Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K CPU: Progress in Efficiency, Setback in Gaming
Intel’s flagship Core Ultra 9 285K processor from the Core Ultra 200S series presents a significant advancement in power efficiency, but it has fallen short in gaming performance. This trend of underwhelming new CPU launches continues with both Intel and AMD, as seen with AMD’s Zen 5 desktop CPUs, which launched in August. Despite high expectations, the Ryzen 9 9950X has disappointed users in both productivity and gaming benchmarks, leading to a lackluster reception. Now, Intel finds itself in a similar predicament with the release of the Ultra 9 285K.
- Key Features and Architecture
Priced at $589, the Ultra 9 285K is Intel’s first enthusiast desktop CPU to integrate a neural processing unit (NPU) for AI acceleration. Additionally, it introduces a new LGA 1851 socket, requiring users to upgrade their motherboards to accommodate this latest chip. Intel employs its new Arrow Lake architecture and advanced 3D packaging technology to enhance power efficiency, marking a clear departure from the heat-intensive designs of the previous 13th and 14th Gen desktop CPUs.
Test Systems:
- Core i9-14900K Test Machine:
- Cooler: Corsair H150 Elite LCD
- Motherboard: MSI MAG Z790 Carbon Wi-Fi
- RAM: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR5 6600
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090 Founders Edition
- Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB
- Ultra 9 285K Test Machine:
- Cooler: Corsair H150 Elite LCD
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming Wifi
- RAM: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR5 6600
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090 Founders Edition
- Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
- Performance Insights
When it comes to performance, the Ultra 9 285K impresses with its efficiency. During a Cinebench 2024 benchmark test, it drew only 254 watts of power, compared to the Core i9-14900K’s 267 watts. This modest difference is coupled with an impressive 15% improvement in multithreaded performance and an 8% gain in Geekbench 6 results over the previous generation. Such performance gains are indicative of Intel’s ongoing commitment to enhancing power efficiency.
However, the gaming performance of the Ultra 9 285K reveals a troubling trend. In a series of 1080p tests using an RTX 4090, it lagged behind the 14900K in several popular titles:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 8% slower
- Cyberpunk 2077: 9% slower
- Forza Motorsport 2023: 20% slower
These results are particularly disappointing given that Shadow of the Tomb Raider typically scales well with CPU generations. The expectation is that new chips would show gains in performance, not regressions.
- Benchmark Summary
Here’s a quick look at how the Ultra 9 285K performed compared to the Core i9-14900K across various benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Ultra 9 285K | Core i9-14900K |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single-thread | 3221 | 3158 |
| Geekbench 6 Multithread | 21977 | 20268 |
| Cinebench 2024 Single-thread | 145 | 136 |
| Cinebench 2024 Multithread | 2446 | 2117 |
| Metro Exodus (High) | 154 fps | 152 fps |
| Forza Motorsport 2023 (Ultra) | 153 fps | 190 fps |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest) | 267 fps | 291 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra) | 164 fps | 180 fps |
| CPU Package Temperatures | 85C | 99C |
| CPU Package Power | 254W | 267W |
- Analysis of Gaming Performance
The Ultra 9 285K’s underperformance in gaming raises questions about Intel’s focus for this generation. A spokesperson from Intel acknowledged that the primary goal was to enhance performance per watt, which may have inadvertently affected gaming outcomes. They indicated that the nature of the new architecture and process technology steered development away from optimizing for gaming performance.
Notably, Intel’s own benchmarks revealed that the Ultra 9 285K underperformed compared to AMD’s 7950X3D and even fell about 5% short of the $449 7800X3D. Such comparisons underscore the challenge Intel faces in regaining competitive footing in the gaming market.
- Factors Affecting Performance
One potential factor for the gaming performance discrepancies could be the virtualization-based security (VBS) features in Windows 11, which are enabled by default in fresh installs. When testing with these features turned on, the performance of the Ultra 9 285K and 14900K both lagged. However, disabling the Memory Integrity feature resulted in a significant narrowing of performance gaps, even showing the Ultra 9 285K performing slightly better in some cases.
This indicates that the new CPU architecture may have untapped potential that could be optimized through software adjustments.
- Motherboard and Future Prospects
With the introduction of the Ultra 9 285K comes a new motherboard chipset—the Z890 series—which supports up to 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes, alongside options for integrated Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Thunderbolt 4. While many existing coolers that fit the LGA 1700 socket will work with the new LGA 1851 socket, users will still need to invest in a new motherboard for this CPU.
Although Intel claims that DDR5-8000 memory is ideal for the Z890 platform, advancements in RAM technology may allow for even greater performance in the future. The emergence of DDR5-9600 and beyond could provide additional gains.
However, there are concerns that Intel’s LGA 1851 socket may not have a long lifespan, especially with rumors of the Arrow Lake-S refresh being scrapped in favor of Nova Lake. If true, users may find themselves needing yet another motherboard upgrade sooner than expected, as Intel’s recent history of socket changes has raised skepticism among enthusias
