Core Ultra 9 285K vs Ryzen 9 9950X
Core Ultra 9 285K
WinnerHuge multi-core and a strong iGPU; gaming trails the X3D chips.
Core Ultra 9 285K wins by 3 points
Ryzen 9 9950X
The all-round desktop flagship; only the X3D parts beat it in games.
Overview
Key Differences
Core Ultra 9 285K
- ≈ estimated157% higher 3DMark Time Spy graphics (iGPU): 1,850 vs 720
- 26% lower rated power: 125 W vs 170 W
- 11 points higher Efficiency score: 67 vs 56
- $60 cheaper at launch: $589 vs $649
- ≈ estimated5 points higher iGPU score: 9 vs 4
Ryzen 9 9950X
- 6% higher Geekbench 6 single-core: 3,400 vs 3,200
- 4% higher Gaming, 1080p average fps (relative): 85 vs 82
- 2 points higher Single-core score: 81 vs 79
Review
Core Ultra 9 285K scores 74 overall to Ryzen 9 9950X's 71: #1 against #3 of 8 desktop CPUs.
Core Ultra 9 285K leads on Multi-core by 4% (93 vs 89), Efficiency by 20% (67 vs 56) and iGPU by 125% (9 (estimated) vs 4 (estimated)).
Ryzen 9 9950X leads on Single-core by 3% (81 vs 79).
Core Ultra 9 285K is ahead in 4 of 6 benchmarks, the widest gap in 3DMark Time Spy graphics (iGPU) by 157% (1,850 (estimated) vs 720 (estimated)).
Ryzen 9 9950X is ahead in 2 of 6 benchmarks, the widest gap in Geekbench 6 single-core by 6% (3,400 vs 3,200).
Core Ultra 9 285K is rated at 125 W against 170 W; launch prices $589 and $649.
- Single-core7981 +3%Speed of one core: responsiveness, games, most apps.
- Multi-core93 +4%89All cores together: rendering, compiling, exporting.
- Efficiency67 +20%56Multi-core work done per watt of rated power.
- iGPU≈ estimated9 +125%≈ estimated4Integrated graphics: light games and desktop without a card.
- Overall7471
Benchmarks
- Geekbench 6 single-core3,2003,400 +6%
- Geekbench 6 multi-core22,100 +3%21,500
- Cinebench 2024 single-core140 +1%138
- Cinebench 2024 multi-core2,450 +4%2,350
- 3DMark Time Spy graphics (iGPU)≈ estimated1,850 +157%≈ estimated720
- Gaming, 1080p average fps (relative)8285 +4%
Specs
| Spec | Core Ultra 9 285K | Ryzen 9 9950X |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | ||
| Cores / threads | 24 (8P + 16E) / 24 | 16 / 32 |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Zen 5 |
| Base / boost | 3.7 / 5.7 GHz | 4.3 / 5.7 GHz |
| L2 cache | 40 MB | 16 MB |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 64 MB |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| GPU | ||
| Integrated GPU | Intel Graphics | Radeon Graphics |
| Xe cores | 4 | — |
| GPU clock | 2.0 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| Compute units | — | 2 (RDNA 2) |
| Memory | ||
| Type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Max speed | 6400 MT/s | 5600 MT/s |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max capacity | 256 GB | 192 GB |
| Connectivity | ||
| PCIe | 5.0, 20 lanes + 4.0, 4 lanes | 5.0, 24 lanes |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | AM5 |
| Thunderbolt 4 | Yes | — |
| Power | ||
| Processor base power | 125 W | — |
| Max turbo power | 250 W | — |
| TDP | — | 170 W |
| Package power | — | 230 W PPT |
| Misc | ||
| Node | TSMC N3B | TSMC N4P |
| Launched | October 2024 | August 2024 |
| Launch price | $589 | $649 |