Intel Core Ultra Series 2 'Arrow Lake': Everything there is to know

Intel Arrow Lake promised better performance and power efficiency than its 14th-gen predecessor. The first batch of processors has been released with the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K leading the charge against AMD. Speaking of which, Intel switched up its branding for the Intel Core range of desktop processors, dropping the "i" and shortening the SKUs. Although the first few CPUs from Intel with its new architecture didn't make quite the splash the company hoped for, it did pave the way for the first desktop-class chips with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) for AI computing.

When will Intel Arrow Lake be available?

You can buy one right now

Taking on AMD's Zen 5 processors, the Arrow Lake range was made available on October 24, starting from $294 for the then entry-level Core Ultra 5 245KF. The flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K costs $589, making it one of the more expensive CPUs on the market. Regardless of which Intel Core Ultra 200 series processor purchased, you'll have full access to the onboard NPU and a considerable number of TOPS when combined with an equally capable GPU. Five processors were launched to kick-start the Arrow Lake family, including Core Ultra 5, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 9 SKUs.

A second release of Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors was unveiled on January 6, offering more choice for system builders.

What's new in Intel Arrow Lake?

TSMC making Intel CPUs

Intel originally planned to launch Arrow Lake using its in-house 20A process, but due to delays and internal turmoil, the company resorted to using its competitor, TSMC. This move to a smaller manufacturing process alone brought notable performance-per-watt gains, something Intel desperately needed after the 14th Gen launch. Intel didn't mislead the media or the general public with outlandish instructions-per-clock (IPC) improvements. The company instead focused on the included NPU for AI computing and a general reduction in power draw.

The new Arrow Lake processors require a new motherboard since Intel switched to a different socket, but the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K offered impressive thermals compared to previous generation Intel chips. Not to mention there's excellent peak productivity performance even without Hyperthreading, which was removed with this CPU generation. Intel also dropped DDR4 support and followed suit by offering CPUs that only work with DDR5 system memory. This isn't great news for those with older systems, but does mean the company can focus on next-gen RAM.

Intel may not be winning the war in the CPU segment, but the company is making strides with its Battlemage GPUs and we're seeing some notable gains with the integrated GPU on Intel Core Ultra 200 chips. It was only a few generations ago when Intel would share slides that showed its CPU reliably beating AMD's counterpart, but that's not the case with this series. Both brands trade blows across the spectrum and your mileage will vary, as we experienced in our in-depth reviews of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 9 285K.

Which Intel Arrow Lake CPUs are available?

Core Ultra 5, 7, and 9

Intel has a total of 16 CPUs available as part of the Arrow Lake family of chips. There's everything from a Core Ultra 9 285K with 20 physical cores and a maximum power draw of 250W down to a Core Ultra 5 225F with 10 cores and a 121W power draw. Prices also vary depending on whether it's a high-power CPU or one without an integrated GPU. The company uses a few suffixes to determine this with "K" representing an unlocked CPU and one that can boost above its factory settings. "F" represents a CPU without integrated graphics, and "T" denotes one that's more energy efficient (or draws less power).

All of these Arrow Lake processors run on the LGA 1851 socket and support DDR5 RAM with Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores for the latest performance from Intel's hybrid architecture. Whether you're building your dream gaming PC or need a workstation for creative usage, Intel has a Core Ultra 200 series CPU for you. The question is: do you buy one or go with AMD Zen 5?