A fresh performance leak has just surfaced for Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh lineup, giving PC enthusiasts an early look at what could be one of the most compelling high-end desktop CPUs heading into CES 2026. This time, the spotlight is on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, which has appeared in PassMark testing and is already showing signs it could punch far above its class.
What makes this benchmark especially interesting is that PassMark results often provide a practical snapshot of real-world CPU capability, particularly when comparing single-thread and multi-thread performance. And in this leak, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus doesn’t just edge out its predecessor—it starts encroaching on Core Ultra 9 territory.
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus vs Core Ultra 7 265K: the big jump is in multi-thread
Intel’s strategy with Arrow Lake Refresh appears to focus on targeted upgrades rather than a total overhaul, and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the most dramatic example so far. Compared to the Core Ultra 7 265K, the 270K Plus reportedly adds four additional E-cores, which directly boosts multi-thread performance.
In the leaked PassMark figures, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is roughly 3% faster in single-core performance than the Core Ultra 7 265K. The more meaningful gain shows up in multi-core results, where it’s about 9.5% faster. The listed multi-core score of 64,361 places it much closer to the Core Ultra 9 285K than to the 265K, suggesting that in heavily threaded workloads like rendering, compiling, or high-end content creation, the new Ultra 7 could deliver near-flagship output.
Trading blows with Core Ultra 9: a 24-core Ultra 7 is a big deal
The biggest reason the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is turning heads is its reported core configuration: 24 cores total in an 8 P-core + 16 E-core layout. That’s the same total core count and configuration as the Core Ultra 9 285K. In other words, Intel may be positioning this refreshed Ultra 7 as a “near-Ultra 9” option for users who want top-tier multi-thread performance without necessarily paying for the top SKU.
Clock behavior is expected to be similar overall, with a small difference indicated in maximum E-core boost behavior. The benchmark listing also suggests a higher cache configuration versus the Core Ultra 7 265K, which would further explain why it’s landing in the same performance neighborhood as the Ultra 9 285K.
Only two PassMark samples so far, so expect shifting averages
As with any early benchmark appearance, it’s worth keeping expectations measured. Only two recorded samples have shown up so far, meaning the average score could change as more test systems and motherboard/BIOS versions enter the database. Still, even with a limited sample size, the early picture is clear: Core Ultra 7 270K Plus looks like the standout upgrade in the Arrow Lake Refresh family.
Arrow Lake Refresh desktop lineup: three SKUs expected
Based on current leaks and expectations, Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh desktop range may focus on three main K-series models:
Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
Core Ultra 9 290K Plus
The theme appears to be modest clock improvements in some areas and more substantial core-count adjustments in select models—most notably the Ultra 7 270K Plus. Many other platform characteristics are expected to remain consistent, including power targets and overall architecture approach.
Leaked/rumored specs snapshot for Arrow Lake and Arrow Lake Refresh
Here’s how the mentioned CPUs are currently shaping up in the leaked information:
Core Ultra 9 290K Plus: 24 cores (8+16), up to 5.6 GHz P-core boost and 4.8 GHz E-core boost, 36MB L3 and 40MB L2 cache, DDR5-7200, 125W base / 250W peak power (pricing TBD).
Core Ultra 9 285K: 24 cores (8+16), up to 5.5 GHz P-core boost and 4.6 GHz E-core boost, 36MB L3 and 40MB L2 cache, DDR5-6400, 125W base / 250W peak power, listed at $589.
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus: 24 cores (8+16), up to 5.5 GHz P-core boost and 4.7 GHz E-core boost, 36MB L3 and 40MB L2 cache, DDR5-7200, 125W base / 250W peak power (pricing TBD).
Core Ultra 7 265K / 265KF: 20 cores (8+12), up to 5.4 GHz P-core boost and 4.6 GHz E-core boost, 30MB L3 and 36MB L2 cache, DDR5-6400, 125W base / 250W peak power, listed at $394 and $379.
Core Ultra 5 250K Plus: 18 cores (6+12), up to 5.3 GHz P-core boost and 4.7 GHz E-core boost, reported DDR5-7200 support, 125W base / 159W peak power (pricing TBD).
Core Ultra 5 245K / 245KF: 14 cores (6+8), up to 5.2 GHz P-core boost and 4.6 GHz E-core boost, 24MB L3 and 26MB L2 cache, DDR5-6400, 125W base / 159W peak power, listed at $309 and $294.
Why this matters for gamers and creators
While gaming performance often depends more on single-core speed and platform tuning, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus’s small single-thread gain paired with a major multi-thread uplift makes it especially appealing for people who game and also stream, edit video, run virtual machines, or handle heavy multitasking. If these early numbers hold up, it may become one of the most cost-effective ways to get 24-core Arrow Lake-class performance without stepping up to an Ultra 9 badge.
With CES 2026 approaching, expect more leaks, more benchmark entries, and a clearer picture of how Intel plans to price and position Arrow Lake Refresh—especially the surprisingly powerful Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.
