Intel Faces New Stability Challenges with Upcoming Arrow Lake Processors

With Intel (INTC) navigating one crisis, a new concern has arisen. Reports suggest the upcoming Arrow Lake chip series, particularly the Core Ultra 200-S, may encounter instability issues similar to those that plagued the earlier Raptor Lake models.

The Core Ultra 200-S lineup is gearing up for its launch, but early indicators hint at problems. Users are reporting crashes and inconsistent benchmark results. Among the tests, performance metrics appear erratic, with differences reaching as much as 10% from test to test. While some benchmarks cast the Arrow Lake in a positive light, others raise red flags, especially with the processor drawing as much as 370 watts—an unexpected statistic for a model touted for its efficiency.

Emerging Performance Issues

Notably, gaming performance is showing signs of trouble for Intel. Leaked reports suggest that the Core Ultra 9 285K is underperforming compared to two AMD (AMD) Ryzen chips and the previous Intel Core i9-14900K. Intel’s leadership attributes these setbacks not solely to design flaws but rather to software issues. This connection could echo the challenges that led to the Raptor Lake instabilities, and only time will reveal the full scope of these complications. Official confirmation would greatly clarify the situation.

Wall Street Weighs In: A Hold Recommendation

Looking at Wall Street, analysts recommend holding onto INTC stock. Over the past three months, the consensus shows one Buy, 26 Holds, and seven Sells. After experiencing a significant 36.1% decline in share price in the past year, the average price target is $25.34 per share, indicating a potential upside of 16.43%.

Explore more ratings for INTC

Disclosure

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.