Intel Core 7 150U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

Intel Core 7 150U and Intel Core Ultra 9 285 occupy distinct corners of the Intel lineup. The 150U is a 10-core mobile processor built for thin-and-light laptops, while the 285 is a 24-core desktop flagship. The database results show a clear performance hierarchy, but the practical choice depends on the workload and platform constraints.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 150U does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Across all 17 recorded tests, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 takes the win. The closest margin for the 150U appears in the PassMark single-thread tests, where the Ultra 9 285 leads by only 28.1 percent. That is the smallest gap in the entire set, indicating that the 150U holds up reasonably well in lightly threaded, single-core tasks relative to its own multi-core performance. The 150U still trails by a significant margin, but the single-core deficit is far less severe than the multi-core deficit.

The Ultra 9 285 dominates everywhere else, with margins widening as thread counts and instruction complexity increase. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 9 285 scores 48945 against 8883 for the 150U, a delta of 81.9 percent in favor of the desktop part. The PassMark extended instructions test shows a similar pattern, with the Ultra 9 285 at 45357 versus 8748, an 80.7 percent advantage. The largest single delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 9 285 leads by 87.4 percent, scoring 459 against 58. For integer math, floating-point math, encryption, and compression, the Ultra 9 285 holds leads between 69 percent and 82.4 percent. The data suggests the Ultra 9 285 is the clear choice for any heavily threaded, compute-intensive workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built for different physical environments. The Intel Core 7 150U uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-U, and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. It fits the Intel BGA 1744 socket, which is a soldered mobile package. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It fits the Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The desktop part uses a larger cache hierarchy: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3, compared to 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 for the mobile part. The Ultra 9 285 also carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the 150U has no transistor or die size figures recorded.

Memory support diverges as well. The 150U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 9 285 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Ultra 9 285 supports ECC memory, while the 150U does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the 150U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 9 285 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics are different. The 150U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The Ultra 9 285 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The mobile part has more execution units, but the desktop part is paired with a more capable platform. The Ultra 9 285 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The 150U has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The desktop part also has a higher TDP at 65 watts versus 15 watts for the mobile part, reflecting the larger thermal envelope available to a desktop processor.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a straightforward conclusion. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It delivers a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core 7 150U sits at the 71st percentile. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 9 285 is 75488, compared to 17395 for the 150U. The Ultra 9 285 sits alongside server-class parts in the database, with its nearest rivals including the AMD EPYC 8224P, AMD EPYC 4545P, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755. The 150U, by contrast, is grouped with the AMD Ryzen 5 4500, AMD Ryzen 3 210, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE, and AMD Ryzen 5 4600G.

The 150U is not a competitive alternative to the Ultra 9 285 in raw performance. It is a mobile processor with a 15 watt TDP, built for efficiency and portability. Its single-thread score of 3508 in PassMark is respectable for its class, and it trails the Ultra 9 285 by only 28.1 percent in that specific test. But the platform differences are decisive. The 150U uses a mobile socket, supports older memory standards, and lacks ECC support. The Ultra 9 285 uses a desktop socket, supports DDR5 only, and includes ECC. Anyone building a desktop workstation or high-performance PC should select the Ultra 9 285. Anyone assembling a thin-and-light laptop has no choice but the 150U, given the socket and TDP constraints.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 9 285 scores 48945 against 8883 for the 150U, a delta of 81.9 percent. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the lead is 74.5 percent, with scores of 20556 and 5248.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The 150U supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 9 285 supports only DDR5, with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 7 150U does not.

Q: What is the difference in process node and foundry?

A: The 150U is built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 9 285 is built on TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Ultra 9 285 has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The 150U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, but the margins vary by workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 9 285 scores 696 against 254 for the 150U, a 63.5 percent lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the scores are 2901 and 740, a 74.5 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 9 285 scores 6909 against 1875.5, a 72.9 percent lead. The PassMark single-thread tests show the smallest gap: 4881 against 3508, a 28.1 percent lead.

Multi-core results are far more lopsided. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4933 against 1505.5, a 69.5 percent lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 20556 against 5248, a 74.5 percent lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 48945 against 8883, an 81.9 percent lead. PassMark multithread shows 56602 against 14700, a 74 percent lead.

Specialized workloads follow the same pattern. PassMark data compression scores 602121 for the Ultra 9 285 and 158622 for the 150U, a 73.7 percent lead. Data encryption scores 46949 against 10025, a 78.6 percent lead. Extended instructions score 45357 against 8748, an 80.7 percent lead. Find prime numbers score 459 against 58, an 87.4 percent lead. Floating-point math scores 194988 against 34405, an 82.4 percent lead. Integer math scores 164869 against 51057, a 69 percent lead. Physics scores 3598 against 1012, a 71.9 percent lead. Random string sorting scores 73651 against 18269, a 75.2 percent lead.

The single-thread results are the only area where the 150U shows competitive relative strength. The 28.1 percent gap in PassMark single-thread is much smaller than the 69 percent to 87.4 percent gaps seen in multi-threaded and specialized tests. This indicates the 150U has a capable single-core design, but the Ultra 9 285 still holds a clear advantage in every category.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Specification | Intel Core 7 150U | Intel Core Ultra 9 285 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 24 |

| Threads | 12 | 24 |

| Base clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Arrow Lake-S |

| Generation | Core 7 (Raptor Lake-U) | Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die size | Not recorded | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2024-01-07 | 2024-12-31 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $579 |

| Part number | SRMYP | SRQD4 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 71 | 95 |

| Average benchmark score | 17395 | 75488 |