Intel’s Core Ultra 200K Plus desktop has a change before launch
Intel has reportedly canceled its Core Ultra 9 290K Plus desktop CPU. This is based on information we received from two sources. Intel has not publicly announced a Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop lineup, and it has not issued an official cancellation notice. This means that technically it was never canceled, because it was never announced.
The move looks surprising given the reported level of pre-launch activity. Our sources say Intel has already distributed samples to multiple partners. We have also seen references to the SKU in testing.
Based on our information, Intel explains the change as a shift toward performance-per-value. The company plans to keep the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in its lineup, according to materials shared with partners.
If it had launched, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was expected to be a 24-core Arrow Lake desktop CPU with 8 Performance-cores (P-cores) and 16 Efficient-cores (E-cores). Leaks also pointed to base and turbo power limits similar to the Core Ultra 9 285K. Reported changes were limited to modest clock increases, including a higher Intel Thermal Velocity Boost peak.
According to our sources, the core issue is product stack overlap. A Core Ultra 9 290K Plus launch would leave Intel with multiple desktop SKUs built on the full 24-core Arrow Lake silicon at the top end. Core Ultra 9 285K already occupies that position, and leaks suggest the rumored Core Ultra 7 270K Plus will also move to a 24-core configuration, tightening differentiation across the stack.
So for now, it looks like Intel’s top LGA1851 CPU is already out, and there isn’t anything higher-end coming to top it.
| Arrow Lake vs Arrow Lake Refresh | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VideoCardz.com | | Ultra 9 285K | Ultra 7 270K Plus🆕 | Ultra 7 265K | Ultra 5 250K Plus🆕 | Ultra 5 245K |
| Cores (P+E) | | 8P+16E | 8P+16E | 8P+12E | 6P+12E | 6P+8E |
| TVB | | 5.7 GHz | – | – | – | – |
| Turbo Boost Max | | 5.6 GHz | 5.5 GHz | 5.5 GHz | – | – |
| P-Core Turbo | | 5.5 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| E-Core Turbo | | 4.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| P-Core Base | | 3.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| E-Core Base | | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Memory Support | | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-7200 | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-7200 | DDR5-6400 |
| Base Power | | 125 W | 125 W | 125 W | 125 W | 125 W |
| Max Turbo Power | | 250 W | 250 W | 250 W | 159 W | 159 W |
