The Intel Core Ultra 5 230F, an exclusive release for China, is making waves with its impressive performance benchmarks. Offering a slight edge over its predecessors, the Core Ultra 5 225 and 225F, this processor stands out in both synthetic and gaming tests. With enhanced specs including higher clock speeds and increased cache, the 230F is a noteworthy addition to Intel’s lineup.
Benchmark Success: Core Ultra 5 230F Performance
The Core Ultra 5 230F, which was launched earlier this year, is gaining attention for its superior specifications compared to the Core Ultra 5 225 and 225F. This processor retains the same 10-core/10-thread configuration, featuring 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores, but distinguishes itself with improved performance metrics. Recently, it was benchmarked on PassMark, showing impressive results with single-core and multi-core scores of 4,656 and 33,177 points, respectively. 
The Core Ultra 5 230F is approximately 5-6% faster than the 225 and 225F models, showcasing a significant performance boost. This advantage is attributed to its higher P-Core and E-Core clocks and an extra 4 MB of L3 cache.
Value and Future Prospects
Although the Core Ultra 5 230F shares many specifications with its siblings, its enhanced clocks and cache provide a noticeable performance edge in various applications and gaming scenarios. Despite maintaining the same TDP range of 65-121W, it emerges as a top budget-friendly option within the Core Ultra 5 lineup. It has demonstrated competitiveness against more advanced models like the Core Ultra 5 245K, albeit with fewer cores and lower clocks. 
Enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the introduction of Intel’s forthcoming Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, which promise higher clock speeds and additional cores. This lineup is expected to include the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, boasting advanced specifications and improved memory support, setting the stage for enhanced productivity and gaming performance. However, Intel has yet to disclose official details about these upcoming SKUs.