Overview

• Intel is expected to launch Arrow Lake Refresh desktop CPUs in the second half of 2025 with modest clock-speed and efficiency gains.
• The integrated NPU4 design will boost AI performance to up to 48 TOPS, exceeding Microsoft’s 40 TOPS threshold for Copilot+ features.
• Core configurations remain unchanged with Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores, but improved silicon binning and firmware tuning provide slight performance uplifts.
• The refresh retains the LGA 1851 socket and 800-series chipset compatibility, allowing current motherboards to support the new chips without upgrades.
• Serving as an interim platform update ahead of Nova Lake’s 2026 debut, the refresh aims to strengthen Intel’s desktop AI credentials and counter AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series.