The consensus during the launch of a new PC hardware component is that it is faster or more powerful compared to the outgoing model or competition. But that may not be the case with Intel’s latest Arrow Lake-S CPUs. The first crop of Intel’s Core Ultra 200S desktop processors was officially unveiled yesterday and features five new SKUs led by the Core Ultra 9 285K.
By itself, the latest flagship is a very capable chip, but Intel says it is (in most cases) on par with last-gen’s Core i9-14900K. The catch here is that the entire Arrow Lake-S lineup consumes less power, thus generating less heat. That is great news for general consumers and enthusiasts who are particularly worried about high electricity costs and thermal management.
But based on what we know so far, how does it fare against AMD’s best CPU, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D? Let’s dig deeper.
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The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D based on the Zen 4 architecture was launched in April 2023 and was announced as a successor to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. This chip is currently one of the best CPU options for gamers until AMD decides to launch 3D V-cache variants of the Ryzen 9000 series.
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Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K processor is the top-of-the-line desktop CPU offering under the newly launched Arrow Lake-S series. The new chip will go on sale with the entire Core Ultra 200S lineup starting October 24, 2024.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D was originally launched at an MSRP of $450, but you can get it for about $430 at stores like Best Buy and Micro Center. The new Core Ultra 9 285K is a lot more expensive and will retail at $589.
The new Core Ultra 9 285K offers high-tier specs, offering a lot more cores, threads, and higher clock speed capabilities. While Intel claims lower power consumption compared to 14th-gen, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D operates at 120W, which is lower than the base TDP of the Core Ultra 9 285K.
AMD also has an edge when it comes to cache. Thanks to the implementation of 3D V-Cache technology, the combined 104MB is miles ahead of 76MB on the Core Ultra 9 285K. This will particularly work in favor of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D when it comes to gaming.
The new Arrow Lake-S lineup is a big step for Intel in terms of architecture. Following the same path as the latest Lunar Lake mobile chips, the new Core Ultra 200S CPUs feature a tiled architecture with Lion Cove P-Cores and Skymont E-cores packed using Intel’s Feveros technology. Intel is also ditching hyper-threading in an attempt to reduce power consumption and, at the same time, improve multithread performance.
The new Arrow Lake-S is also the first desktop class of CPUs from Intel that comes with a built-in neural processing unit (NPU), meaning it can handle AI tasks more efficiently. There’s also native support for faster DDR5 memory, the latest connectivity options, and a new Thread Director.
We haven’t put the new Core Ultra 9 285K on the test bench yet, nor has Intel shared any substantial performance numbers. But judging by the claims, if the Core Ultra 9 285K is indeed as powerful as the Core i9-14900K, then it is safe to assume that Intel’s latest flagship is going to be faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D in both single-core and multi-core performance.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
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Gaming is where we expect to see the complete opposite results. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, thanks to its impressive 3D V-Cache, will likely continue to lead in almost every single gaming title compared to the Core Ultra 9 285K. In fact, the 7800X3D offers similar gaming performance as the more expensive Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
We haven’t tested the Core Ultra 9 258K yet, so we don’t have exact performance numbers. Before we do, we can’t say exactly how it stacks up against the 7800X3D and which you should necessarily buy.
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At $589, the new Core Ultra 9 285K comes at a launch price that is comparable to the Core i9-14900K. However, you can grab the latter for about $500, considering you are prepared to deal with higher power consumption and own a powerful cooling solution.
If you are planning to build a new system for pure gaming purposes, though, the Core Ultra 9 258K looks like it may have trouble matching up against the cheaper Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Heck, even AMD’s latest-gen Zen 5 processors are struggling to compete against that chip. Granted that you get fewer cores and threads, but this Zen 4 chip continues to lead the charts, offering the best gaming experience without consuming insane amounts of power. On the other hand, we’ll have to wait until we have the Core Ultra 9 258K on our test bench before we give it a final verdict.
Both T-Mobile and AT&T have plans to release their first devices soon that run on RedCap, a 5G specification that is tooled for Internet of Things devices, according to Fierce Wireless.
What is RedCap? Great question! Also called “reduced capability” or NR-Light, RedCap is a low-bandwidth version of 5G that’s expected to make certain devices, like wearables, sensors, or surveillance cameras simpler and more power efficient, according to an Oracle document. That could mean cheaper cellular-connected smartwatches, XR glasses, or other portable products that don’t need high-powered antennas and fast throughput last longer on a charge.
AT&T, which began testing the spec on its own network early this year, reportedly plans to release its first NR-Light devices in 2025, Fierce Wireless writes. T-Mobile will launch one of its own before this year is out.
It’s not clear what those devices will be, but AT&T AVP of device architecture Jason Silkes has hinted at what early NR-Light products could look like, telling Fierce in June that the first RedCap devices will probably be cheap mobile hotspots and dongles. Indeed, TCL announced a 5G USB dongle last week, catchily named the TCL Linkport IK511.
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Early products could use a modem chipset Qualcomm launched last year called the Snapdragon X35. It listed several companies in its announcement, including T-Mobile and AT&T, that plan to use the modem in future products. Perhaps we’ll hear more during CES early next year. Let the (slow) race to 5G begin.
After US trade restrictions stopped Nvidia from exporting its advanced AI chips to China, the company responded by developing the H20 GPU, a modified version which complies with the regulations by offering lower performance levels while still meeting the AI processing demands of Chinese firms.
