Intel Reveals Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus With Higher Core Counts

We were all waiting impatiently for the Arrow Lake refresh, and it has finally arrived. Unfortunately, information about the rumored Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus cancellation appears to be accurate, as Intel did not announce this model.

Intel introduces Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop processors

According to VideoCardz, Intel has announced Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop processors, expanding the Arrow Lake-S lineup. The launch introduces four new unlocked SKUs aimed at enthusiasts and gamers: Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Core Ultra 7 270KF Plus, Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

Higher core counts across the lineup

The main upgrade in the refresh is higher core counts on several models. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus features 24 cores in total, configured as 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus includes 18 cores with a configuration of 6 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores.

Retail availability for the new processors begins on March 26, 2026, with Intel’s suggested pricing starting at $299 for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and $199 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

Faster memory support and new BIOS profiles

Intel has also improved memory support with the new processors. They now officially support DDR5-7200 memory, which is an increase from the previous DDR5-6400 standard.

The chips also support Intel Core Ultra 200S Boost BIOS profiles that enable DDR5-8000 memory overclocking, and they introduce early support for 4-rank CUDIMM memory modules.

Intel says compatible Intel 800-series motherboards may eventually support modules with capacities of up to 128GB per DIMM.

Higher die-to-die frequencies and performance gains

Another improvement involves the internal communication speeds between chip components. Intel states that die-to-die frequency has increased by up to 900 MHz compared to previous models such as the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 5 245K. The company also describes the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus as its fastest 125W-class desktop gaming processor so far.

According to Intel, the new processors deliver noticeable performance improvements compared to earlier chips and competing products. The company claims up to 15% better gaming performance compared to current Core Ultra Series 2 desktop processors, as well as up to 103% higher multithreaded performance versus competing CPUs in similar segments. Intel also says content creation performance can reach up to twice the speed of rival processors in certain workloads.

Intel Binary Optimization Tool debuts

The processors introduce a new software feature called Intel Binary Optimization Tool. This feature acts as a binary translation optimization layer designed to improve performance in some games, working through Intel Application Optimization (APO) and remaining optional for users who want to enable it.

The processors remain compatible with existing Intel 800-series chipset motherboards, which allows current platform users to upgrade without replacing their boards. Intel also noted that more motherboard models supporting the platform will appear throughout 2026.

In other news, Intel recently introduced Core Series 2 and Panther Lake Core Ultra X9 chips. The company has also brought XeSS 3 technology to all Arc graphics cards.