Arrow Lake gets a boost! Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has surfaced in Geekbench benchmarks, revealing a 24-core configuration that delivers 5-10% performance gains over the current 265K while matching flagship 285K capabilities—all part of the Arrow Lake Refresh lineup expected at CES 2026.
Table of Contents
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Specifications
| Component | 270K Plus | 265K (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24 (8P + 16E) | 20 (8P + 12E) |
| Threads | 24 | 20 |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB | 30 MB |
| Memory Support | DDR5-7200 | DDR5-6400 |
| Expected Price | ~$300 | $284 (current) |
Performance Gains Confirmed
Geekbench 6 testing on a Gigabyte Z890 Eagle motherboard with DDR5-4800 memory showed the 270K Plus scoring 3,236 points single-core and 21,475 points multi-core—delivering 5.6% and 4.2% improvements respectively over the 265K. With faster DDR5-7200 memory, results could climb higher.
The chip matches Intel’s flagship 285K in performance despite being positioned as a mid-tier offering, suggesting aggressive binning strategies. The configuration mirrors the 285K’s 8P+16E setup rather than the 265K’s 8P+12E arrangement.
Arrow Lake Refresh Strategy
Intel’s “Plus” branding signals a mid-cycle refresh rather than new architecture. The lineup includes three SKUs: Core Ultra 9 290K Plus (24 cores), Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (24 cores), and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (14 cores). Each offers modest frequency bumps, additional E-cores, and DDR5-7200 support.
Motherboard vendors have already enabled BIOS support for 800-series boards, confirming imminent availability. However, industry sources express skepticism about market impact, with teams already shifting focus to LGA-1954 and Nova Lake-S platforms.
APO Optimization Expected
Intel’s Application Performance Optimization (APO) may come pre-enabled on Arrow Lake Refresh, potentially boosting gaming performance by up to 14% in supported titles without manual tweaking. Recent APO updates added 15 new games with claimed gains of 21% higher 1% lows for smoother gameplay.
Pricing Remains Key
If Intel prices the 270K Plus near the current 265K MSRP ($284-$300), it becomes compelling—essentially offering 285K performance at mid-tier pricing. However, pricing closer to $384 (original 265K launch price) would eliminate value proposition.
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FAQs
When will Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus be available?
Expected announcement at CES 2026 in January with Q1 2026 availability on existing Z890 motherboards via BIOS updates.
How much faster is the 270K Plus compared to 265K?
Geekbench tests show 5.6% single-core and 4.2% multi-core improvements, with potential for higher gains using DDR5-7200 memory.
