Intel's latest desktop CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, mark a notable refresh of their LGA 1851 platform. These processors aim to deliver more performance for enthusiasts while maintaining competitive pricing.
The new lineup includes two chips: the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Both are designed to offer a soft refresh of the Arrow Lake family, enhancing their value proposition with architectural refinements and performance improvements.
Key specs for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus include 24 cores (8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores), a max boost clock of 5.5 GHz, and an all-core boost clock of 5.4 GHz for P-Cores and 4.7 GHz for E-Cores. It features 36 MB of L3 cache and 40 MB of L2 cache, with a D2D frequency of 3.0 GHz. The TDP is set at 250W.
- Label: Cores/Threads: 24/24 (8+16)
- Label: Base Clock (P/E Core): 3.7 / 3.2 GHz
- Label: Max Boost (P/E Core): 5.5 / 4.7 GHz
- Label: Cache (L3 / L2): 36 MB / 40 MB
- Label: Memory Support: DDR5-7200
- Label: TDP (PL1 / PL2): 125W / 250W
- Label: Price: $299 US
The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, on the other hand, features 18 cores (6 P-Cores and 12 E-Cores), a max boost clock of 5.3 GHz, and an all-core boost clock of 5.1 GHz for P-Cores and 4.6 GHz for E-Cores. It offers 30 MB of L3 cache and 36 MB of L2 cache, with a D2D frequency of 3.0 GHz. The TDP is set at 159W.
- Label: Cores/Threads: 18/18 (6+12)
- Label: Base Clock (P/E Core): 4.2 / 3.5 GHz
- Label: Max Boost (P/E Core): 5.3 / 4.7 GHz
- Label: Cache (L3 / L2): 30 MB / 36 MB
- Label: Memory Support: DDR5-7200
- Label: TDP (PL1 / PL2): 125W / 159W
- Label: Price: $199 US
The new CPUs also introduce several advanced features. They support DDR5 7200 MT/s memory, up from 6400 MT/s on non-Plus Intel Core Ultra 200S series CPUs. Additionally, they offer early support for 4-Rank CUDIMM memory, which can pack up to 128 GB of memory per module. This technology is expected to provide enthusiasts with unprecedented levels of memory capacity and performance.
Intel's Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs are also the first to feature a new Binary Optimization Tool, designed to enhance processor instructions per cycle (IPC) and user performance. This tool leverages Intel's long-standing expertise in workload optimization, promising significant improvements for supported workloads.
The new processors are expected to hit retail shelves on March 26th. However, the question remains about the platform itself. The LGA 1851 platform is set to be replaced later this year by a new socket, which may influence upgrade decisions for enthusiasts. For now, these new CPUs offer competitive pricing and performance, making them strong contenders in the desktop CPU market.
