Intel's Latest Chip Boasts 10% Performance Boost

Leaked Geekbench scores show the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus outperforming its predecessor

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:57am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of an advanced Intel CPU chip with intricate circuitry and neon lighting, conceptually representing the powerful processing capabilities of the new hardware.The latest Intel processor showcases cutting-edge performance and design, hinting at the continued advancements in desktop computing technology.San Jose Today

Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 9 290K Plus processor, known as the 'Arrow Lake Refresh,' has been spotted in new benchmark leaks showcasing a 10% performance increase over the previous 285K model. The latest Geekbench test recorded a remarkable single-core score of 3535 and a multi-core result of 24,610, cementing the chip's status as a potential desktop processing powerhouse.

Why it matters

As Intel continues to push the boundaries of desktop CPU performance, these incremental upgrades highlight the company's efforts to maintain its lead in the high-end consumer market. The growing competition between Intel and AMD in this space benefits PC enthusiasts, but also sparks debates around the necessity of frequent hardware refreshes.

The details

The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was tested on an ASUS ROG STRIX Z890-E GAMING WIFI motherboard, with 64GB of DDR5-6800 memory. The chip features a 24-core architecture, split into 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.6GHz. When compared to earlier leaks of the 290K Plus, this latest benchmark shows a 2.3% increase in single-core performance and around 2% improvement in multi-core tasks.

  • The latest Geekbench test was conducted on February 2, 2026.

The players

Intel

A multinational technology company and one of the world's largest semiconductor chip makers, known for its high-performance desktop and server processors.

ASUS

A Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company, known for its ROG (Republic of Gamers) line of gaming-focused motherboards and other PC components.

Geekbench

A cross-platform processor benchmark that measures a device's performance through a variety of tests, providing single-core and multi-core scores to compare different CPUs.

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What’s next

Intel has yet to officially announce any plans for an Arrow Lake 'Plus' desktop refresh, but the repeated emergence of 24-core configurations suggests that enhancements in clock speeds and platform tuning may be the primary updates we can expect.

The takeaway

The latest benchmark results for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus highlight the company's continued efforts to push the boundaries of desktop CPU performance. While these incremental upgrades may not always justify immediate hardware refreshes for users, they demonstrate Intel's commitment to maintaining its competitive edge in the high-end consumer market.