Quick Verdict
A canceled/unreleased processor that would have offered higher clocks and faster memory support over the 285K.
Overview
Launch
Never Released
Status
UnknownGeneration
Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake)
Market
Desktop
The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was an unreleased Arrow Lake Refresh processor, targeting 5.8 GHz boosts and faster DDR5-7200 memory.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was anticipated as a mid-cycle refresh within the Arrow Lake lineup, aiming to push performance boundaries further. Although listed as never officially released, its specifications reveal a formidable design. Built on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, it retains the 24-core layout with 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, delivering 24 threads.
The processor targets the LGA 1851 socket and utilizes TSMC's 3nm process. It was designed to operate at a 125W base TDP with boost clocks reaching up to 5.8 GHz, surpassing the original 285K.
The chip includes 36 MB of L3 cache and integrates Arc Xe-LPG graphics. Supporting faster DDR5-7200 memory, it promised enhanced memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.
While it never made it to retail, its existence highlights Intel's internal explorations in frequency scaling and memory speed improvements for the desktop platform, potentially as a response to market demands.
Specifications
Performance
Never benchmarked publicly.
Never benchmarked publicly.
Never benchmarked publicly.
Never benchmarked publicly.
- •Performance data is unavailable as the chip was never released.
- •Likely featured a 13 TOPS NPU similar to the 285K.
Architecture
3 nm (TSMC)
Process Node
Arrow Lake Refresh
Codename
24C / 24T
Core Config
36 MB
L3 Cache
125 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, as seen in the unreleased Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, builds upon the foundation of the original Arrow Lake-S design. It utilizes the same TSMC 3nm compute tile housing Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores.
CPU Design
The refresh likely focused on silicon optimization to achieve higher clock speeds, pushing the boost frequency to 5.8 GHz. The 24-core layout without Hyper-Threading remains intact.
Memory Subsystem
Memory support was upgraded to natively handle DDR5-7200, increasing overall system responsiveness and bandwidth to 115.2 GB/s.
PCIe & I/O
The architecture retains the 20 PCIe 5.0 lanes and the integrated Arc Xe-LPG graphics with 64 EUs. The NPU continues to provide 13 TOPS for AI workloads.
Overclocking
By refining the power delivery and timing, Intel aimed to extract more performance from the same fundamental tile structure. The 125W base power rating and unlocked multiplier suggest it was intended for enthusiasts seeking peak performance.
- Higher 5.8 GHz max boost clock
- Faster DDR5-7200 native memory support
- Refined silicon stepping for better efficiency
Key Highlights
- High 5.8 GHz boost target
- Fast DDR5-7200 native memory support
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- Retains 24-core layout for multi-threading
- Never officially released
- No warranty or retail availability
- May have been power-hungry at 5.8 GHz
- Replaced by the 285K in the market
History
The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus remains an enigmatic entry in Intel's processor lineup, categorized as 'Never Released.' In the competitive landscape of 2024 and 2025, Intel often explored various SKUs to counter AMD's Ryzen offerings. The 290K Plus was likely conceived as a high-frequency refresh to the Arrow Lake family, intended to reclaim the absolute performance crown.
However, due to manufacturing yields, market positioning, or strategic shifts toward future architectures like Panther Lake, the chip was shelved before mass production. Its specifications—a 5.8 GHz boost and DDR5-7200 support—indicate Intel's roadmap directions toward faster memory and higher frequencies.
The existence of this SKU provides insight into Intel's engineering experiments. While consumers never got their hands on it, the technological improvements developed for this refresh may eventually surface in subsequent desktop generations. It stands as a historical footnote of what could have been in the Arrow Lake era.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Higher 5.8 GHz max boost clock
- Faster DDR5-7200 native memory support
- Refined silicon stepping for better efficiency
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Not applicable, as the product was never released.
Avoid if…
- You are looking for a retail CPU with warranty.
- You want a guaranteed upgrade path.
- You are building a mission-critical workstation.
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The 290K Plus was likely a mid-cycle refresh intended to counter AMD's Ryzen 9000 series updates.
It would have been Intel's first desktop CPU to natively support DDR5-7200.
The 'Plus' suffix is highly unusual for Intel's desktop lineup.
Engineering samples may exist in the wild but lack proper microcode support.
People Also Ask
Was the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus released?
No, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was never officially released to the public.
What is the difference between 285K and 290K Plus?
The 290K Plus targeted a 5.8 GHz boost and DDR5-7200 support, whereas the 285K maxes out at 5.7 GHz and DDR5-6400.
Can I buy the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus?
No, it cannot be purchased through retail. Beware of fake or engineering sample listings.
What architecture is the 290K Plus based on?
It is based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture.
Does the 290K Plus have Hyper-Threading?
No, it has 24 physical cores and 24 threads, continuing Arrow Lake's design.
What is the TDP of the 290K Plus?
It was designed with a 125W base TDP and a 250W maximum turbo power.
What socket does the 290K Plus use?
It was intended for the Intel LGA 1851 socket.
What memory does the 290K Plus support?
It was designed to natively support DDR5-7200 MT/s memory.
Is the 290K Plus good for gaming?
Theoretically yes, due to its 5.8 GHz boost, but it cannot be benchmarked since it was unreleased.
Why was the 290K Plus canceled?
Intel likely canceled it due to market positioning, yields, or to focus on the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus have an NPU?
Yes, it likely includes the same 13 TOPS NPU found in the 285K.
What is the boost clock of the 290K Plus?
The targeted maximum turbo boost clock was 5.8 GHz.
What is the L3 cache size of the 290K Plus?
It retains the 36 MB of shared L3 cache from Arrow Lake.
What integrated graphics are in the 290K Plus?
It features Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 Execution Units.
What PCIe version does the 290K Plus support?
It supports PCIe 5.0 with 20 lanes directly from the CPU.
When was the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus going to be released?
It was never released; its status is officially unknown/canceled.
What is the base clock of the 290K Plus?
The base clock was listed as 3.7 GHz.
Does the 290K Plus support DDR4?
No, it exclusively supports DDR5 memory.
What chipsets would have supported the 290K Plus?
It would have used the same Z890 and B860 chipsets as the 285K.
Is it safe to buy a 290K Plus online?
No, any listings are likely engineering samples sold without warranty.