Intel Addresses Core Ultra 200S Gaming Performance Issues, Promises Updates
10 Nov 2024
Intel’s recent launch of its Core Ultra 200S series, part of the Arrow Lake lineup, has encountered unexpected challenges in gaming performance. While the CPUs excel in productivity benchmarks, gaming tests show a surprising lag. Robert Hallock, Intel’s VP and General Manager, addressed these issues, promising updates that will unlock the gaming potential Intel originally intended for these processors.
Gaming Performance Falls Short of Expectations
Despite strong productivity performance, Core Ultra 200S CPUs underwhelmed in gaming tests. Intel’s internal tests suggested higher gaming results than reviewers saw, and Intel has since identified issues within BIOS and OS configurations as the cause of this discrepancy.
Investigating Memory Latency and SMT Decisions
Memory latency may be contributing to the lower gaming results. In some cases, reviewers reported latencies around 180 ns, much higher than the expected range of 70-85 ns. Intel is also moving away from simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) in Arrow Lake due to cost, security, and efficiency goals, believing the new cores can deliver SMT-equivalent performance without the added complexity and power requirements.
Expected Updates and Future Prospects
Intel is actively developing a microcode update for Arrow Lake, with the patch expected in late November or early December. Primarily aimed at gaming performance, this patch will address BIOS and OS-level issues, allowing Intel to better deliver on its original performance promises.
Intel’s goal is for Core Ultra processors to match or exceed Core i9-14900K’s gaming performance. Hallock pledged that Intel will provide a detailed analysis of each fix and the performance gains users can expect, underscoring Intel’s commitment to making these CPUs competitive in gaming.
Challenges from AMD and Looking Ahead
With a $629 price tag, the Core Ultra 9 285K, Intel’s top Arrow Lake model, faces intense competition from AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D. In addition, Intel’s lineup includes the more budget-friendly options like the Core Ultra 9 245K and Core Ultra 9 265K, both of which are aimed at delivering high performance without the flagship price tag. However, AMD’s processor has proven itself as a gaming leader, leaving Intel with a steep challenge to compete in this space.
As Intel rolls out its updates, the coming weeks will reveal whether these fixes can achieve the level of gaming performance that users anticipated. For now, Intel remains optimistic about addressing the initial setbacks and delivering a compelling option for gamers.
Sources
Watch the Interview
For more insights from Intel’s VP and General Manager Robert Hallock, watch the full interview discussing the Core Ultra 200S issues and upcoming performance fixes below: