Intel's 15th generation processors, based on the Arrow Lake architecture , are marketed as the Intel Core Ultra 200S Series for desktop computers . This generation introduced a new naming scheme, dropping the traditional "Core i" branding in favor of the "Core Ultra" name. It is extensive, covering everything from high-end desktop flagships to energy-efficient models and mobile processors.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the available processors.
Desktop Processors (Arrow Lake-S)
The desktop processors are divided into three tiers: Core Ultra 9, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 5.
Core Ultra 9 (Flagship)
The top-tier processors designed for maximum performance in gaming and heavy productivity workloads .
Core Ultra 7 (High-Performance)
A balance of high core counts and performance for enthusiasts and creators .
Core Ultra 5 (Mainstream)
The mid-range option for general productivity and gaming.
Upcoming & Mobile Processors
Desktop Refresh (Core Ultra 200S Plus)
Intel announced a mid-generation update known as the Core Ultra 200S Plus series, which increases core counts and improves the die-to-die interconnect for lower latency and better gaming performance .
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Core Ultra 7 270K Plus: Replaces the 265K, adding 4 more E-cores (now 8P+16E) for a total of 24 cores. Runs at 5.4 GHz on P-cores .
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Core Ultra 5 250K Plus: Replaces the 245K, adding 4 more E-cores (now 6P+12E) for a total of 18 cores. Runs at 5.3 GHz on P-cores .
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Rumored Core Ultra 9 290K Plus: A potential future flagship refresh, rumored to boost up to 5.8 GHz .
Mobile Processors (Arrow Lake-HX / -H)
Intel also offers a wide range of processors for laptops and mobile workstations, including the high-performance HX and H series .
Some notable models include:
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Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus: A new high-end mobile CPU with 24 cores and a max boost of 5.5 GHz .
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Core Ultra 9 285HX: Flagship mobile processor without the "Plus" refresh .
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Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus: A mobile refresh chip with 20 cores and a max boost of 5.3 GHz .
Key Features of the 15th Gen (Arrow Lake)
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New Socket LGA1851: These processors require a new motherboard with the LGA1851 socket and an 800-series chipset (e.g., Z890). They are not compatible with older LGA1700 motherboards .
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Disaggregated Design (Chiplets): The CPU is built from multiple "tiles" on different manufacturing nodes. The compute tile is manufactured on TSMC's N3B process .
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No Hyper-Threading: Unlike previous generations, the P-cores no longer support Hyper-Threading. A Core Ultra 9 285K has 24 cores and 24 threads .
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Integrated NPU: These are the first desktop chips from Intel to include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI acceleration, branded as Intel AI Boost .
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DDR5 Only: The platform exclusively supports DDR5 memory and drops support for DDR4
Claire Jones
Cloud Engineer / Technical Writer
eBits Tech Platform @ ebits.icu
