Intel’s upcoming Ultra 285K processor has posted strong results in initial benchmarks, edging out competitors like Apple’s M3 and AMD’s Ryzen 9950X in single-threaded performance. The chip, which is based on Intel’s latest Lunar Lake architecture and part of its new Arrow Lake-S series, looks set to redefine the single-core performance landscape.
With 24 cores and 24 threads, the Ultra 285K has moved away from Intel’s traditional hyper-threading approach. In PassMark’s single-threaded test, the Ultra 285K scored an impressive 5268 points, a clear advantage over AMD’s Ryzen 9950X, which posted 4739. This gives Intel an 11% lead over AMD’s latest desktop processor, which is built on the Zen 5 architecture.
Apple and Qualcomm Lag Behind
While Intel takes the top spot in performance, Apple’s M3 chip wasn’t far behind, scoring 4779 points. The M3’s efficiency, especially in power usage, makes it a strong contender despite its slightly lower score. However, Intel’s chip still edges ahead in raw processing power. Of course, Apple has already announced the M4 chip, while will be available in upcoming Mac devices and promises greater performance.
New single thread CPU performance leader. #Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
(note that this might be an pre-release engineering sample, but results are looking good) pic.twitter.com/yqLECdl9XE— PassMark Software (@PassMarkInc) October 5, 2024
Qualcomm, which has been pushing into the desktop CPU market, posted more modest results with its Snapdragon X Elite. The X1E-84-100, Qualcomm’s highest-performing chip, managed only 3958 points. Qualcomm is trailing behind the major players in terms of single-core processing power, though the company remains a leader in mobile and ARM-based computing solutions.
Multi-Core Performance: AMD Still Dominates
While Intel’s Ultra 285K stands out in single-threaded tasks, it falls short of AMD in multi-core workloads. AMD’s 16-core Ryzen 9950X leads the pack in this area, boasting a score of 66,609 compared to the 46,872 posted by Intel’s Ultra 285K. Even AMD’s 12-core Ryzen 9900X, which consumes around the same power as Intel’s offering at 120W TDP, achieves a higher score of 54,631, showcasing the strength of AMD’s multi-core performance.
This gap highlights the different strengths of Intel and AMD. While Intel’s latest processor excels in tasks that rely on single-core performance, AMD continues to be the go-to choice for multi-threaded applications like video rendering and heavy computational tasks.
Arrow Lake-S Set for October Launch
Intel’s Arrow Lake-S series, which includes the Ultra 285K, is expected to launch in late October, with rumors pointing to an October 24th release date. The lineup will cater to desktop users seeking top-tier single-core performance, making it an attractive option for gamers and creative professionals who rely on single-threaded tasks.
Though Intel’s Arrow Lake-S chips excel in certain areas, the competition between Intel, AMD, and Apple remains tight. Each company’s latest offerings highlight different priorities, from power efficiency to core count and multi-threaded performance, making this an exciting time for the desktop CPU market.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:38 pm CET
