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: +6.8% higher average FPS across 14 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics 64EU, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.6 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
✅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 14 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (40,000 vs 45,563).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 285K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 14 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics 64EU, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($429 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.6 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($589 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 14 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (40,000 vs 45,563).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 285K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285K better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX 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 6.8% more average FPS across 14 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 13.9% 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 285K is 37.3% more expensive on MSRP at $589 MSRP versus $429 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 14 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is also 37.5% better value on MSRP (157.5 vs 114.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024), 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB), and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 9955WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	341 FPS	297 FPS
medium	323 FPS	270 FPS
high	267 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	288 FPS	273 FPS
medium	239 FPS	224 FPS
high	184 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	188 FPS	187 FPS
medium	155 FPS	154 FPS
high	115 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	104 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	899 FPS	786 FPS
medium	778 FPS	643 FPS
high	623 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	544 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	756 FPS	647 FPS
medium	677 FPS	549 FPS
high	557 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	447 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	421 FPS	363 FPS
medium	383 FPS	312 FPS
high	358 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	230 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	879 FPS	888 FPS
medium	718 FPS	705 FPS
high	637 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	545 FPS	534 FPS
1440p
low	750 FPS	713 FPS
medium	616 FPS	567 FPS
high	534 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	534 FPS	507 FPS
medium	459 FPS	418 FPS
high	415 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	315 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	1202 FPS	1106 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	991 FPS
high	939 FPS	867 FPS
ultra	846 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	930 FPS	860 FPS
medium	811 FPS	759 FPS
high	713 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	633 FPS	576 FPS
4K
low	685 FPS	632 FPS
medium	606 FPS	562 FPS
high	539 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	429 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 285K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

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 9955WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 67,561 points. Launch price was $1,649.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 9 285K packs 24 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285K versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 4.5 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 285K scores 67,482 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX's 67,561 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 45,563 vs 40,000 (13% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,200 vs 3,016, a 5.9% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 22,563 vs 23,596 (4.5% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285K vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Cores / Threads	24 / 24+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+4%	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz	4.5 GHz+22%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+78%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-25%	4 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	67,482	67,561
Cinebench R23 Multi	45,563+14%	40,000
Geekbench 6 Single	3,200+6%	3,016
Geekbench 6 Multi	22,563	23,596+5%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX 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 9955WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 9 285K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890 (Core Ultra 9 285K) and WRX90 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX).

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Socket	LGA1851	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-6400
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. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support true virtualization. The Core Ultra 9 285K includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics 64EU), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 285K rivals Ryzen 9 9950X; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX rivals Xeon w7-3555.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 285K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics 64EU	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 9 285K launched at $589 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX debuted at $429. On MSRP ($589 vs $429), the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is $160 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 9 285K delivers 114.6 pts/$ vs 157.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — making the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX the 31.5% better value option.