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Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus: Comparison
Core Ultra 9 285HX vs Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus p-core base clock compared
P-core base clock is the dividing line, Core Ultra 9 285HX 2.8 GHz against Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus 2.7 GHz. Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) backs the spec sheet up. Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 2,104 to 1,953, 7% clear. They differ on memory type too, DDR5 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX versus DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s on the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus.
Core Ultra 9 285HX vs Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus: which one fits your build
The Core Ultra 9 285HX is the one to take for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is not built for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus suits flagship gaming laptops with high-end graphics cards and mobile workstations for video editing, 3D rendering and code builds, though it is not the pick for thin and light laptops where battery life comes first and copilot+ PC AI features, which need a 40+ TOPS NPU. It is not the one for gamers on a budget, where a Core Ultra 7 HX laptop gets close for less. 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
Everything else lines up. Total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, total threads and p-core boost clock read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 8 further specifications as well.
Do the Core Ultra 9 285HX and Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus differ on socket?
Yes. Socket reads BGA 2114 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX versus FCBGA2114 on the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus.
Is the L3 Cache the same on the Core Ultra 9 285HX and Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus?
It is. Both are listed at 36 MB, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 2026
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Arrow Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- FCBGA2114
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 24
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 16
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 16
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 24
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2.8 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 2.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 5.5 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 5.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 36 MB
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 36 MB
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 160 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 160 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 13 TOPS (Intel AI Boost)
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 1,953-7%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 2,104Best
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 129-8%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- 140Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 285HX if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 36 MB).
Choose 290HX Plus if you want the higher cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) (2,104 vs 1,953) and the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (140 vs 129).
Verdict
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.