This new Intel gaming CPU is an old chip in disguise, according to leak

An Intel Core 7 250H benchmark listing on Geekbench shows a Raptor Lake gaming laptop CPU, which looks similar to the Core i5 14500HX.

It looks as though a new Intel gaming CPU for laptops is actually based on the company’s last-gen tech, according to a benchmark leak that’s shown up in the Geekbench Results Browser. The listing shows a new Intel Core 7 250H processor, but unlike Intel’s other Core 200-series CPUs, this chip appears to be based on the aging Raptor Lake architecture used in Intel’s 13th and 14th-gen Core CPUs.

The new lineup of Intel Arrow Lake gaming CPUs for the desktop is expected to launch in the near future, but we’ve already seen the first Core 200 chips in the form of the Intel Lunar Lake platform. So far, Intel has distinguished its Raptor Lake laptop CPUs by using the old Core i-series branding on chips, while its Meteor Lake CPUs use the Core 100-series names. However, the new Intel Core 7 250H looks like it’s a 200-series chip only in name.

The new CPU is apparently revealed in this listing on Geekbench, which shows a Core 7 250H CPU benchmarked on an MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop, as spotted by Wccftech. The chip is shown as having six P-Cores and eight E-Cores, along with a maximum boost clock speed of 5,187MHz and a 2.5GHz base clock.

However, the codename is shown to be Raptor Lake, rather than one of the codenames for Intel’s new CPU architectures. It basically looks like a chip somewhere between the Core i7 13800H and Core i5 14500HX, but with a slightly different clock speed, and it has the same 24MB of L3 cache as well. The motherboard for the laptop is also listed as the MSI MS-1585, which is used in other gaming laptops that use Intel 12th-gen and 13th-gen CPUs, with the same BGA1744 CPU socket as well.

In terms of performance, the Core 7 250H is shown scoring 2,415 in the single-core test, which is slightly higher than the 2,353 scored by the 14500HX, probably thanks to some extra clock speed. Likewise, the Core 7 250H’s multi-core score of 13,201 is just in front of the 12,708 of the 14500HX.

Of course, Intel hasn’t officially announced the Core 7 250H, and the name has only just appeared in this benchmark leak, so there’s no guarantee such a chip will even be sold. However, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the Core 7 250H if and when it comes out.

Intel announced plans to drop the Core i-series branding back in June 2023, and has since launched its Meteor Lake Core Ultra 100 CPUs, as well as its Lunar Lake Core Ultra 200V chips, for laptops. At the time, Intel said the move would “help PC buyers better differentiate the best of our latest technology and our mainstream offerings.” However, if this rumor is true, then it’s only made the situation more confusing for PC buyers.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to build a gaming PC check out our guide to the best gaming CPU, where we take you through all of our favorite options from Intel and AMD right now. You can also read our best gaming laptop guide if you’re looking to take your games machine on your travels.