Intel rolled out their latest Core Ultra 200H and 200HX mobile processors in China over the weekend, marking an exciting development for high-performance laptop users. These processors are specifically crafted for gaming laptops, robust mobile workstations, and other top-tier systems that demand exceptional power.
Initially introduced at CES 2025, Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 chips grabbed attention when Windows Central’s Zachary Boddy got a chance to evaluate the Core Ultra Ultra 9 285H within an MSI laptop. Boddy praised the chip’s impressive single- and multi-core performance alongside its efficiency and the significant enhancement in the integrated GPU’s capabilities.
Despite this glowing review, there was a touch of skepticism, especially with Intel’s AI capabilities. In a world where the performance of Neural Processing Units (NPU) is scrutinized closely, Intel’s choice to offer just 13 TOPS of AI power in its high-end mobile processors didn’t sit entirely well with Boddy. Particularly since Copilot+ systems require a minimum of 40 TOPS, this decision seemed a bit of a letdown.
Intel can certainly promote the Core Ultra 9 285H as AI-focused, but without the necessary AI muscle, it remains ineligible for devices leveraging Copilot+. As Boddy noted, its suitability for such environments is limited.
Why Intel opted to introduce a powerful line of mobile CPUs in 2025 with a seemingly modest NPU might puzzle some, but the 13 TOPS do provide a noteworthy boost in gaming scenarios.
Currently, it’s not clear if Western media will get a similar demonstration, although there’s a wealth of insights surfacing from China’s social platform Weibo, with Wccftech being the first to report.
Intel’s AI Assistant is making waves by enhancing gaming performance, particularly when facing tough opponents. They showcased how in Black Myth: Wukong, with the Core Ultra 9 285HX’s integrated GPU and AI Assistant working in tandem, the game achieved 94 FPS. Let the NPU fully dedicate itself to AI tasks, and the GPU concentrate on graphics, and you see a jump to 108 FPS.
This performance leap underscores the NPU’s prowess in handling AI operations. A third scenario with AI Assistant turned off showed gameplay at 103 FPS. While this 5 FPS difference might seem minor, it’s important to note that the AI Assistant offers more than just performance boosts.
Intel claims their AI Assistant can assist players in overcoming challenging game bosses. Functioning much like a know-it-all companion, it uses real-time voice interaction to provide advice and answers within games.
It reminds me of NVIDIA’s recent Project G-Assist, which didn’t have the best start upon release. Here’s hoping Intel’s AI Assistant delivers where G-Assist stumbled, as I’m eager to put it to the test myself.
