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Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 9 285HX?
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is total cores, Core Ultra 7 255HX 20 against Core Ultra 9 285HX 24. The benchmark result agrees. Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) puts Core Ultra 9 285HX 11% ahead, 1,953 against 1,730. Core Ultra 9 285HX also leads on l3 cache, 30 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 36 MB on the Core Ultra 9 285HX. They differ on p-core base clock too, 2.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 2.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 7 255HX or Core Ultra 9 285HX?
The Core Ultra 7 255HX suits high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is the wrong buy for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Buy the Core Ultra 9 285HX for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is not built for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 255HX (8.8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP. Our rating of the Core Ultra 9 285HX (8.8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: performance cores, tdp, integrated graphics, socket and form factor are identical here. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 9 285HX differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 12 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 16 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Is the Release Year the same on the Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 9 285HX?
It is. Both are listed at 2025, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 12
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 16Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2.8 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 5.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 5.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 30 MB-17%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 36 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 160 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 160 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 1,730-11%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 1,953Best
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 131Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 129-2%
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2,946-4%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 3,066Best
The same everyday tasks on one core. Tracks how responsive the PC feels.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 255HX if you want the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (131 vs 129).
Choose 285HX if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB), the higher cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) (1,953 vs 1,730) and the higher geekbench 6 (Single-Core) (3,066 vs 2,946).
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX vs Intel Processor N250
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V