Intel's cheaper, faster new Core Ultra CPUs still have a lot to prove
By Mark Hachman
Published on March 11, 2026.
Intel has announced its new Core Ultra 200S Plus (Arrow Lake Refresh) processors, which are cheaper and may offer higher performance. The chips are supported by a new software trick that helps boost gaming performance through more efficient code. The company is shipping four chips: the unlocked Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, plus “KF” variations of both which turn off the integrated GPU. All four processors will be launched on March 26, with pricing starting at $199 and $299 respectively. The most interesting addition to the family isn't in hardware but software, an "Intel Binary Optimization" tool that converts code into a compatible, optimized format for improved gaming. However, there are still no claims about power consumption.
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