Core Ultra 9 285K
89/100 editorial
US launch / reference: $589
Third-party reference ↗Core Ultra 9 285K vs Ryzen 9 9950X
Ryzen 9 9950X leads by 6 editorial points. Your priorities and current prices can change the better choice.
Ryzen 9 9950X
95/100 editorial
US launch / reference: $649
Third-party reference ↗Start with the tradeoffs
Consider Core Ultra 9 285K for
- Far more efficient than 14900K
- Strong multi-thread productivity
- New LGA1851 platform with DDR5-6400
Tradeoff: Gaming regresses vs 14900K in some titles
Consider Ryzen 9 9950X for
- Peak multi-thread performance (16C/32T)
- AVX-512 support
- AM5 platform longevity through 2027+
Tradeoff: 170 W TDP demands premium cooling
Scores and judgments are editorial. Specdex does not run an in-house benchmark lab. Manufacturer claims and independent measurements may use different test conditions.
Editorial fit by scenario
Gaming
Ryzen 9 9950X
leads on gaming (90 vs 85)
Based on available shared editorial ratings.
Creators & productivity
Ryzen 9 9950X
leads on multi (98 vs 94)
Based on available shared editorial ratings.
Power efficiency
Core Ultra 9 285K
leads on efficiency (90 vs 82)
Based on available shared editorial ratings.
Specifications side by side
Arrows indicate a higher capacity, higher power rating, or lower weight/time for comparable simple quantities. They do not establish overall product quality. Unknown values remain unavailable.
| Specification | Core Ultra 9 285K | Ryzen 9 9950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24 (8P + 16E) | 16 |
| Threads | 24 | 32 |
| Base clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.7 GHz | 5.7 GHz |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 64 MB |
| TDP | 125 W (PL1) / 250 W (PL2) | 170 W |
| Socket | LGA1851 | AM5 |
| Process | TSMC N3B | TSMC 4 nm |
| iGPU | Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, 4 Xe cores @ 2.0 GHz) | Radeon Graphics (RDNA 2, 2 CUs) |
| NPU | 13 TOPS | Not documented |
| Memory | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-5600 |
Inspect the shared editorial ratings
Missing criteria are excluded from pairwise scenarios. A difference below two points is treated as a tie. These are not raw benchmarks.
- single
- 92 / 94
- multi
- 94 / 98
- gaming
- 85 / 90
- efficiency
- 90 / 82
Core Ultra 9 285K
Prices & availability
US launch / reference: $589. This is not a current retailer offer.
Checking current offers…
Price history
History appears when an approved retailer provides observations.
Prices apply to the listed configuration and condition. Tax and shipping are not included unless the retailer states otherwise.
Ryzen 9 9950X
Prices & availability
US launch / reference: $649. This is not a current retailer offer.
Checking current offers…
Price history
History appears when an approved retailer provides observations.
Prices apply to the listed configuration and condition. Tax and shipping are not included unless the retailer states otherwise.