# Intel’s Arrow Lake: A New Leading CPU with Varied Benchmark Outcomes
Intel is preparing for a major debut in the desktop processor arena with its forthcoming **Arrow Lake** CPUs, anticipated to be released under the new **”Core Ultra”** branding. As per the latest speculation, the launch of the **Core Ultra 200** series is set for **October 10, 2024**, with a commercial rollout planned for two weeks thereafter. This upcoming generation of chips is highly awaited, particularly following the instability concerns that affected Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs.
As the launch date nears, more definitive information regarding the performance of these processors has begun to surface. Recent leaks indicate that Intel may have grounds for optimism, especially regarding single-core efficiency, where the new leading CPU, the **Intel Core Ultra 9 285K**, is reportedly achieving new heights in benchmarks. However, the narrative shifts when addressing multi-core performance, where Intel appears to be falling short compared to its rivals.
## Single-Core Performance: Intel Takes the Initiative
In a recent update on X (previously Twitter), **Passmark Software**, a renowned benchmark organization, disclosed that the **Intel Core Ultra 9 285K** has clinched the top position in their single-core performance rankings. As per Passmark, the latest Intel flagship CPU scored **5,268 points**, outpacing both AMD and Apple’s leading processors. Here’s the current top 5 list:
1. **Intel Core Ultra 9 285K**: 5,268 points
2. **Intel Core i9-14900KS**: 4,869 points
3. **Apple M3 8 Core**: 4,779 points
4. **Apple M3 Max 16 Core**: 4,777 points
5. **Apple M3 Max 14 Core**: 4,752 points
The best AMD processor, the **Ryzen 9 9950X**, is currently positioned 9th with **4,739 points**, trailing Intel’s new flagship by 8-11%. This notable lead in single-core performance is a positive indicator for Intel, particularly for applications that depend heavily on single-threaded processing, such as gaming and select productivity tasks.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to mention that the CPU evaluated by Passmark might still be an **engineering sample**, implying that the final retail version could exhibit varied performance results.
## Multi-Core Performance: Intel Trails
While Intel’s **Core Ultra 9 285K** excels in single-core performance, it faces challenges in multi-core benchmarks. In Passmark’s multi-core evaluation, the forthcoming CPU reached a score of **49,872 points**, which is considerably lower than its counterparts. For context:
– **AMD Ryzen 9 9950X**: 66,609 points
– **Intel Core i9-13900K** (previous model): 59,088 points
This positions the new Intel flagship significantly behind both AMD’s latest processor and even its own previous-generation chips. The factors contributing to this gap are becoming increasingly apparent, thanks to leaks and discussions from recent months.
### Reasons Behind Intel’s Multi-Core Performance Shortfall
Several elements lead to Intel’s underachievement in multi-core environments:
1. **Absence of Hyper-Threading for Performance Cores**: Intel is reportedly eliminating hyper-threading for its performance cores, codenamed **”Lion Cove”**, in the Arrow Lake series. Hyper-threading enables each core to manage two threads at once, which greatly enhances multi-threaded performance. Without this capability, Intel’s effectiveness in multi-core tasks is noticeably diminished.
2. **Reduced Power Consumption**: Intel appears to be concentrating on enhancing the new generation’s power efficiency. The **Core Ultra 9 285K** is rumored to possess a **TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 125 watts**, which is lower than some of its predecessors. While this may appeal to energy-conscious users, it simultaneously clarifies the performance discrepancy in multi-core scenarios, where greater power usage often correlates with superior performance.
3. **Lack of AVX-512 Support**: Another possible explanation for Intel’s weaker multi-core performance is the deficit of **AVX-512 support** in the Arrow Lake processors. AVX-512 is an advanced instruction set that can markedly accelerate specific workloads, especially in scientific calculations, machine learning, and other high-performance tasks. AMD’s new **Zen 5** processors offer AVX-512 support, providing them an advantage in multi-core benchmarks. Passmark has included AVX-512 in its evaluations since 2020, which might clarify why AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X outperforms Intel in this respect.
## Implications for Intel
The diverse outcomes from the benchmarks indicate that Intel’s **Arrow Lake** processors will shine in