Intel Unveils Core Ultra 200HX Plus CPUs for Premium Gaming Laptops

Intel is set to introduce two new high-end CPUs for premium gaming laptops: the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. These Arrow Lake Refresh processors feature 24 cores with 24 threads and 20 cores with 20 threads, respectively. Designed with enthusiasts in mind, these Plus models also incorporate the Intel Binary Optimization Tool, which aims to enhance performance in select games.

According to Intel’s Josh Newman, these new chips promise significant real-world performance improvements, allowing for smoother gameplay, quicker content creation, and more responsive workstation capabilities. While detailed performance metrics for the 270HX Plus are still under wraps, the 290HX Plus is said to offer an 8 percent boost in gaming performance compared to its predecessor, the Core Ultra 9 285HX. For gamers still using older processors like the Alder Lake Core i9-12900HX (16 cores / 24 threads), Intel claims a remarkable 62 percent increase in 1080p gaming performance at high settings.

In terms of creative applications, the 290HX Plus reportedly outperforms the 285HX by 7 percent in Cinebench 2026 single-thread performance and surpasses the i9-12900HX by 30 percent. However, Intel has not provided similar performance comparisons for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

The performance data for the 290HX Plus comes from tests conducted on an MSI Titan 18, a gaming laptop priced at nearly $6,000. This model, which I previously reviewed with the 285HX chip and an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, proved to be a powerful, albeit massive and pricey, option for 4K gaming.

Additionally, the new Arrow Lake Refresh chips will feature a boost of up to 900MHz in die-to-die frequency, which helps reduce system latency by enhancing the CPU/memory controller link speed. While the exact launch date for laptops equipped with the 290HX Plus and 270HX Plus chips remains unclear, Intel is looking to its OEM partners to roll out new models in the near future.