Intel unveils new Core Ultra processors with 2X to 3X performance in AI applications

Intel introduced new Intel Core Ultra 9 processors today on CES 2025 with two or three times the performance of AI applications than before.

Chips under the Intel Core Ultra 9 and Core i9 labels were previously codenamed Arrow Lake H, Meteor Lake H, Arrow Lake S and Raptor Lake S Refresh. Intel said it is pushing the boundaries of AI performance and energy efficiency for businesses and consumers, ushering in the next era of AI computing.

In other performance metrics, Intel said Core Ultra 9 processors are up to 5.8x faster in media performance, 3.4x faster in end-to-end video analytics workloads with media and AI, and 8.2 times better in terms of performance per watt than previous chips.

Intel hopes to start the year better than 2024. CEO Pat Gelsinger resigned last month without a permanent receiver after various struggles including massive layoffs, production delays and poor chip execution, including game bugs in chips released over the summer.

Michael Massey, vice president of product management in the Edge Computing Group at Intel, told a briefing that AI, once the domain of research labs, is being integrated into every aspect of our lives, including AI computing, where AI processing is done inside the computer itself , not the cloud. AI is also processed in data centers in large enterprises, from retail stores to hospital rooms.

“With the start of CES, it’s clear that we’re witnessing a transformative moment,” he said. “Artificial intelligence is moving at unprecedented speed.”

The new processors include the Intel Core 9 Ultra 200 H/U/S models, with up to 99 TOPS (AI Performance Measure) for the H versions. Other models on the market are named Intel Core 200S, 200H, 100U and Intel Core 3 and Intel Processor.

The chips have data security enhancements and come with an integrated Intel Arc GPU with Intel XMX or Intel graphics.

For the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, formerly codenamed Arrow Lake H, the chip has 2.2 times higher performance in Procyon AI Computer Vision, 3.3 times higher performance in Llama 3 8B, and 2.3 times higher performance in higher performance in Stable Diffusion 1.5 compared to a previous chip, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor (codenamed Meteor Lake H).

Intel is now under the interim leadership of David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthouse as co-CEOs. Zinsner is Intel’s CFO, while Holthaus is general manager of Intel’s client computing group.

“Intel Core Ultra processors set new standards for mobile AI and graphics, once again demonstrating the superior performance and efficiency of the x86 architecture as we shape the future of personal computing,” said Michelle Johnston Holthouse, Interim Intel Co-CEO and Chief Executive Officer of Intel Products, in a statement. “The strength of our AI computing product innovation, combined with the reach and scale of our hardware and software ecosystem across all market segments, is enabling consumers with a better experience in the traditional ways we use computers to be productive, create and communication, while opening up completely new possibilities with over 400 AI functions. And Intel will only continue to strengthen its AI PC product portfolio in 2025. and beyond as we test our flagship Intel 18A product on customers now ahead of mass production in the second half of 2025.”

The Intel Core Ultra Processor platform (V-SKUs) has NPU performance that reaches 48 TOPS and 67 TOPS with GPU. V-SKUs have eight processor cores and run at P-Core Max Turbo frequency up to 5.1 GHz. Intel said its AI PCs use GPUs for high throughput, NPUs for low-power AI workloads, and CPUs for fast response with low-latency AI workloads. There are other variants of Intel Core Ultra.

In other CES 2025 news, Intel is also unveiling its smart vehicle solutions. Jack West, Intel Fellow and Vice President of Intel Automotive, will present Intel’s next-generation architecture with AI for vehicles on Tuesday, January 7 at 3:30 p.m. Intel’s whole-vehicle approach is designed to enable the next generation of intelligent software-defined vehicles.

West’s will show how Intel’s combination of AI-enhanced high-performance computing, intelligent power management and software-defined zone controllers built on an open ecosystem enables a more sustainable, scalable and profitable automotive future.

Intel also showed off its Intel Core Ultra 200V Series processors (announced in September) for business users. It also updated its Intel vPro technology for IT departments.

