How We Rate Rumors
- 0-20%: Unlikely – Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable – Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible – Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable – Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely – Multiple reliable sources
RUMOR ASSESSMENT
100% Highly Likely
The new leak confirms that the Arrow Lake Refresh SKUs will feature a “Plus” designation as well as more E-cores and higher P-core frequencies. Notably, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Ultra 5 250K Plus are expected to boast a 100 MHz increase in Max P-Core frequency. Meanwhile, the Ultra 7 270K Plus and 250K Plus SKUs will also receive additional E-cores.
These details reinforce previous reports indicating that the Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs will see an increase in E-cores. Videocardz has now confirmed these specs and provided additional insights.
Key Highlights
Earlier leaks on Geekbench revealed that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus would have four more cores than its predecessor. Along with this, Intel is refreshing several SKUs:
- Core Ultra 9 290K Plus will succeed the Core Ultra 9 285K.
- Core Ultra 7 270K Plus will replace the 265K.
- Core Ultra 5 250K Plus will sit above the 245K.
It’s important to note that not every SKU receives the same upgrade. For instance, the 290K Plus maintains the same core count (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) as the 285K but offers a 100 MHz higher Max P-Core frequency along with an increased Thermal Velocity Boost up to 5.8 GHz, which is a 100 MHz improvement over its predecessor.
Core Ultra 9 290K Plus
- +100 MHz Max P-Core and Thermal Velocity Boost clocks
- Supports DDR5-7200 memory
Meanwhile, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus maintains similar clock speeds as the 265K, aside from the E-core clock improvements shared across other Refresh SKUs. However, it gains four additional E-cores, bringing the total core count to 24—just shy of the 285K model. This mirrors Intel’s earlier upgrade strategy seen in the transition from the Intel Core i7 13700K to the i7 14700K, where the latter was the only SKU to receive an actual core count increase in the Raptor Lake Refresh lineup.
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
- +4 E-Cores (total 24 cores)
- Supports DDR5-7200 memory
Similarly, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also receives noteworthy upgrades. It gains four additional E-cores and a 100 MHz increase in Max P-core frequency, resulting in an 18-core CPU. This positions it between the Core Ultra 7 265K and the Core Ultra 5 245K in terms of core count and performance.
Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
- +4 E-Cores (total 18 cores)
- +100 MHz Max P-Core frequency
- Supports DDR5-7200 memory
Another significant improvement across these new CPUs is enhanced memory support. They will officially support DDR5 memory at speeds up to 7200 MT/s—an 800 MT/s increase over current SKUs. This upgrade should help DDR5 enthusiasts push memory frequency records even further. The current Arrow Lake lineup already boasts an excellent memory controller, and this Refresh will further enhance those capabilities.
Intel Core Ultra 200S “Arrow Lake” and Arrow Lake Refresh CPU Specs
| CPU | Cores/Threads | Base Clock (P/E Core) | Max Boost (P/E Core) | Cache (L3 / L2) | Memory Support | TDP (PL1 / PL2) | Price (SEP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 290K Plus | 24/24 (8+16) | 3.7 / 3.2 GHz | 5.6 / 4.8 GHz | 36 MB / 40 MB | DDR5-7200 | 125W / 250W | TBD |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 24/24 (8+16) | 3.7 / 3.2 GHz | 5.5 / 4.6 GHz | 36 MB / 40 MB | DDR5-6400 | 125W / 250W | $589 US |
| Core Ultra 7 270K Plus | 24/24 (8+16) | 3.7 / X.X GHz | 5.5 / X.X GHz | 36 MB / 40 MB | DDR5-7200 | 125W / 250W | TBD |
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 20/20 (8+12) | 3.9 / 3.3 GHz | 5.4 / 4.6 GHz | 30 MB / 36 MB | DDR5-6400 | 125W / 250W | $394 US |
| Core Ultra 7 265KF | 20/20 (8+12) | 3.9 / 3.3 GHz | 5.4 / 4.6 GHz | 30 MB / 36 MB | DDR5-6400 | 125W / 250W | $379 US |
| Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | 18/18 (6+12) | 4.2 / 3.5 GHz | 5.3 / 4.7 GHz | TBD | DDR5-7200 | 125W / 159W | TBD |
| Core Ultra 5 245K | 14/14 (6+8) | 4.2 / 3.6 GHz | 5.2 / 4.6 GHz | 24 MB / 26 MB | DDR5-6400 | 125W / 159W | $309 US |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 14/14 (6+8) | 4.2 / 3.6 GHz | 5.2 / 4.6 GHz | 24 MB / 26 MB | DDR5-6400 | 125W / 159W | $294 US |
Overall, these upgrades suggest that Intel is focusing on improving core counts and clock speeds selectively across its Arrow Lake Refresh lineup, alongside enhanced memory support to maintain competitive performance.