So, it's true that Intel increased the prices of these processors, but they didn't disclose the reason publicly. Intel Confirms Price Hike for Core Ultra 200S Plus Series by $30-$50; Says, "Rising Supply Chain Costs" and "Strong Demand" are the Reasons for the Hike Recently, we spotted changes in the recommended customer price for some Intel Arrow Lake chips, particularly the Core Ultra 200S "Plus" series. The price hike was sudden and unexpected. However, it wasn't a mistake on Intel's part, as it has finally confirmed that the price hike is official. That said, the new processors will now officially […]
Unlike the non-Plus variants, the Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs are witnessing a good demand, but Intel just made them more expensive for the consumers. Intel Quietly Raised Core Ultra 7 270K Plus From $299 to $349 While Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Received a $30 Price Hike The recent price hike could raise the actual retail prices for these products, and this will position the Core Ultra 200S Plus chips in a more difficult position, given they are still not on par with the Ryzen 9000 series when it comes to sales. Launched nearly one year after the debut […]
The flagship CPU that Intel never released, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, has now been benchmarked & gives us an idea why it never entered retail segments. Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus Would Had Performed Similar To The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Leaving No Choice But To Scrap It The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was going to be the flagship chip within the Core Ultra 200S Plus "Arrow Lake Refresh" family. This chip was expected to retain the same configuration as the Core Ultra 9 285K, & would've offered 24 cores and 24 threads. The clock speeds were […]
Intel is making some big changes to its desktop gaming roadmap to deliver faster performance, with new hardware & software technologies. Intel Says They Want To Match AMD X3D CPUs By Changing Their Entire Gaming Desktop Strategy Over the Next Five Years In an interview with PCGameshardware, Robert Hallock has shared the plans of the client CPU team covering desktops, laptops, and handheld PC markets. Robert has been giving us some hints of their strategy over the past few weeks, and it looks like Intel is on the right path. A key change in Intel's desktop strategy came around after […]
The newly launched flagship CPU has already entered the top 10 best-selling CPUs on Amazon and could eventually move up on the chart. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Enjoys Better Popularity Than Intel's Best CPUs on Amazon, Selling as the 10th Best Selling CPU at $899 The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 didn't impress much and brought even smaller uplifts over Ryzen 9 9950X3D than Ryzen 7 9850X3D brought over the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Moreover, the hefty price tag of $899 makes it unappealing and unreachable for the masses. But there are always enthusiasts who wouldn't spend a day without buying the latest […]
Intel & AMD are facing severe shortages of CPUs, prompting a global disruption in PC and industrial segments, driving costs further up. Intel & AMD CPU Prices Surged By 15% As Supply, Not Prices, Led To Severe Shortages Currently, the global CPU market is witnessing massive shortages. We have already shared how CPUs are the next component that will be affected by the Agentic AI frenzy. The relation between enterprise and client processor shortages is very simple. AI is the bigger market now, and production lines need to be prioritized to keep up with the demand. Hyperscalers and cloud providers […]
Intel is reportedly preparing extensive price hikes for its consumer CPU lineup this year, at a time when the firm's offering started to look a bit better with the newer Core Ultra 200S Plus SKUs. Intel's CPU Price Hikes Could Go Up To 30% This Year Alone, Driven By Enterprise Demand CPU shortages are a new trouble brewing for gamers that has arrived with the AI infrastructure buildout, and sadly enough, the effects are already being seen in the retail market. In a recent report, we discussed how the debut of Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs came with a price […]
Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus & Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, are seeing a price bump before their retail launch. Retailers Bump Up Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus & Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Prices Before Retail Launch, Now 10% Higher Than MSRP Intel recently introduced its Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, which got high praise for their value proposition. The CPUs added more cores, higher clocks, and new features such as the Binary Optimization Tool, which is proving to be a decent tech for gaming and standard applications. Intel had originally priced its […]
