Intel has recently unveiled the new Core Ultra 200S processor family, aiming to extend AI PC capabilities to desktop platforms and spearhead the launch of the first desktop AI PCs tailored for enthusiasts.

The series is led by the Core Ultra 9 285K processor and includes five unlocked desktop processors featuring up to 8 next-generation Performance cores (P-cores), the fastest available on desktop PCs, and up to 16 next-generation Efficiency cores (E-cores). Compared to the previous generation, these processors deliver up to a 14% performance increase in multi-threaded workloads.

The Core Ultra 200S series marks Intel’s first enthusiast-targeted desktop processors with integrated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and equipped with advanced Xe GPUs, providing the latest media support.

According to Robert Hallock, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group AI and Technology Marketing, the Core Ultra 200S series is designed to significantly reduce power consumption while maintaining outstanding gaming performance and computational capabilities. The addition of the NPU supports AI-enhanced gaming and creative features, while leveraging Intel’s expanding graphics product portfolio enhances media performance.

The Core Ultra 200S series processors achieve up to a 58% power reduction in everyday applications and a system power decrease of up to 165W during gaming, thanks to the latest core and efficiency innovations. These processors not only enhance efficiency but also boost performance, with single-thread performance increased by up to 6% and multi-thread performance enhanced by up to 14% compared to the previous generation.

With comprehensive AI capabilities delivered by the CPU, GPU, and NPU, enthusiasts can achieve the necessary intelligence and robust performance for content creation and gaming while reducing power consumption. The Core Ultra 200S series brings AI PCs to enthusiasts for the first time, delivering up to 50% faster performance in AI-supported creative applications compared to competitors' flagship processors.

The newly integrated NPU can offload AI tasks, such as freeing up discrete GPUs to enhance game frame rates, significantly reducing power consumption for AI workloads, and enabling auxiliary features like facial and gesture tracking within games, all while minimizing impact on overall performance.

The Core Ultra 200S series is Intel’s first and top-performing desktop AI PC processor, delivering up to 36 platform TOPS of performance. Compared to competitors' flagship processors, this series excels in AI and content creation, boosting gaming performance by up to 28%.

The Core Ultra 200S series processors feature the new Intel 800 series chipset, expanding platform compatibility with up to 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes, up to 8 SATA 3.0 ports, and up to 10 USB 3.2 ports, enabling enthusiasts to leverage the latest connectivity, storage, and other technologies.

The series also introduces new overclocking features, offering precise control with 16.6 MHz increments for adjusting the maximum turbo frequencies of P-cores and E-cores. The new memory controller supports fast new XMP and CUDIMM DDR5 memory, up to 48GB per DIMM and a total of 192GB. Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility now includes one-click overclocking enhancements.

The Core Ultra 200S series processors come equipped with 20 CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes, 4 CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes, and support for two integrated Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. Intel Killer Wi-Fi delivers enhanced wireless performance with features like automatic application priority detection, bandwidth analysis and management, and intelligent access point selection and switching, enabling a seamless and immersive online gaming experience.

These systems feature multi-engine security capabilities, with Intel’s silicon security engine helping to protect data confidentiality and code integrity while meeting the high-performance demands of AI workloads.

The Core Ultra 200S series processors will be available starting October 24, 2024, through online and offline retail stores as well as via OEM partner systems.