Fresh signs are pointing to Intel’s next desktop CPU refresh, with two upcoming Arrow Lake Plus chips now appearing in an online retailer listing complete with early specifications. The processors in question are the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and the details shown line up with what recent leaks have suggested about Intel’s plans for its Core Ultra 200S Plus lineup.
According to the listing, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is positioned as the successor to the Core Ultra 9 285K. On paper, this looks like a refinement-focused update rather than a major redesign. The 290K Plus keeps the same 24-core setup arranged as 8 performance cores plus 16 efficiency cores, but brings a modest bump to peak performance through higher top-end clock speeds. The maximum P-core boost is shown as 100 MHz higher than the 285K, and Thermal Velocity Boost is listed at up to 5.8 GHz, also 100 MHz higher than the prior chip. Another noteworthy change is memory support: the 290K Plus is listed with DDR5-7200, up from DDR5-6400 on the 285K.
The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the more interesting upgrade in terms of core configuration. It’s expected to replace the Core Ultra 7 265K, and while most clock behavior appears broadly similar, it adds four extra efficiency cores. That takes the total core count to 24 (8P + 16E), which pushes it closer to the higher-tier Core Ultra 9 parts than its predecessor. This kind of “one SKU gets the meaningful core increase” approach mirrors what Intel has done in prior refresh generations, where a mid-to-high model received the most tangible core-count boost.
Both CPUs are shown as being in stock at the retailer, but pricing is not provided. Instead, the pages reportedly indicate “Call for price,” along with a 3-year warranty. While official MSRP is still unknown, expectations are that Intel will keep pricing close to the current lineup to preserve value for DIY PC builders. That could matter, especially as competition remains intense and AMD’s latest Ryzen 9000 series continues to set a strong pace in gaming performance.
Intel is widely expected to introduce the Core Ultra 200S Plus “Arrow Lake” Refresh lineup around CES 2026, which is approaching quickly. If these early listings are accurate, the refresh strategy is clear: small clock increases for the flagship Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, a more substantial efficiency-core bump for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and faster advertised DDR5 support across the Plus-branded parts.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the listed specifications for the highlighted chips and their closest counterparts:
Core Ultra 9 290K Plus: 24 cores / 24 threads (8P+16E), base 3.7 / 3.2 GHz (P/E), boost up to 5.6 / 4.8 GHz (P/E), up to 5.8 GHz Thermal Velocity Boost, 36 MB L3 + 40 MB L2, DDR5-7200, 125W base power with up to 250W turbo power.
Core Ultra 9 285K: 24 cores / 24 threads (8P+16E), base 3.7 / 3.2 GHz (P/E), boost up to 5.5 / 4.6 GHz (P/E), 36 MB L3 + 40 MB L2, DDR5-6400, 125W / 250W.
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus: 24 cores / 24 threads (8P+16E), base 3.7 / 3.2 GHz (P/E), boost up to 5.5 / 4.7 GHz (P/E), 36 MB L3 + 40 MB L2, DDR5-7200, 125W / 250W.
Core Ultra 7 265K: 20 cores / 20 threads (8P+12E), base 3.9 / 3.3 GHz (P/E), boost up to 5.4 / 4.6 GHz (P/E), 30 MB L3 + 36 MB L2, DDR5-6400, 125W / 250W.
With CES right around the corner, more concrete details should surface soon, including actual pricing, motherboard compatibility messaging, and real-world performance targets. For now, these listings provide the clearest early indication yet of how Intel plans to refresh Arrow Lake for the next wave of Core Ultra desktop PCs.