New Intel processors are now available in the iBUYPOWER configurator, offering higher gaming and productivity performance. iBUYPOWER Adds Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs in Custom Configurator; Configuration Starts at $1,899 With Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Popular system integrator, iBUYPOWER, has announced the availability of the recently launched Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors for its custom pre-built systems. iBUYPOWER, known for its wide range of pre-built systems, now includes the latest Intel processors in its custom configurator, which can be added manually with the choice of motherboard, RAM, GPU, Storage, etc. The company says that the cheapest Core […]
The Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs have taken the spotlight in the budget PC segment, and one of the ways Intel plans to boost performance is the 'Binary Optimization' tool, which we have dissected in this coverage. The launch of Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh lineup was seen with a lot of optimism, given that the initial SKUs, mainly the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, feature an impressive price tag, and supposedly performance as well, judging by the official benchmarks shared. At the same time, during Intel's technical showcase last week, there was a heavy […]
AMD is preparing two brand new Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" Refresh CPUs, the Ryzen 7 9750X & the Ryzen 5 9650X with 120W TDPs. AMD To Expand Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" CPU Lineup With 120W Refreshes: The Ryzen 7 9750X & The Ryzen 5 9650X According to leaker chi11eddog, who has been accurate on various leaks, AMD is preparing two brand new Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" Desktop CPUs, which will act as refreshes to tackle the upcoming Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs. These include the Ryzen 7 9750X and the Ryzen 5 9650X. AMD Ryzen 7 9750X 8-Core Desktop […]
MSI has updated its Intel-based 800-series motherboard portfolio ahead of the launch of the Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series, a mid-generation refresh that focuses on efficiency gains, increased core counts, and improved memory compatibility.
Leading MSI's updated lineup is the MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI II. Designed with a new black-and-green aesthetic, the board features a 16-phase Duet Rail Power System to handle the Ultra 7's sustained 5.5 GHz clocks. Connectivity is a major focus, with MSI integrating Thunderbolt 4, 5G LAN, and Wi-Fi 7. The board also serves as a showcase for MSI's EZ DIY innovations, including EZ PCIe Release, which allows one-click GPU removal, and EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II and EZ M.2 Clip II, which enable tool-free installation of PCIe drives. For those moving to the latest networking standards, the EZ Antenna design replaces traditional screw-on Wi-Fi antennas with a plug-and-play snap-on mechanism.
On the lower end, MSI also unveiled the B860M GAMING PLUS WIFI 6E and the PRO Z890-S WIFI 6E W. The B860M GAMING PLUS WIFI 6E is an mATX board featuring a 12-phase power system and silver-and-blue accents, bringing features like Killer 5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6E to the mid-range market. Meanwhile, the PRO Z890-S WIFI 6E W is tailored for professional workstations, opting for a simpler all-white PCB and a 12-phase Duet Rail system. It maintains the Z890 chipset benefits while prioritising a clean aesthetic and high-speed USB 20 Gbps connectivity. Existing MSI Z890 owners can rest easy, as the new processors are fully compatible with current 800-series boards via a BIOS update.
KitGuru says: If you were to build or upgrade a system and use one of the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs, which new MSI motherboard would you choose?
Newer Z890 models from GIGABYTE have arrived, alongside new features for boosting performance. GIGABYTE Unveils Z890 PLUS Series Motherboards, Featuring "Exclusive" Ultra Turbo Mode for Unlocking Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs and D5 Duo X for Boosting Memory Performance As Intel launches the Arrow Lake "Refresh" series CPUs, motherboard vendors like GIGABYTE have announced their newest motherboard models, specially tuned for the new chips. GIGABYTE previously showcased some newer models at CES in January that were designed to support the refreshed chips out of the box. The company has now launched those models along with some more, boasting new technologies […]
MSI has introduced its latest generation of 800 series motherboards designed to fully support the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop processors. These boards are built to deliver better performance, improved stability, and modern connectivity for gamers, creators, and everyday users.
The new platform includes motherboards based on the Z890, B860, and H810 chipsets. According to MSI, these boards are designed to take full advantage of the new desktop architecture from Intel, allowing users to build powerful and reliable systems.
