Original illustration. Licensed product photos arrive once our Amazon product-data access unlocks.
Intel
Core Ultra 9 285K
Intel's fastest desktop part and a strong productivity chip with 24 cores. In games it trails the AMD X3D parts by a wide margin, and it has spent much of its life discounted well below launch price to compensate.
- Best for
- Mixed workstation and gaming duty where core count and Quick Sync encoding earn their keep.
- Watch out
- If the machine is for gaming first, the X3D parts win clearly. Buy this because of the other work it does, not because of the frame rate.
Launch MSRP$589
Specs
| Cores and threads | 24 cores (8P + 16E), 24 threads |
|---|---|
| Boost clock | Up to 5.7 GHz |
| TDP | 125 W base, 250 W turbo |
| Socket | LGA 1851 |
| Tier | Enthusiast - High refresh at 1440p, or a serious run at 4K, with headroom to spare. |
Reviews
4.0 / 5
Lake Effect Rigs editorial score
Our take, in one number: this is what the verdict above averages out to. We score what we would put in a real build, nothing else.
Verified owner reviews
We do not host user reviews, because we cannot verify them. Thousands of owners have weighed in where it counts.
Read owner reviews on AmazonBuying processors? Read the processor buying guide first. Five minutes there saves a wrong purchase.
Also in processors
Complete the build
The parts builders most often buy next to this one, picked by our editors.
As an Amazon Associate, Lake Effect Rigs earns from qualifying purchases. These links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.