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Intel Core Ultra 7 256V vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX: Comparison
Core Ultra 7 256V vs Core Ultra 9 285HX l3 cache compared
Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Core Ultra 7 256V 12 MB against Core Ultra 9 285HX 36 MB, 67% in favour of Core Ultra 9 285HX. There is a split on tdp as well, 17 W on the Core Ultra 7 256V versus 55 W on the Core Ultra 9 285HX. Socket is not the same on both, FCBGA2833 on the Core Ultra 7 256V versus BGA 2114 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 7 256V or Core Ultra 9 285HX?
Buy the Core Ultra 7 256V for Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is the wrong buy for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. The Core Ultra 9 285HX suits high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is not the pick for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 256V (9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier. 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.
What Core Ultra 7 256V and Core Ultra 9 285HX have in common
The common ground is wider than the gap: integrated graphics, form factor, market segment and smt enabled are identical here.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 256V and Core Ultra 9 285HX differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 8 on the Core Ultra 7 256V versus 24 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Lunar Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 2024
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 17 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Intel Arc 140V GPU
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Lunar Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- FCBGA2833
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 8Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 16Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 2.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2.8 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4.8 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 5.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 12 MB-67%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 36 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 17 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 37 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 160 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- LPDDR5X
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 45 TOPS (NPU 4)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 256V if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose 285HX if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier.
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.