Boost Intel Core Ultra 200S Gaming Performance with Essential Patches and the Upcoming January 2025 Update

Intel’s Arrow Lake Performance Woes: A Deep Dive into Solutions

Intel has just released a comprehensive report on the performance issues plaguing its Core Ultra 200S processors, with a clear indication that most of the problems have been addressed, leaving just one to be fixed in January 2025.

It’s no secret that the initial performance of these Arrow Lake desktop CPUs, launched in October, left a lot to be desired, particularly in gaming and PC applications. Intel subsequently acknowledged the subpar performance and assured us that fixes were on the way. Now, we’ve got the full scoop on those issues and their resolutions.

According to Intel, a "series of multifactor issues" were behind the performance woes. After conducting a detailed investigation, the company has identified and resolved four out of five main areas, while the fifth problem will be addressed in January 2025.

So, what were these issues? Here’s a breakdown:

• Missing Performance & Power Management (PPM) package: This was the primary culprit behind the underwhelming performance. It’s now fixed.
• Intel Application Performance Optimizer (APO) not functioning properly: APO was being hindered, and its performance-enhancing features were not kicking in. This issue is also resolved.
• BSODs when trying to launch certain games using the Easy Anti-Cheat service: This has been fixed, and the Easy Anti-Cheat driver update is rolling out.
• Select performance settings misconfigured on reviewer or early enabling BIOSes: This problem is resolved with the latest BIOS update.
• New BIOS performance optimizations: The fifth and final issue, to be addressed in January 2025, will bring an additional single-digit performance increase.

To benefit from these fixes, you’ll need to:

1. Update your Windows 11 to build 26100.2314 (or newer) to resolve issues 1 and 2.
2. Get the latest BIOS update for your motherboard to fix problem 4.

The second update will bring the final fix in January 2025, which will further boost performance.

While the exact performance gain will depend on your PC’s configuration, Intel anticipates a double-digit boost (up to 14%) from the first BIOS update and a single-digit range for the second patch.

As a bonus, Intel has been transparent throughout this process, revealing the detailed results of its investigation, thus earning kudos for the company.

With these fixes in place, any Arrow Lake gaming lagginess should be largely eliminated by the end of January 2025.