Intel has finally lifted the curtain on its latest desktop CPU offering, the 200S series processors. With integrated Intel Xe graphics, improved efficiency, and AI features, this marks a major milestone for Intel on the desktop.
Intel Lunar Lake on laptops has already shown that the tech giant still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, and its latest 200S series looks to continue this trend. The new Intel 200S processor family brings the same performance as the Raptor Lake refresh but with half the power usage of those chips. The 200S processors also deliver solid performance across the board, featuring some of the highest thread counts in modern enthusiast chips. If that weren’t enough, Intel Xe-LPG graphics is now part of their desktop range, offering more options for gamers and content creators.
Looking at the range, this is an interesting move by Intel, featuring powerful options that look to take on AMD head-on. It’s also interesting to see that Intel has done away with Hyperthreading for this release, focusing more on P-Cores and E-Cores to deliver high-performance desktop experiences. At the top of the lineup sits the beastly Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, boasting 24 cores (8 Performance and 16 Efficient) and 24 threads. This flagship chip can turbo boost up to a whopping 5.7 GHz, making short work of even the most demanding tasks. Intel has also included 36MB of L3 cache and 40MB of L2 cache to keep things running smoothly.
The 200S series is about more than just raw horsepower, with a focus on how the desktop CPUs can deliver similar results using less power. Intel claims these new processors are significantly more power efficient than previous generations. The company says you can expect the same level of performance as last-gen chips while drawing up to 50 percent less power. That’s an impressive leap if it holds true in real-world testing.
While we’ll have to wait and see, from what Intel showed off in the presentation, this is looking like a solid release for gamers. Intel is claiming up to 15 percent higher frame rates in certain titles compared to the AMD 7950X3D. Games like Rainbow Six Seige and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm are said to see the biggest gains. Even in titles where the improvements are more modest, Intel says you’ll be getting those frames while drawing significantly less power from the wall.
Content creators haven’t been forgotten, either. Intel is boasting up to 50 percent faster performance in AI-assisted video editing compared to AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X. Video editors should see noticeable improvements in timeline playback and rendering times as well. Intel is also showing strong numbers in multi-threaded content creation compared to the 7950X3D in apps like Blender, Cinebench 2024, and POV-Ray. If these claims hold true, the new 200S series could be a fantastic option for content creators looking for an upgrade.
Not to be left behind by AMD in the AI arms race, the 200S series now includes a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), making these the first Intel chips with full hardware AI support. This opens the door for more AI-accelerated tasks on your home PC. Intel says they’ve worked with over 100 software vendors to enable AI features across more than 300 popular applications.
The Intel Core Ultra 200S series isn’t just about the top-end model. Intel is launching a range of chips to meet various price points and performance needs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K drops down to 20 cores but still offers impressive boost clocks up to 5.5 GHz. There are also “KF” variants that ditch the integrated graphics for those planning to use a dedicated GPU. Notably, the top-of-the-range model delivers 36 TOPS for desktop AI and features integrated Thunderbolt 4.
Interestingly, Intel has opted to keep the base power draw at 125W across the lineup, with only the maximum turbo power varying between models. This could make it easier for system builders to design cooling solutions that work across multiple chip options. The range will start at $294 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF CPU and go up to $589 for the 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, making them competitively priced against AMD’s 9000 series.
These new processors are set to hit store shelves on October 24, so start saving if you’re itching for an upgrade. It will be fascinating to see how they stack up against AMD’s offerings once independent benchmarks start rolling in. Stay tuned to CGMagazine as we review the new 200S range and compare it against the previous generation of 14th-gen processors and AMD’s latest.
