Intel has just unveiled its fastest gaming processors to date with the launch of the Core Ultra 200S Plus series. This series includes two new CPUs that promise a geomean improvement of 15% in gaming performance compared to the existing Core Ultra 2-series CPUs.
In 2026, upgrading your gaming PC can be daunting, especially given the soaring prices of RAM and SSDs. Additionally, finding a good deal on GPUs can be challenging. However, the new Plus CPUs are competitively priced and compatible with all existing motherboards featuring an 800-series chipset.
The new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUsThe Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is priced at $200, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus comes in at $300. Both CPUs offer several enhancements over their predecessors, the 245K and 265K models, starting with an additional four E cores. The 250K Plus features a 6P+12E configuration, and the 270K Plus boasts an 8P+16E configuration, compared to the previous 245K and 265K models, which had 6P+8E and 8P+12E configurations, respectively.
Gaming Performance Uplift: 250K Plus • 270K Plus
With the additional cores, Intel claims that the 250K Plus will deliver double the multi-threaded performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, a 6-core, 12-thread CPU that launched in 2024 for $280. This performance metric particularly refers to content creation tasks such as rendering in Blender and Cinebench.
Multi-threaded Performance Boost and Testing Configuration
In addition to the extra cores, the core frequencies remain consistent with the standard versions. However, other components, especially the memory interconnects, operate 900MHz faster, significantly reducing latency.
The Plus CPUs can also be paired with faster RAM. While the preceding models supported 6400 MT/s RAM, the new Plus CPUs can handle up to 7200 MT/s DDR5 – and even as high as 8000 MT/s if the Boost BIOS profile is enabled.
Moreover, Intel introduces the Intel Binary Optimization Tool, which optimizes game code originally designed for other platforms, such as consoles, allowing it to perform more efficiently on Intel CPUs. Performance results for the new CPUs utilize this optimization tool.
The new Intel Binary Optimization ToolThis concept aligns with how GPU drivers regularly provide game-specific enhancements with each update. Intel plans to implement game profiles that boost performance for various titles, benefitting both classic and contemporary games.
As stated, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPUs are compatible with all current motherboards supporting the 800-series chipset. Nonetheless, Intel is working on improved motherboards that will support 4-Rank CUDIMM memory, allowing for up to 128GB per module. With two modules, this enables a maximum of 256GB within a single system. These new motherboards are scheduled for release later this year.
Upcoming motherboards will offer initial support for 4-Rank CUDIMM RAMThe two Plus CPUs are set to hit the market on March 26, with pre-built systems featuring the new processors also launching on the same day. Intel has already dispatched samples to reviewers and anticipates reviews to surface “a couple of days” before the launch date.
Intel has also indicated that additional “Plus” CPUs will be released in the future, representing the pinnacle of this generation's CPU technology and providing an upgrade path that won’t necessitate replacing the motherboard.
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