The new packaging design represents Intel’s transition from the Core i9 to the Core Ultra 9 series. The updated color scheme and box design have been leaked ahead of the official release, providing a glimpse into Intel’s new branding approach. The Core Ultra 9 285K is the only SKU confirmed for release in this series so far. Its lack of Hyper-Threading means that the thread count matches the core count, totaling 24 threads. The efficient cores are designed to handle background tasks effectively, while the performance cores focus on demanding applications.

Intel is set to introduce its Core Ultra 200 series, codenamed “Arrow Lake,” which marks a significant redesign in both performance and efficiency cores. The flagship processor of this generation is the Core Ultra 9 285K, featuring a completely new packaging design with blue, black, and gray tones that offer a futuristic aesthetic. Central to the packaging is a gray plastic enclosure that safeguards the processor. This model incorporates 8 “Lion Cove” performance cores and 16 “Skymont” efficient cores, all operating without Hyper-Threading. The processor is expected to achieve a maximum boost frequency of 5.7 GHz within a 125-watt power envelope.

Intel plans to launch the Core Ultra 200 series alongside the new 800-series motherboards, specifically the Z890 chipset. These motherboards will feature the LGA-1851 socket, exclusively supporting the Arrow Lake-S processors. Additionally, the new series will only support DDR5 memory, aligning with the industry’s shift towards faster and more efficient memory standards. While Intel has not officially confirmed the launch dates, reports suggest an announcement on October 10, with the processors becoming available on October 24. Official specifications and pricing details are yet to be released