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Core Ultra 9 285K vs Ryzen 9 9950X: Which is Better?

Oct 2024 Arrow Lake vs Aug 2024 Ryzen 9000

The verdict

Ryzen 9 9950X wins

Ryzen 9 9950X comes out ahead of Core Ultra 9 285K on productivity, while the rest of the picture is more nuanced. Ryzen 9 9950X is 9.1% faster than Core Ultra 9 285K in multi-core productivity workloads. Core Ultra 9 285K runs 3.2% more efficient under the same productivity load than Ryzen 9 9950X. For most builders, Ryzen 9 9950X is the more compelling pick across both gaming and productivity workloads.

Dimension-by-dimension

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Specifications

Spec Core Ultra 9 285K Ryzen 9 9950X
Cores 24 16
Threads 24 32
Boost clock 5.7 GHz 5.7 GHz
Base clock 3.7 GHz 4.3 GHz
TDP 125 W 170 W
L2 cache 40 MB 16 MB
L3 cache 36 MB 64 MB
MSRP $589 $649
Process node TSMC N3B TSMC N4P
Socket LGA1851 AM5
Memory DDR5-6400 DDR5-5600
Launched Oct 2024 Aug 2024

Benchmarks

BenchmarkCore Ultra 9 285KRyzen 9 9950X
  • Multi-coreCinebench 2024· Cinebench 2024 nT
    +1.0%
    Core Ultra 9 285K
    2,425
    Ryzen 9 9950X
    2,402
  • Single-coreCinebench 2024· Cinebench 2024 1T
    −1.4%
    Core Ultra 9 285K
    145
    Ryzen 9 9950X
    147
  • Multi-coreGeekbench 6
    −14.3%
    Core Ultra 9 285K
    21,783
    Ryzen 9 9950X
    25,412
  • Single-coreGeekbench 6
    −1.6%
    Core Ultra 9 285K
    3,419
    Ryzen 9 9950X
    3,475

Bars are normalized to the highest score in our catalog for each metric. Hover any row for the source attribution.

Price analysis

Core Ultra 9 285K MSRP
$589
Difference
−$60

Ryzen 9 9950X costs more.

Ryzen 9 9950X MSRP
$649

Frequently asked

Is the Core Ultra 9 285K better than the Ryzen 9 9950X?
Ryzen 9 9950X comes out ahead in our weighted scoring under default priorities (50% gaming, 50% productivity, 25% value, 25% efficiency). Use the comparison tool to weight by your own workload mix.
Which is better for gaming, the Core Ultra 9 285K or the Ryzen 9 9950X?
Ryzen 9 9950X leads in gaming workloads by 1.5% over Core Ultra 9 285K.
Which is faster for productivity, the Core Ultra 9 285K or the Ryzen 9 9950X?
Ryzen 9 9950X is 9.1% faster than Core Ultra 9 285K in multi-core productivity workloads.
What is the price difference between the Core Ultra 9 285K and the Ryzen 9 9950X?
The Ryzen 9 9950X launched at $649, $60 more than the Core Ultra 9 285K at $589.

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