For businesses looking to stay ahead in the age of artificial intelligence, Intel has introduced the Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors with Intel vPro. These new processors offer dramatic performance improvements, improved efficiency, and robust security and management features to help modernize IT environments.

The new Intel Core Ultra 200V mobile processor series with Intel vPro empowers businesses with AI-driven productivity and improved IT management. The combination of performance, efficiency and industry-leading business computing with advanced security and manageability – while enabling a seamless Microsoft Copilot+ experience – helps deliver a robust platform for modern workplaces, Intel said.

He noted that the latest HP EliteBook X laptop with an Intel Core Ultra7 268V processor has up to 10.5 hours of battery life using Microsoft Teams, compared to similar competing machines with lower battery life. Microsoft 365 apps have up to 20.3 hours of battery life.

Intel is partnering with Microsoft to continue advancing AI-driven innovation, improved security and superior performance through 2025. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors, Copilot+ PCs unlock next-generation AI performance while delivering long battery life, Intel said. .

“Copilot+ PCs offer exceptional performance, battery life, enhanced AI experiences, and are all secure-core PCs with the Microsoft Pluton security processor. Copilot+ PCs powered by the Intel Core Ultra 200V series deliver on all of these fronts, and we’re excited to partner with Intel to bring a broad range of Copilot+ PCs to the commercial audience,” said Pavan Davuluri, CVP Windows + Devices at Microsoft , in a statement. “The Intel Core Ultra 200V Copilot+ Series PCs are an excellent choice for commercial customers looking to upgrade their existing Windows 10 PCs to Windows 11.”

Intel Core Ultra 200HX and H series: powering creators and gamers

For creators and gaming enthusiasts, Intel introduces the Core Ultra 200HX and H series mobile processors, delivering industry-leading performance, efficiency and platform capabilities, along with remarkable reductions in power consumption. These processors enhance mobile creativity and provide gamers with an immersive experience backed by powerful AI acceleration, Intel said.

“Our Intel Core Ultra 200HX and H series processors are built for the next generation of creators and gamers,” Josh Newman, vice president of the Client Computing Group and general manager of product marketing and management at Intel, said in a statement. “With revolutionary computing and graphics performance, efficiency and AI capabilities, these processors will take the entire laptop experience to new heights.”

Key features of the Intel Core Ultra 200HX and H series mobile processors include:

• Up to 24 cores – eight Performance-cores (P-cores) and 16 Efficient-cores (E-cores) – for HX-series up to 16 cores – six P-cores, eight E-cores and two low-power E-cores – for the H-series based on Intel’s latest core architecture. These new processors give gamers, creators and professionals the computing power they need for gaming and creation on the go – including up to 41% better multi-threaded (MT) performance for the Intel Core Ultra 200HX series compared to HX series processors from previous generation.
• The Intel Core Ultra 200H series features Intel Arc graphics with up to eight Intel Xe cores, featuring Intel Xe Matrix (XMX) enhancements for AI acceleration – delivering up to 22% better gaming performance compared to previous H-series processors. Throughout platform, these processors deliver up to 99 TOPS (trillion operations per second) when using the graphics processing unit (GPU), central processing unit (CPU), and neural processing unit (NPU).
• The Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processor is Intel’s first AI PC for mobile enthusiasts with a built-in NPU providing 13 TOPS.
• The Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processor provides the latest in bandwidth and connectivity, with a total of 48 PCIe lanes (including PCIe 4.0 and 5.0) to connect the latest discrete GPUs and storage.
• Packaging improvements result in a 33% smaller overall processor package, enabling new premium thin and light designs without compromising performance.

Intel is also releasing its Intel Core Ultra 200U series of mobile processors featuring up to two P-cores and eight E-cores, Intel Xe LPG graphics and up to 24 platform TOPS. The Intel Core Ultra 200U series systems give users a great balance between performance, energy efficiency and price.

Intel is also expanding its Intel Core Ultra 200S series desktop processors with 12 new 65-watt and 35-watt offerings. Featuring up to eight P-cores and 16 E-cores, these new processors will give customers an incredible combination of performance and energy efficiency in a desktop CPU – whether for gaming, creating or using productivity applications.