A new Intel Core Ultra update is coming that will address some of its disappointing performance issues, according to reports from a PC overclocker. The microcode update will apparently patch Intel’s brand-new gaming CPU lineup which, despite improved power consumption, has not provided good enough gaming performance.
Despite the best efforts from Intel, the best gaming CPUs aren’t coming from its Arrow Lake launch lineup right now. As our Intel Core Ultra 7 265K review shows, the chip maker seems to have gone backwards, with the double whammy of both surprisingly poor performance and a high price making the whole Arrow Lake lineup a poor option for gamers, at least for the moment.
This potential update rumor originates from the leak mines on X (formerly Twitter). Hardcore PC overclocker Pieter-Jan Plaisier, AKA SkatterBencher, posted on X that “big changes” are on their way to Intel Arrow Lake’s VF (or Voltage-Frequency) behavior, thanks to a potential new microcode fix.
It’s fair to say that the Intel Arrow Lake launch was a disappointment for the chipmaker, but it didn’t delay in reassuring customers that the matter would be resolved. Following the launch, Intel VP Robert Hallock specifically mentioned that “multifactor issues at the OS level, at the BIOS level” were identified as being behind some of the performance issues, with a heavy hint that changes like this rumored microcode update update were coming.
If this news is true, then it’s a step in the direction, but overclockers shouldn’t rejoice just yet. In a further X comment, Plaisier shares concern that changes to these Core Ultra CPUs will make it difficult to “choose the right strategy” for overclocking. It’s unlikely that real enthusiasts with the best gaming PCs are picking up a Core Ultra CPU right now. If this rumored microcode update is released and it doesn’t fix these issues, it might not appease casual gamers, either.
Compared to even the last-gen Raptor Lake flagship, the Core i9 14900K, Arrow Lake CPUs like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K underperform significantly as gaming CPUs, and that’s before we consider AMD. Intel’s arch rival has already pummeled Intel into the dirt, as our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review of AMD’s latest flagship shows, with the Zen 5 chip offering superior performance.
Right now, there’s no news from Intel about a microcode update, but if the rumor is true, then it’s unlikely that it will sit on one for too long. If you’re thinking about building a new gaming PC, you might want to hold off on buying a new Core Ultra CPU until any new update is released to see how it impacts on performance.
In the meantime, check out our Intel Arrow Lake guide for a full walkthrough on this latest CPU lineup. If you’re thinking about alternatives, with 9800X3D stock shortages likely to continue in the short term, we’d recommend the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D as it’s a much better CPU than Intel’s current options and it’s widely available right now.