Arrow Lake architecture 2/2:
DDR5 memory continues to evolve:
As far as memory is concerned, there’s no change. You can keep your DDR5 kit if you already have one. However, Intel has announced support for DDR5 CUDIMM(Clocked Unbuffered Dual Inline Memory Module) memory kits. What’s special about these new modules, compared to what we currently have with DDR5 UDIMMs, is the presence of a new chip integrated into the PCB, called the CKD(Client Clock Driver).
OK, but what does this actually change? These new CUDIMM memory kits will make it possible to reach higher frequencies than we currently know. This CDK chip will dynamically adjust the memory frequency and voltage according to the workload. From what we’ve been able to read, DDR5 CUDIMM kits will require an Arrow Lake processor, and therefore the 15th GEN memory controller. We’ll be testing these new kits carefully, as we’ve already received one at the editorial office.
As for the rest, the Z890 chipset will support memory modules up to 48 GB, for a total of 192 GB. Finally, Intel is no longer expected to offer DDR4-compatible Z890 motherboards.
Synthetic and gaming performance:
We were also able to discover Single Core performance, which has improved even further compared to the 14900K and will also outperform the latest AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. The latter performed spectacularly well against the previous generation of Ryzen 7000s. In terms of multithreaded tasks, the gain is much greater, and could exceed 15% depending on the application used.
As we said in the slide below, Intel has demonstrated that the same performance as the 14900K can be achieved by the Core ULTRA 9 285K at 125 watts, whereas the 14900K requires 250 watts, i.e. double the power.
This section should be taken with a certain amount of hindsight, as we will be reacting to Intel’s slides. We’ll be able to form our own opinion during our tests. One thing is certain, the performance of the Core ULTRA 200S should be very close to what we had with Raptor Lake Refresh in terms of gaming performance , but with much more controlled power consumption, as shown in the slide below against the i9-14900K
When it comes to gaming, don’t expect a revolution in terms of raw performance. Even if a gain is visible in certain games, Intel is once again highlighting the drop in power consumption of its Core ULTRA 200 processors. Now, it’s important to point out, because we haven’t done so yet, that this gain in terms of power consumption will have a direct impact on the temperatures of this new generation.
On the following slide, we can see the readings taken with a 360 mm AIO-type cooling system, where the gains measured can reach 17°C between the i9-14900K and the Core ULTRA 9 285K. This was one of the criticisms we made of the 14900K during our test: “performance that takes off, but at what price? Consumption and temperatures”. This should no longer be the case with the Intel Core ULTRA 200s, but we’ll see when we carry out our own tests.
Faced now with AMD’s latest processor, the Ryzen 9 9950X, performance is fairly similar, and depending on the game chosen, it’s sometimes Intel, sometimes AMD that takes the lead. Note, however, that some of these games benefited from Intel APO technology.
Intel has also revealed performance data for games and creative work against the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. We can see that the Core ULTRA 9 285K can lag by up to 21% in a game like Cyberpunk 2077, but performs better in creative applications.
Finally, this drop in power consumption will have a direct impact on the processor’s temperature, making it possible (at last) to return to temperatures that are acceptable for high-end processors. We’ll be coming back to this in detail during our tests.
Prices for this generation of Intel Core Ultra 200S :
As far as prices are concerned, here are those available to us with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K priced at $589 and the current entry-level at $294 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF model. Even if we don’t yet know the prices in euros at the time of closing this presentation, one thing is certain: the prices in dollars are lower or identical to those of the previous generation.
As far as European prices are concerned, we could spot the ulta 9 285K at up to 760€ to give you an idea !