Intel has made headlines with its upcoming Core Ultra 9 285K processor, which has claimed the top spot in PassMark’s single-threaded performance benchmark. This new flagship from the Arrow Lake-S series outperforms competitors, including AMD and Apple, showcasing impressive capabilities that could reshape the CPU landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K scores 5,268 points in single-threaded performance, surpassing AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X and Apple’s M3.
- The CPU features 24 cores, divided into 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, with a boost clock speed of up to 5.7 GHz.
- Despite its single-threaded success, the Core Ultra 9 285K struggles in multi-threaded performance, scoring only 46,872 points.
- The results are based on a pre-release engineering sample, indicating potential for further optimization before the official launch.
Overview Of The Core Ultra 9 285K
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is positioned as the flagship model in Intel’s new Arrow Lake-S desktop CPU lineup. With a total of 24 cores, the architecture includes 8 high-performance cores (P-cores) and 16 efficiency cores (E-cores). This design aims to enhance single-threaded performance, which is crucial for gaming and many applications.
Single-Threaded Performance
The Core Ultra 9 285K has achieved a remarkable score of 5,268 points in PassMark’s single-threaded benchmark. This score places it ahead of:
- Intel Core i9-14900K: 4,743 points
- Apple M3: 4,777 points
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X: 4,739 points
This performance leap is attributed to the CPU’s architecture and the absence of hyper-threading, which allows for more efficient single-thread execution.
Multi-Threaded Performance Challenges
While the single-threaded results are impressive, the Core Ultra 9 285K faces challenges in multi-threaded performance. It scored only 46,872 points, which is significantly lower than:
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X: 66,702 points
- Intel Core i9-14900K: 60,305 points
The lack of hyper-threading is a key factor in this underperformance, as it limits the CPU’s ability to handle multiple threads simultaneously. This could be a concern for users who rely on multi-threaded applications.
Future Prospects
The Core Ultra 9 285K is expected to be officially launched soon, with Intel planning to optimize the performance further before its release. The current benchmarks are based on an engineering sample, suggesting that final retail versions may exhibit improved performance metrics.
As Intel rebrands its Core series to the Ultra lineup, the Core Ultra 9 285K is set to compete fiercely against AMD and Apple. While it excels in single-threaded tasks, potential buyers should consider their specific needs, especially if multi-threaded performance is a priority.
In conclusion, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K marks a significant advancement in single-threaded performance, but its multi-threaded limitations may influence consumer choices as the CPU market continues to evolve.
