▶️ Intel has just introduced the fastest gaming processors to date in the Core Ultra 200S Plus series. The series includes two new processors that deliver 15% higher gaming performance compared to Core Ultra 2 series processors.

▶️ In 2026, upgrading a gaming PC is a challenge due to sky-high prices for RAM and SSDs. Finding a good graphics card at a reasonable price is also difficult. However, the new Plus processors are affordable and support all modern motherboards with the 800 series chipset.

▶️ The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus costs $200, and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus costs $300. Compared to the 245K and 265K models, they have several improvements, starting with four additional E-cores. The 250K Plus has a 6P+12E configuration, while the 270K Plus has 8P+16E. For comparison, the 245K and 265K are 6P+8E and 8P+12E, respectively.

▶️ Intel claims that thanks to these additional cores, the 250K Plus will be twice as fast in multi-threaded tasks as the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. That is a 6-core, 12-thread processor released in 2024 for $280. This refers to what Intel calls "content creation" — for example, rendering in Blender and Cinebench.

▶️ It's not just about the extra cores. The cores themselves run at nearly the same frequency as in non-Plus processors. However, other parts of the processor, especially memory channels, run 900 MHz faster, significantly reducing latency.

▶️ Now might not be the best time for this, but you can use Plus processors with faster RAM. Previous models supported RAM at 6400 MT/s, while Plus processors can work with DDR5 memory at 7200 MT/s and even 8000 MT/s if you enable the Boost profile in the BIOS.

▶️ Additionally, there is a special tool called Intel Binary Optimization Tool. In short, it takes game code that may have been optimized for other platforms, such as consoles, and optimizes it to run faster on Intel processors. The results above used this tool.

▶️ This is similar to how GPU drivers optimize games for specific requirements with each update. Intel will add game profiles that boost performance for both old and new games.

▶️ The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus are compatible with all modern motherboards with the 800 series chipset. However, Intel is working on improved motherboards that will natively support 4-Rank CUDIMM memory, accommodating up to 128 GB per module. With two such modules in one system, you can use up to 256 GB. These motherboards will go on sale later this year.

▶️ As for the two Plus processors, they will go on sale from March 26. If you wish, you can also purchase pre-built systems with the new processors. Intel has sent samples to reviewers for testing and asks to wait for reviews "a couple of days" before the processors launch on March 26.

▶️ Additionally, Intel states that more processors with the "Plus" suffix will appear in the future — these will be enhanced versions of the same generation processors that can be upgraded without changing the motherboard.

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