
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
- Boost/Base Clock:
- 5.7 GHz / 3.7 GHz
- Core/Thread Count:
- 24 Core (8P+16E) / 24 Thread
- Cache:
- 36MB L3 + 40MB L2
- TDP:
- 125W Base / 250W Max Turbo
- CPU Process Node:
- TSMC N3B (Compute Tile)
- CPU Socket:
- LGA 1851
- CPU Series:
- Arrow Lake
- Memory Support:
- DDR5-6400
- Form Factor:
- Desktop
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Manufacturer: Intel Last updated: September 9, 2026
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Review
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is Intel's Arrow Lake desktop flagship, a 24-core (8 Performance + 16 Efficient) processor without hyperthreading, with P-cores boosting to 5.7 GHz within a 125W base / 250W max turbo power envelope on the new LGA 1851 socket, launched October 2024.
This chip replaced the i9-14900K as Intel's flagship, moving to a genuinely new tile-based chiplet design and dropping hyperthreading entirely in favor of a real focus on power efficiency, running notably cooler than its predecessor at similar performance.
Architecture
Arrow Lake's disaggregated tile-based design splits the compute, SoC, graphics, and I/O functions across separate tiles connected via Intel's Foveros 3D packaging, with the CPU compute tile manufactured on TSMC's advanced N3B process, a genuinely different approach from Intel's earlier monolithic desktop chips.
How Is the Core Ultra 9 285K in Terms of Performance
The 24-core hybrid layout without hyperthreading gives this chip excellent multi-threaded throughput for content creation, while Intel's real focus on power efficiency means it runs meaningfully cooler than the 14900K it replaced at broadly comparable performance.
Benchmarks
Independent reviews show this chip delivering strong all-core productivity performance competitive with AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X in heavily threaded workloads, while its gaming performance trails AMD's 3D V-Cache chips, with genuinely improved efficiency being the chip's standout characteristic over its 14900K predecessor.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | Intel |
|---|---|
| Product Line | Core Ultra 9 |
| Model Number | 285K |
| Codename | Arrow Lake-S |
Segment and platform
| Market Segment | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Microarchitecture | Arrow Lake, Core Ultra 200 Series |
| Socket | LGA 1851 |
| Socket Status | Current |
| Process Node | 3 nm |
| Process Node | 3 nm |
Core configuration
| Total Cores | 24 |
|---|---|
| Performance Cores | 8 |
| Efficiency Cores | 16 |
| Total Threads | 24 |
| SMT Enabled | No |
Clock speeds
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.7 GHz |
|---|---|
| P-Core Boost Clock | 5.5 GHz |
| E-Core Base Clock | 3.2 GHz |
| E-Core Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz |
| Unlocked Multiplier | Yes |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 40 MB |
|---|---|
| L3 Cache | 36 MB |
| 3D Stacked Cache | No |
Power and thermal
| Base Power | 125 W |
|---|---|
| Max Turbo Power | 250 W |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR5-6400 |
|---|---|
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
| Max Memory Speed | 6400 MT/s |
| Memory Channels | 2 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 256 GB |
| ECC Support | Yes |
Graphics and AI
| Integrated Graphics | Yes |
|---|---|
| iGPU Model | Intel Graphics |
| iGPU Compute Units | 4 |
| NPU Peak TOPS | 13 TOPS |
| Copilot Plus Certified | No |
Expansion
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 |
|---|---|
| PCIe Lanes | 24 |
Commercial
| Launch MSRP | 589 USD |
|---|---|
| Retail Availability | Boxed Retail |
| Form Factor | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Core/Thread Count | 24 Core (8P+16E) / 24 Thread |
| TDP | 125W Base / 250W Max Turbo |
| Cache | 36MB L3 + 40MB L2 |
| Boost/Base Clock | 5.7 GHz / 3.7 GHz |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Content creation and heavily multi-threaded productivity desktop builds wanting Intel's newest, most power-efficient flagship
Not for
- Buyers prioritizing maximum gaming frame rates — AMD's 3D V-Cache chips generally lead in gaming-specific benchmarks
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is a processor from Intel. Key specs: Boost/Base Clock 5.7 GHz / 3.7 GHz, Core/Thread Count 24 Core (8P+16E) / 24 Thread, Cache 36MB L3 + 40MB L2, TDP 125W Base / 250W Max Turbo, CPU Process Node TSMC N3B (Compute Tile).
Will the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K work with my current setup?
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K lists CPU Socket is LGA 1851. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K best suited to?
It suits content creation and heavily multi-threaded productivity desktop builds wanting intel's newest, most power-efficient flagship.
What are the drawbacks of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?
It is a poor fit for buyers prioritizing maximum gaming frame rates — amd's 3d v-cache chips generally lead in gaming-specific benchmarks.
