Rumor: Intel Arrow Lake Refresh will only include K and KF SKUs

[Redaktion]

Intel Arrow Lake Refresh will only include a select number of SKUs. Only the K and KF variants are supposed to get a refresh, but the other SKUs will supposedly get some BIOS presets for performance profiles.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Rumor-Intel-Arrow-Lake-Refresh-will-only-include-K-and-KF-SKUs.987407.0.html

[Hotz]

but the other SKUs will supposedly get some BIOS presets for performance profiles.

That would only be worthy, if they offer a profile where the iGPU gets higher clocks. Overclockers have shown there is lots of unused potential on the iGPU, and setting it from 1.900 to 2.900 Mhz made it perform 50% better. That would be a huge improvement and even make casual gaming on Desktop SKUs possible.

I wouldn't expect Intel to be as adventurous and add 1.000 Mhz, but a profile with 2.500 Mhz and 25-30% more graphics performance would be welcome too.

That being said... it's more wishful thinking than really expecting it. But if they do that, they should make that possible on any SKU (non-k-versions).

[Jonas Bee]

The 1851 socket is a total dud, there's no way a refresh will bring an extra 25-30% performance boost - we'll get base and turbo clocks increased by 100-200 MHz, and that's it. I'm not even sure Intel is capable of lowering prices on it to give it any sort of chance, best case scenario prices will stay the same.

They should bury it fast and move on.

[Hotz]

The 1851 socket is a total dud, there's no way a refresh will bring an extra 25-30% performance boost - we'll get base and turbo clocks increased by 100-200 MHz, and that's it

As I said, it's possible. There was even news about it on videocardz some months ago. Emphasis on the iGPU. Not the CPU.

Alternatively Intel could also put an Xe2 Battlemage iGPU into the Arrow Lake Refresh... theoretically.

Anyway... I'm just saying, theoretically the Arrow Lake Refresh could be improved by either (a) giving higher clocks for the existing iGPU or (b) exchange the Xe1 graphics tile with a Xe2 Battlemage graphics tile. Both would probably be more useful than giving the CPU a pointless +100 Mhz clock.

[Mr Majestyk]

The only thing this so-called update brings is a more powerful NPU. It IS NOT possible this update will bring 25-30% performance improvement. It's literally impossible. Arrow Lake has architectural design issues that can't be addressed until Panther Lake and Nova Lake arrive.

[Hotz]

It IS NOT possible this update will bring 25-30% performance improvement. It's literally impossible.

If you mean it's "impossible" because Intel doesn't *want* to give us that - you may be right. If you mean it's technically impossible, you're completely wrong, as pointed out in my first comment.

[Hotz]

If you insist it's technically impossible, check this article: wccftech.com/intels-entry-level-igpu-on-core-ultra-5-245k-with-4-xe-cores-overclocked-to-3-ghz-almost-gtx-1650-level-performance/

... Core Ultra 245K featuring 4 Xe Cores, stock clock of 2.0 GHz, 2100-2200 points in Time Spy
... the user was able to reach 3.0 GHz, 3336 points in Time Spy Graphics, 54% increase in performance.
... All of that at just 64° Celsius, air cooler, without premium cooling solution

Thus you can see there is lots of unused potential on the iGPU-side.