Intel has officially launched its new family of desktop processors, the Intel Core Ultra 200S series. This new lineup, codenamed Arrow Lake-S, is the first Intel desktop processor family to include an integrated NPU on the chip. At the helm of this new series is the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K, leading a pack of five unlocked desktop processors. These chips boast up to eight next-generation Performance-cores (P-cores) and up to 16 next-generation Efficient-cores (E-cores). Intel claims that this combination delivers up to 14 per cent increase in multi-threaded performance over the previous generation.
“The new Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors deliver on our goals to significantly cut power usage while retaining outstanding gaming performance and delivering leadership compute. The result is a cooler and quieter user experience elevated by new AI gaming and creation capabilities enabled by the NPU, and leadership media performance that leverages our growing graphics portfolio,” said Robert Hallock, Vice President and General Manager of AI and Technical Marketing, Client Computing Group
The first wave of the new Intel Core Ultra 200S processors will feature five SKUs starting with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF going all the way up to the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
Here’s the full list of SKUs:
| SKU | P-Cores | E-Cores | Threads | GPU Cores | NPU TOPS | Price (USD) |
| Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | 8 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 13 | 589 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | 8 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 13 | 394 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF | 8 | 12 | 20 | NA | 13 | 379 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 245K | 6 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 309 |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 245KF | 6 | 8 | 14 | NA | 13 | 294 |
Energy efficiency is reportedly a standout feature of this series. Users can expect up to a 58% reduction in package power during everyday applications and up to 165 W lower system power while gaming. Despite these power savings, the processors still claim to deliver up to 6 per cent faster single-threaded performance and up to 14 per cent faster multi-threaded performance compared to their predecessors. Intel’s previous processors would run the AI workloads on the integrated GPU and the CPU. The NPU’s introduction allows for offloading AI functions, which frees up other components of the processor package to do what they’re best designed for.
Complementing the processors is the new Intel 800 Series chipset, which extends platform compatibility with up to 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes, eight SATA 3.0 ports, and ten USB 3.2 ports. This ensures enthusiasts have access to the latest connectivity, storage, and other technologies. Additionally, the series brings overhauled overclocking functionality with fine-grain controls and a new memory controller supporting up to 192 GB of fast DDR5 memory. Connectivity gets a substantial boost with 20 CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes, support for integrated Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The inclusion of Intel Killer Wi-Fi enhances wireless performance, enabling seamless, immersive online gameplay through intelligent bandwidth management and application prioritisation. Several top Z890 motherboards even feature Wi-Fi 7 capabilities with full 320 MHz bandwidth.
The new Intel Core Ultra 200S processors will hit the shelves on October 24, 2024 along with the motherboards featuring the new 800-series chipsets.