Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Review: Not Good Enough
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The Intel Core Ultra 285K represents Intel’s latest push into high-performance, efficiency-focused CPUs, joining the ranks of the Arrow Lake family. This processor is designed to balance raw power with energy efficiency, thanks to its hybrid architecture of Performance (P) and Efficiency (E) cores. The 285K aims to meet the needs of gamers, creative professionals, and power users who require smooth multitasking without compromising on energy savings. Intel’s bold claims about this processor—particularly its balance between power and efficiency—set high expectations. In this review, we’ll dive into its real-world performance and unique features to see if Intel has managed to fulfill its claims.
Core Specifications and Architecture
The Intel Core Ultra 285K is crafted with Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture, representing a significant leap in the hybrid design strategy that Intel has refined over recent generations. The CPU is composed of 24 cores: 8 Performance (P) cores and 16 Efficiency (E) cores, offering a flexible architecture aimed at handling both high-intensity single-threaded tasks and extensive multitasking with ease. These cores are further divided to optimize both power and performance, with P-cores clocking up to a maximum of 5.7 GHz for peak performance and E-cores clocked at up to 4.6 GHz to manage background and multithreaded tasks without adding unnecessary power load.
Intel’s approach with the Arrow Lake design is particularly innovative due to its use of a chiplet-based structure, manufactured in collaboration with TSMC for specific components. By leveraging TSMC’s advanced lithography processes, Intel has optimized the layout to reduce heat output and improve efficiency while still increasing processing power. This modular architecture essentially breaks down the CPU into multiple “tiles,” allowing Intel to manage power more efficiently across individual components. The Core Ultra 285K includes distinct tiles dedicated to core functionality, graphics processing, and even AI computations, a first for Intel’s desktop lineup.
The Intel Core Ultra 285K features the new LGA-1851 socket, which means you will have to buy a new compatible motherboard for installation. It supports DDR5-6400 memory and it is compatible with PCIe Gen 5. The new socket supports modern connectivity standards, including USB 4 and Thunderbolt, making it more adaptable for future peripherals and devices.
Here are the detailed specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-S |
| Core Configuration | 24 cores (8 Performance cores, 16 Efficiency cores) |
| Threads | 24 threads |
| P-core Max Clock Speed | Up to 5.7 GHz |
| E-core Max Clock Speed | Up to 4.6 GHz |
| Foundry | TSMC |
| Process Size | 3 nm |
| Socket | LGA-1851 |
| Transistors | 17,800 million |
| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-2 Graphics 64EU |
| Memory Support | DDR5 |
| PCIe Support | PCIe Gen 5 |
| Cache | 36MB L3 cache |
| AI Acceleration NPU | 13 TOPS |
| TDP | 125W |
| tJMax | 105°C |
| Release Date | Oct 24th, 2024 |
| Launch Price | $589 |
Test System Specs
For Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-7200 (except where other RAM is mentioned)
For Intel 13th and 14th Gen
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 Carbon Wifi
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-7200
For AMD Ryen 7000 Series
Motherboard: Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000
For AMD Ryzen 5000 Series
Motherboard: MSI MPG X570S Carbon MAX WiFi
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series DDR4-3600
All Systems
Graphic Card: ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition
Gaming Performance
All games were tested at 1080p resolution. Testing at this resolution allows the CPU’s performance to be accurately assessed without the GPU becoming a limiting factor. By reducing the graphics load, the CPU’s ability to handle game logic, physics, and AI becomes more apparent, making 1080p an ideal resolution for uncovering any CPU bottlenecks and ensuring a clear, direct comparison between processors. During testing, we noticed performance inconsistencies when using Windows 11 version 24H2; the 285K performed noticeably better on version 23H2. Consequently, we tested these (Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors) on Windows 11 version 23H2, while other CPUs were benchmarked on version 24H2.
Intel has set realistic expectations, acknowledging that the Core Ultra 9 285K isn’t aimed to dethrone AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the current gaming champion. In fact, Intel even claimed that the Core Ultra 9 285K is slower in gaming than its own previous gen i9-14900k but the question is how much slower? Let’s find out.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K disappointingly falls short of its predecessor, the i9-14900K, in many gaming scenarios. While it delivers the best performance in Starfield, the Core Ultra 285K lags behind the i9-14900K in most other titles, which raises some concerns about Intel’s progress. Intel’s focus on balancing efficiency and multitasking capabilities may have come at the cost of loss in gaming performance, leaving some to question whether Intel is truly advancing with each new CPU generation or whether are they moving backward.
Productivity Applications Performance
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K does outperform the i9-14900K in most productivity applications. However, it still falls behind the Ryzen 9 9950X. Given this, the performance uplift from the i9-14900K to the Core Ultra 9 285K isn’t substantial enough to make it a compelling upgrade, especially with the Ryzen 9 9950X as a stronger contender in high-performance use cases.
Power Consumption and Efficiency
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K certainly shows improvements in efficiency over Intel’s previous generation processors, with notably lower power consumption. However, it still lags behind AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 7950X in terms of efficiency, as both of these Ryzen processors are designed to operate on significantly less power.
Final Verdict
Does this improved efficiency alone make the Core Ultra 9 285K a worthy upgrade? The answer, is no.
To illustrate, if you purchased the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and played demanding games like Cyberpunk and The Last of Us, literally as full-time job, for eight hours daily over the course of a year, you’d save around $90 on electricity compared to using Intel’s i7-14700K (assuming an electricity cost of $0.50/kWh). A savings of $90 is simply not enough to justify the upgrade solely based on efficiency.
In terms of gaming, AMD’s 7800X3D remains the superior option currently, and the upcoming 9800X3D may bring further advancements. For production workloads, the Ryzen 7950X is a better balance of cost and performance, with the 9950X offering the best productivity output for high-end users willing to invest in top-tier performance.
Recommended Products:
AMD RYZEN 7 7800X3D AMD RYZEN 9 7950X AMD RYZEN 9 9950X
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