James Yeh, Vice President of the Computing and Display Group at MSI, said the company worked closely with Intel to deliver a platform that can handle modern games and demanding workloads. By combining the new processors with MSI’s strong power delivery design, users can expect smoother gaming and better overall performance.
The new Core Ultra 200S Plus processors supported by these motherboards include the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, and Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.
The Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors bring several improvements compared to the previous generation. They feature up to 24 cores using a hybrid design with eight performance cores and sixteen efficiency cores. The processors can reach boost speeds of up to 5.5 GHz, helping improve gaming and multitasking performance.
There are also small but useful upgrades in clock speeds and cache. Performance cores see a 200 MHz increase, while efficiency cores gain a 100 MHz boost. Both Ultra 7 and Ultra 5 models also receive an additional 6 MB of Intel Smart Cache. Memory support has also improved, with DDR5 speeds increasing from 6400 MT/s to 7200 MT/s.
These improvements can deliver up to 15 percent faster average gaming performance at 1080p compared with the earlier Intel Core Series 2 processors in the same category. The extra cores also help users who run many applications at the same time or work with content creation tools.
Another helpful addition is the new Intel Binary Optimization Tool. This software can automatically improve performance in selected games when enabled, helping games run more smoothly. Other familiar Intel technologies such as Application Optimizer, Extreme Memory Profile, and Extreme Tuning Utility remain available for tuning and performance adjustments.
Among the new boards, the MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI II stands out as a strong option for gamers. It includes a 16 phase power system and support for modern features such as PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, Wi Fi 7, 5G LAN, and DDR5 memory. The board also includes several easy build features designed to make PC assembly simpler.
The PRO Z890 S WIFI6E W focuses more on professional and everyday users. It uses a clean white design and offers stable power delivery for productivity tasks. The board includes Wi Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and high speed USB Type C ports for modern connectivity.
For users who want a smaller and more affordable option, the B860M GAMING PLUS WIFI6E provides a balanced feature set in a microATX design. It includes Wi Fi 6E, Intel Killer 5G LAN, and strong power delivery for stable gaming and daily use.
Existing MSI 800 series motherboards, including earlier Z890 models, will also support the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors. This means current users can upgrade to the new chips without changing their motherboard.
With improved processor performance, faster memory support, and user friendly building features, the new MSI 800 series motherboards offer a solid platform for the next generation of desktop PCs.
ASRock has shared good news for PC users. The company confirmed that its 800 series motherboards now fully support the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors. This includes boards based on the Z890, B860 and H810 chipsets.
The new processors include the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. With this support, users can upgrade their systems easily and enjoy better gaming performance and smoother multitasking.
Intel recently introduced these new chips as part of the Core Ultra 200S Plus lineup. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus comes with eight cores, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus feature six cores. These processors also include more E-cores, which help improve performance when running many tasks at the same time.
Another improvement comes from the Intel Platform Performance Package, also known as IPPP. This update helps increase system performance, especially in games and heavy workloads.
To make things easier for users, ASRock has added the IPPP driver to its Auto Driver Installer tool. Users only need to download the installer from the official support page. After installing it, the system can enable the new performance package quickly.
The company confirmed that its full 800 series motherboard lineup supports the new processors. This includes models from the Taichi, Phantom Gaming, Steel Legend, LiveMixer, Challenger, Pro and Rock series.
With this support, users who already have an ASRock 800 series motherboard can upgrade to the latest Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors without changing their platform. This makes upgrading simple while still getting improved gaming performance and better productivity.
Intel's next CPUs, the Arrow Lake Refresh lineup, are set for a 'technical' showcase on March 17, focusing on giving consumers a rundown on what to expect. Intel Intends to Target Arrow Lake Refresh for 1080p-Class Performance, Likely Staying Limited to Mainstream SKUs For those unaware, Team Blue plans to launch a new CPU lineup this year, but it won't be a massive overhaul; rather, it will be a refresh. The Arrow Lake Refresh launch has been discussed several times in the past, and it appears Intel is now gearing up for a showcase on March 17. Based on official […]
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