Intel has introduced new flagship CPUs designed for high-performance gaming laptops, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. These Arrow Lake Refresh chips feature 24 cores / 24 threads and 20 cores / 20 threads, respectively, targeting enthusiasts seeking enhanced gaming experiences.
The new Plus models incorporate the Intel Binary Optimization Tool, aiming to improve native performance in specific games. According to Intel, these chips promise significant real-world performance improvements, enabling smoother gameplay, faster creative workflows, and more responsive workstation capabilities.
While detailed performance metrics are still limited, Intel claims an 8% gaming performance boost for the flagship 290HX Plus compared to its predecessor, the Core Ultra 9 285HX. Users with older processors like the Core i9-12900HX may see up to a 62% increase in 1080p gaming performance on high settings.
Intel’s tests also indicate performance gains in creative applications, with the 290HX Plus surpassing the 285HX by 7% in Cinebench 2026 single-thread performance and outperforming the i9-12900HX by 30%.
Notably, Intel has not provided equivalent performance data for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, leaving enthusiasts curious about its capabilities compared to its sibling model.
Intel’s performance benchmarks were showcased on the MSI Titan 18, a premium gaming laptop priced at nearly $6,000, highlighting the potential of these new CPUs in high-end gaming setups.
Source: The Verge