Although there is a thriving black market for Nvidia’s high-end GPUs, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, already under intense scrutiny in the US, cannot afford the legal and reputational risks of engaging in such illegal markets, and so has been purchasing Nvidia’s lower-capability processors for its AI needs. ByteDance is reportedly the largest buyer of H20s in China, having spent over $2 billion on the hardware in 2024 alone.
While it is expected to continue using Nvidia GPUs, Reuters claims ByteDance is now shifting its attention towards domestic chip suppliers like Huawei to meet its AI ambitions.
Not without challenges
The report claims that ByteDance has purchased more than 100,000 Ascend 910B chips to date, making it one of the largest buyers of Huawei’s AI hardware in China, although as of July it had received less than a third of the order.
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Training AI models is a computationally demanding process, which is why high-end GPUs like Nvidia’s are so in demand. Making the shift to Huawei’s Ascend chips might be a strategic move for the TikTok owner, but it won’t be without its challenges.
ByteDance’s existing AI models, such as Doubao and Jimeng, were built using more powerful hardware and are used in applications ranging from chatbots to text-to-video tools. The company’s ultimate aim is to reduce its dependency on Nvidia, but the shift to Huawei’s Ascend chips could hinder its ability to train more complex models, Reuters says.
ByteDance’s strategy appears to be to navigate US trade restrictions while looking for local suppliers to help it maintain its competitive edge in AI, and beyond. The company recently invested in Xinyuan Semiconductors, a Chinese memory chip manufacturer, which could lead to developments such as a potential VR headset to compete with Meta’s Quest and Apple‘s Vision Pro.
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It’s been a long time since Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have seen the real James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle). Last year, Marvel Studios revealed in its poorly received miniseries, Secret Invasion, that a shapeshifting Skrull named Raava had been secretly posing as Rhodey for an indefinite amount of time. It was later confirmed by Secret Invasion director Ali Selim that Rhodey was originally kidnapped by Raava and her fellow Skrulls shortly after he experienced his spinal injury in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.
This twist proved to be extremely divisive among MCU fans. Many found it disconcerting to discover that — among other things — it isn’t really Rhodey who is shown mourning the death of his best friend, Tony Stark, at the end of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Don Cheadle, however, doesn’t seem to mind the twist… so long as Marvel Studios actually follows through on its original plan for Rhodey.
The actor revealed as much in an interview with TV Line. When asked about his reaction to the Secret Invasion storyline, Cheadle revealed, “It wasn’t a demand. It was a request. ‘What do you think about playing this?’ And it was to set up stuff in the following thing.” The “thing” Cheadle mentions is, as in-the-know Marvel fans may have already been able to guess, Armor Wars.
Marvel Studios
Armor Wars, which is set to star Cheadle in a lead capacity, was originally meant to be one of Marvel’s many Disney+ original series. The studio abandoned that plan in 2022, though, when it was announced that Armor Wars was being redeveloped as a feature film. Very few updates about the project have come since that announcement was made two years ago, and it sounds like Cheadle is just as in-the-dark right now as fans.
When he was asked by TV Line about Armor Wars‘ status, he responded, “You can find out and let me know.” In response to a follow-up question, Cheadle added, “I’m not sure where anything is right now. I think things are going through a lot of changes, and we’ll see what happens.” When the outlet then observed that it would be “sad” if the last time viewers ever got to spend meaningful screen time with Rhodey was when he was being impersonated by a Skrull, Cheadle jokingly remarked, “Yeah, no s**t.”
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While he isn’t sure what will happen with Armor Wars, Cheadle does seem confident about the impact it could have on the way both he and viewers see Secret Invasion‘s Rhodey twist. “If the following thing happens, and all those things were set up, then that’s one thing,” he noted. “If, as you said, it doesn’t, then we can talk about how I feel about it after!”
Though the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 isn’t a massive leap from its predecessor, its enhanced processor and BioActive Sensor make it a compelling option for those who prioritize fitness tracking and snappy performance. Plus, with a starting price of $299, it remains one of the most affordable Wear OS smartwatches. But the good news doesn’t stop there; you can likely find even better deals!
Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with both Bluetooth and LTE options, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers the flexibility you need. Choose from sleek green or cream colorways, and personalize it with a wide variety of bands.
With up to 100 hours of battery life in battery saver mode, Google Assistant integration, and a host of your favorite apps, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a strong contender in the smartwatch arena, especially if you’re looking for a powerful and versatile option without the Apple Watch price tag.
The Terrifier franchise, with its distinctively horrifying antagonist Art the Clown, is having a bit of a moment right now. Coinciding with Terrifier 3’s wildly successful opening weekend — the indie horror movie reportedly pulled in — game publisher has announced that a Terrifier video game is in the works and will be released next year. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is being developed by indie studio and styled after a classic beat ‘em up. The teaser shows it to be a fitting combination of gory and goofy, with colorful pixel art and tons of over-the-top blood spatter.
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According to the listing, you’ll get to play as Art the Clown and “unleash chaos” on several movie sets where films about him are being produced. There will also be local multiplayer modes. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game will be available for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox when it’s released in 2025.
The Presidential campaign of Donald Trump asked X to stop links to a story containing VP nominee JD Vance’s hacked dossier from circulating before X chose to block them, reports The New York Times. X had cited its “rules on posting unredacted private personal information” as its justification for suspending the reporter who first published the dossier in his story.
That’s a markedly different set of actions than those Musk took two years ago after criticizing Twitter’s decision to suppress a 2020 news story about Hunter Biden’s laptop. He called the choice “a violation of the Constitution’s First Amendment” and seeded internal documents related to the decision to certain journalists to report on — which doxxed people in the process.
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