200, this can be considered a new addition. Judging by the core and thread count, it aligns with the Ultra 3 205, suggesting it might be a small frequency boosted version.