Leaked Geekbench scores for Intel's unreleased Core Ultra 9 290K Plus desktop CPU show a modest performance gain over its predecessor. The 24-core Arrow Lake Refresh chip scored 3456 single-core and 24610 multi-core points, posting a 9% multi-core uplift compared to the current Core Ultra 9 285K flagship.

The test hardware included Gigabyte's high-end Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard paired with 48GB of DDR5-8000 memory. This configuration suggests Intel is targeting enthusiasts with its refreshed lineup. A mobile Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus variant was also spotted in an Acer Predator Helios gaming laptop.

These leaks indicate Intel's refresh focuses on clock speed tuning for its 8-performance and 16-efficiency core design. The flagship 290K Plus also shows a 2% single-core lead over AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Industry watchers expect the full Core Ultra 200 Plus family, including a 18-core model, to launch around March or April.