Intel is said to narrow its focus with the upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh lineup, forgoing all but overclockable processors. This means no cheaper F or efficient T series chips on desktops, at least until Nova Lake is released.
While unfortunate, if rumours are correct, this shouldn’t have a huge impact as Core Ultra 200 Series will be just as fast. Thus, those needing an F or a T variant can opt for an Arrow Lake non-Refresh CPU to fill their needs.
According to @jaykihn0 on X, Intel will only launch K and KF models targeting enthusiasts and advanced users who overclock their hardware. This means that you would need a Z-class chipset motherboard like the ASRock PG Z890 Lightning to take full advantage of these CPUs’ capabilities – unless you don’t care about overclocking.
The leaker has also mentioned that these chips would feature some sort of performance enhancement presets integrated into the BIOS but didn’t go into details regarding its inner workings. @jaykihn0 however noted that these are not IPO (Intel Profile Optimisation) which adapts the CPU behaviour based on the workload, though they are quite similar in some ways.
With that in mind, these Arrow Lake Refresh processors could also boast higher base and boost frequencies than their predecessors to convince users unwilling to wait until 2026 for Nova Lake chips. At the same time, those running a low or midrange CPU on their LGA-1851 platform would have an upgrade path.
Note that when it comes to Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh every leaker has their own take. Some claimed that the lineup was cancelled, others that higher core counts were planned, while the latest indicated that only the NPU will see an upgrade. So, take the above with a grain of salt.
If Intel chooses to continue with this refreshed design, we don’t see it changing it to any noticeable level, otherwise, it wouldn’t call it a refresh. And to avoid having a lot of SKUs rotting on shelves, the brand is likely to adopt a reduced lineup, just enough to satisfy SIs (System Integrators) and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
