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AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core Ultra 9 285?
The gap that matters here is l3 cache: AMD Ryzen 9 7900 64 MB against Intel Core Ultra 9 285 36 MB, which puts AMD Ryzen 9 7900 44% ahead. They differ on release year too, 2023 on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 versus 2025 on the Intel Core Ultra 9 285. They differ on igpu too, AMD Radeon Graphics on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 versus Intel Graphics on the Intel Core Ultra 9 285.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285: which one fits your build
The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the one to take for mainstream desktops and everyday productivity, though it is not the pick for competitive gaming rigs and heavy content creation. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 suits video editing, 3D rendering and code builds and small workstations that benefit from ECC memory support, though it is the wrong buy for overclockers, who should choose the unlocked Core Ultra 9 285K. It is equally the pick for quiet or compact high-end PCs built around a 65 W chip. It is the wrong buy for gaming-first builds, where a cheaper CPU and a better GPU go further. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (7.9/10): the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is a well-rounded mainstream desktop chip that covers everyday computing and light gaming without a premium price tag.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Total threads, tdp, integrated graphics, form factor and market segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 1 further specification as well.
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core Ultra 9 285 differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 versus 24 on the Intel Core Ultra 9 285.
Is the Base Power the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core Ultra 9 285?
It is. Both are listed at 65 W, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Desktop
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Raphael
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 2025
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 65 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 65 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CUs, RDNA 2)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Zen 4 (7000 series)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- FCLGA1851
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 5 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 12
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 12Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 0
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 16Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 24
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 24
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 3.8 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 2.5 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 4.9 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 5.6 GHz
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 64 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 36 MB-44%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- 65 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 65 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Ryzen 9 7900 if you want the higher L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
Choose Intel Core Ultra 9 285 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 9 7900 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285 |
|---|---|---|
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
| Amazon | View on Amazon | $549.00 View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 7900
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is a well-rounded mainstream desktop chip that covers everyday computing and light gaming without a premium price tag.