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Two of Intel's latest CPUs, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, are now available to buy. Listings have begun to appear for both Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, with the 250K Plus popping up for $219.99 and Newegg listing the 270K Plus for $349.99 . The Core Ultra 5 250K also has a KF version available for sale, with KF referring to overclockable CPUs without an integrated GPU.
These two CPUs provide an interesting return to form for Intel, at least partially, compared to the disappointing response (and launch-day performance) of its earlier Intel Core Ultra line-up. As our 250K Plus review shows, this is a CPU that punches well above its weight, with performance that beats CPUs that are double the price in applications.
Meanwhile, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a formidable option for productivity users, even if gaming isn't quite its focus. Our 270K Plus review reveals the extent of the turnaround from Arrow Lake here, priced $100 less than the Core Ultra 7 265K, with chart-topping single and multi-threaded performance.
These Arrow Lake Refresh processors are competitively priced with better performance than many would expect. While the LGA 1851 socket is nearing the end of its life, these CPUs would be a serious upgrade for your existing build.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a budget-friendly processor with an MSRP of $200. It has the same gaming performance as the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, but for multi-threaded productivity tasks, it outperforms plenty of more expensive rivals, including the gaming-focused 9800X3D. It features 18 cores, comprising six performance cores and 12 efficient cores, and 18 threads. P-cores can boost up to 5.3 GHz, while E-cores can boost to 4.6 GHz, and the chip has a base TDP of 125W.
This CPU has just launched, so expect to see stock levels (and prices) vary across the board. We'll be updating this guide regularly with the most up-to-date prices and links from all the major retailers, with the K (overclockable) and KF (overclockable, no iGPU) models on sale.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a $299 powerhouse with a Janus exterior: a CPU with two faces. For less than $300, you're getting flagship productivity performance at mainstream-level pricing, going toe-to-toe with the Ryzen 9 9950X at half its price. Gaming performance is less stellar, sitting closer to the Core i7-14700K and Ryzen 7 9700X. The 270K Plus is a 24-core CPU, with eight performance cores and 16 efficient cores, with a max boost clock speed of 5.5 GHz and a base TDP of 125W.
The price makes this CPU a truly compelling option, however. Retailers have priced it above MSRP for the time being, but it's still early days, and we'll be looking to update this table with the latest stock (and prices) as it launches.
(Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The benchmark data above speaks for itself. Intel has knocked it out of the park with its Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, with pricing and performance that, depending on your use case, makes them truly compelling.
The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers comparable gaming performance to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, while seriously outperforming with productivity work. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, meanwhile, is able to rival the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X in multi-threaded work, but for gaming, it's a little slower.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/where-to-buy-intels-core-ultra-5-250k-plus-and-core-ultra-7-270k-plus-grab-these-impressive-arrow-lake-refresh-cpus-from-these-retailers-starting-from-usd219#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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