Intel has introduced a new lineup of Core Ultra Series 2 processors at CES 2025, emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for mobile and desktop computing. The chipmaker presented five main processor categories within the Core Ultra Series 2 family—200V, 200HX, 200H, 200S, and 200U—each targeting different user needs.
For Intel, this comes at a critical juncture, which has faced a steep decline in stock value, changes in top leadership, and strong competition from AMD and Qualcomm.
Pat Gelsinger, Intel’s former CEO, was ousted by the board in December 2024 following a 60% drop in the company’s share price throughout the year. In a bid to restore its reputation, Intel is doubling down on AI-ready processors to tap into enterprise demand and rejuvenate its presence in the consumer gaming market.
Observers say these latest announcements will be key in determining whether Intel can regain the market advantage it once held.
New Core Ultra 200V for On-Device AI
One of Intel’s most discussed releases is the Core Ultra 200V series, tailored for enterprise environments. These processors integrate Intel’s vPro platform, offering hardware-based security features and device management. By combining performance cores and low-power cores with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), the 200V aims to handle local AI tasks, such as predictive analytics and image recognition, without relying on cloud services.
Intel positions the 200V series for organizations transitioning to newer operating systems and seeking to run on-device AI tools. The company anticipates a rise in enterprise PC refresh cycles in 2025, as support for older Windows editions nears its end.
Core Configuration: Four performance cores (P-cores) and four low-power efficient cores (E-cores)
NPU Bandwidth: Approximately 2x higher than the previous generation, according to internal testing
Graphics: Integrated Intel Arc GPU with up to eight Xe cores, designed for basic to moderate productivity workloads and lightweight content creation
Battery Targets: Up to 20 hours of productivity use, tested with office applications such as Microsoft 365
vPro Platform: Select 200V chips support hardware-based security, remote management, and compatibility with Microsoft’s Copilot+ features
Mobile and Gaming: Core Ultra 200HX and H Series
The Core Ultra 200HX series is tailored for power users and gamers seeking top-tier performance. With up to 24 cores—eight performance cores (P-cores) and 16 efficient cores (E-cores)—the 200HX offers multi-thread capabilities for demanding applications like 3D rendering and advanced gaming.
Intel says that these processors come with Arc graphics in certain SKUs, supporting intensive visual workloads without sacrificing battery life as harshly as previous designs.
Core Configuration: Up to 24 cores, featuring eight P-cores and 16 E-cores to handle intense multi-thread workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and high-frame-rate gaming
Clock Speeds: Maximum turbo frequencies can reach around 5.5 GHz on select SKUs
Integrated Graphics: Certain models include Intel Arc with additional XMX instructions for AI-based image processing
NPU: Integrated support for AI tasks up to 13 trillion operations per second (TOPS), using discrete logic blocks separate from CPU and GPU resources
Power Envelope: Available in 55W and higher configurations, peaking around 160W under load to meet gaming and workstation standards
Filling the midrange gap, the Core Ultra 200H processors are built for users who want portability without sacrificing too much processing power. These chips suit everyday tasks, multimedia, and moderate gaming:
Core Configuration: Up to 16 cores, typically a mix of P-cores, E-cores, and low-power E-cores
Clock Speeds: Turbo frequencies topping out around 5.4 GHz
Integrated GPU: Intel Arc graphics with up to eight Xe cores, delivering a reported 20% to 30% higher performance than the preceding generation
NPU: Standard across most 200H SKUs, used for image recognition, virtual background effects, or editing tools that benefit from parallel computations
Thermal Design: Typically 45W baseline TDP, suitable for thinn
er laptops while still providing headroom for performance bursts
Users who prioritize battery life and portability may see around 10 to 15 hours of usage for tasks like video streaming and web browsing, though actual figures differ across OEM designs.
Desktop Expansion: The Tile-Based Core Ultra 200S
Intel also announced an expanded desktop lineup under the Core Ultra 200S family. These processors implement a modular, tile-based architecture that leverages Foveros 3D packaging. By stacking and arranging different silicon elements, Intel can combine performance, efficiency, and graphics tiles onto a single processor package.
Select chips use TSMC’s 3nm process for improved transistor density, enabling higher performance and lower power consumption compared to older nodes.
According to Intel, these architectural improvements result in up to a 165W reduction in system power usage while gaming, a figure that could prove appealing for both enthusiast gamers and professionals who need powerful workstations.
Some of these desktop processors also include NPUs for local AI workloads, reflecting Intel’s broader strategy of moving AI computation off the cloud and onto the user’s device:
Core Configuration: Up to eight P-cores and 16 E-cores in some premium SKUs, optimizing gaming and professional workloads
Power Efficiency: Intel reports up to a 165W reduction in full-system power use while running complex games, compared to older desktop processors
NPU Integration: Select models include NPUs for on-device AI tasks, offering performance advantages in applications that use inference or real-time analytics
Manufacturing: Certain models use TSMC’s 3nm process for improved transistor density, blending Intel’s internal process nodes with externally produced chiplets
The desktop chips target gamers, creators, and others who need high performance without the energy consumption typically associated with older high-end CPUs. Intel expects reduced power draws to entice budget-conscious and environmentally aware users alike.
Core Ultra 200U: Efficiency-Focused Mobile CPUs
The Core Ultra 200U series is designed for smaller form factors and ultra-thin notebooks. By streamlining power requirements, these chips are capable of running everyday tasks with minimal heat output.
Core Configuration: Typically two P-cores plus multiple E-cores, targeting essential productivity and web-based workloads
Graphics: Integrated Intel Xe GPU with fewer execution units than the 200H or 200HX series
TDP Range: Usually 15W to 28W, making these chips ideal for fanless or near-silent designs
NPU Availability: Some models include limited hardware for AI features such as real-time background blur or basic image classification tasks
While not designed for advanced gaming or computationally heavy activities, the 200U series focuses on delivering a balance between power draw and responsive user experiences.
Competition and Internal Restructuring
Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 family arrives at a time when AMD’s Ryzen AI chips and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors have gained traction. AMD’s commercial CPUs emphasize artificial intelligence support, and Qualcomm aims to further expand its presence in Windows-based devices with ARM-based solutions. Facing these headwinds, Intel has undertaken internal changes, including reorganizing its foundry business to serve external clients.
Market watchers have flagged Intel’s transition toward contract manufacturing as a potential growth area, though the profitability remains uncertain. The company secured some high-profile deals to produce custom chips for partners such as Amazon and Microsoft, suggesting that Intel is serious about evolving its business model. However, these deals must offset the company’s own manufacturing costs, which have inflated as part of its transition to advanced process nodes.
The immediate focus for Intel is building confidence in its new AI-enhanced lineup of chips. By embedding NPUs into multiple product tiers and working closely with software developers, Intel is promoting an infrastructure that processes images, audio, and other data streams locally rather than sending them to off-site servers.
If Intel achieves stable performance and robust supply, analysts predict that enterprise users may adopt these AI-capable machines as a way to future-proof their device fleets, especially with Windows 10 support winding down and forcing hardware upgrades.
