Intel’s Core i3 Successor in the Arrow Lake Family: Core Ultra 3 with 8 Cores

Intel is gearing up for the release of its Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs, which are set to feature a new entry-level successor to the Core i3 series—the Core Ultra 3, equipped with up to 8 cores. This marks a significant shift for Intel as the company moves away from its traditional quad-core processors in favor of a more powerful configuration.

Intel Arrow Lake-S: The End of Quad-Core Processors with Core Ultra 3’s 8-Core Configuration

The Arrow Lake-S “Core Ultra 200” desktop CPU lineup is on the horizon, and while Intel is expected to officially unveil this lineup on October 10th, there has been little information about the lower-end models. Specifically, the Core Ultra 3 series has been notably absent from most reports and leaks. However, one leak from early August hints at the potential of the Core Ultra 3 lineup. According to this rumor, the Core i3 replacements within the Arrow Lake family might retain the Raptor Lake architecture, but the changes appear to be more substantial than initially anticipated.

On August 9th, an X user, @OneRaichu, hinted at a new entry-level processor within the Core Ultra 3 lineup, suggesting that Intel plans to introduce an ‘8-core’ Ultra 3 processor. This would be a considerable upgrade over the current 14th Gen Core i3 processors, which max out at 4 cores. The proposed 8-core configuration will likely consist of 4 performance cores and 4 efficient cores. This would be the first time Intel offers an octa-core (8-core) processor in the i3/Ultra 3 series, providing a significant boost in processing power.

Currently, the fastest Core i3 models, such as the i3 14100 and its F variant (which lacks an integrated GPU), are limited to 4 cores and 8 threads, all of which are performance cores with no efficient cores available. This setup contrasts sharply with the hybrid architecture found in Intel’s Core i5, i7, and i9 models, which incorporate both performance and efficient cores. The Arrow Lake-S series will continue to utilize this hybrid architecture but with upgraded Golden Cove performance cores and Skymont efficient cores.

What to Expect from the Core Ultra 3 Series

Each Intel Core Ultra 3, Core Ultra 5, Ultra 7, and Ultra 9 CPU will feature efficient cores, though without hyperthreading. @OneRaichu also speculated that the upcoming Core Ultra 3 processor could be labeled as either the Core Ultra 3 205 or Core Ultra 3 215. While it remains unclear whether there will be one or multiple SKUs within the Core Ultra 3 lineup, the presence of at least one model seems likely, as corroborated by another X user, @jaykin0.

This potential expansion of the Core Ultra 3 series to include more than one SKU represents a significant evolution in Intel’s entry-level CPU offerings. Although the details are still emerging, the possibility of an 8-core Core Ultra 3 processor replacing the traditional quad-core i3 is a game-changer, particularly for entry-level users seeking greater processing capabilities.

The launch of these processors could mark the end of pure quad-core CPUs for the mainstream market, signaling a shift towards more robust, multi-core solutions even at the entry level.

Intel Arrow Lake-S Desktop CPU Lineup (Preliminary):