PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,810 less on MSRP ($589 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 312.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.6 vs 27.8 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

2022

Why buy it

✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (45,000 vs 45,563).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.8 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($2,399 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 285K moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,810 less on MSRP ($589 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 312.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.6 vs 27.8 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (45,000 vs 45,563).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.8 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($2,399 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 285K moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285K better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 9 285K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 9 285K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.2% more average FPS across 23 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 9 285K is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 24 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 9 285K is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 9 285K is $1,810 cheaper on MSRP at $589 MSRP versus $2,399 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 312.6% better value on MSRP (114.6 vs 27.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 9 285K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 24 threads instead of 24/48. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 9 285K Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
1080p
low	341 FPS	224 FPS
medium	323 FPS	184 FPS
high	267 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	288 FPS	194 FPS
medium	239 FPS	156 FPS
high	184 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	188 FPS	94 FPS
medium	155 FPS	81 FPS
high	115 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	51 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
1080p
low	899 FPS	806 FPS
medium	778 FPS	684 FPS
high	623 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	544 FPS	464 FPS
1440p
low	756 FPS	655 FPS
medium	677 FPS	569 FPS
high	557 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	447 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	421 FPS	383 FPS
medium	383 FPS	335 FPS
high	358 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	265 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
1080p
low	879 FPS	812 FPS
medium	718 FPS	680 FPS
high	637 FPS	620 FPS
ultra	545 FPS	540 FPS
1440p
low	750 FPS	622 FPS
medium	616 FPS	521 FPS
high	534 FPS	470 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	405 FPS
4K
low	534 FPS	451 FPS
medium	459 FPS	360 FPS
high	415 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	259 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
1080p
low	1202 FPS	1215 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	1015 FPS
high	939 FPS	926 FPS
ultra	846 FPS	820 FPS
1440p
low	930 FPS	951 FPS
medium	811 FPS	828 FPS
high	713 FPS	715 FPS
ultra	633 FPS	611 FPS
4K
low	685 FPS	674 FPS
medium	606 FPS	605 FPS
high	539 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Core Ultra 9 285K

The Core Ultra 9 285K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 67,482 points. Launch price was $589.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-08. It is based on the Chagall PRO (2022) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 66,614 points. Launch price was $2,399.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 9 285K packs 24 cores / 24 threads, matching the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX's 24 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285K versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX — a 21.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX uses Chagall PRO (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 285K scores 67,482 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX's 66,614 — a 1.3% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 45,563 vs 45,000 (1.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,200 vs 1,550, a 69.5% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 22,563 vs 15,500 (37.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K). L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285K vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
Cores / Threads	24 / 24	24 / 48
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+24%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz	3.8 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	128 MB+256%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+500%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Chagall PRO (2022)
PassMark	67,482+1%	66,614
Cinebench R23 Multi	45,563+1%	45,000
Geekbench 6 Single	3,200+106%	1,550
Geekbench 6 Multi	22,563+46%	15,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 9 285K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX — the Core Ultra 9 285K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 9 285K) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 9 285K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890 (Core Ultra 9 285K) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX).

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
Socket	LGA1851	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	2048 GB+967%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core Ultra 9 285K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX). The Core Ultra 9 285K includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics 64EU), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 285K rivals Ryzen 9 9950X; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX rivals Xeon Gold 6430.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics 64EU	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 9 285K launched at $589 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX debuted at $2399. On MSRP ($589 vs $2399), the Core Ultra 9 285K is $1810 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 9 285K delivers 114.6 pts/$ vs 27.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX — making the Core Ultra 9 285K the 122% better value option.