Intel Core 7 150UL vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

The Verdict

The database places these two processors at opposite ends of Intel's mobile and desktop spectrum. The Intel Core 7 150UL is a 10-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake part with a 15W TDP, built for efficiency and modest workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread Arrow Lake-HX Refresh flagship with a 55W TDP, designed for maximum throughput. Benchmark data shows the Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 150UL sits at the 50th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 9 is 79,574, placing it within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-14900KF (79,371) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900K (79,097). The Core 7 150UL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so comparisons rely entirely on architectural and specification data. For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear choice. For low-power, compact systems where efficiency matters more than throughput, the Core 7 150UL serves a different purpose.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from distinct design lineages. The Core 7 150UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It is a desktop segment part that fits Intel Socket 1700. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake-HX Refresh, and is manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm node. The foundry difference is significant: Intel produces the Core 7 150UL, while TSMC fabricates the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The Ultra 9 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, whereas the Core 7's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Core and cache configurations diverge sharply. The Core 7 150UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, with 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9's larger per-core caches and three times the shared L3 provide a substantial foundation for memory-heavy workloads. The Core 7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the Ultra 9 supports DDR5 exclusively, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Ultra 9 also supports ECC memory; the Core 7 does not.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Core 7 150UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 7 uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier, the Core 7 does not. Production status is active for both, with release dates in April 2024 for the Core 7 and March 2026 for the Ultra 9. The Ultra 9 is a mobile segment part on Intel BGA 2114, whereas the Core 7 is desktop-oriented on Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the Core 7 150UL and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The Core 7 150UL has no benchmark entries at all, so its performance profile is undefined in the measurements. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus, however, has a comprehensive set of recorded scores across Cinebench and PassMark tests.

In Cinebench R15, the Ultra 9 scores 5,981 in multi-core and 340 in single-core. Cinebench R20 shows 21,198 multi-core and 2,992 single-core. Cinebench R23 records 39,684 multi-core and 2,356 single-core. The multi-core scores are notably high, reflecting the 24-core configuration. Single-core scores are moderate, indicating that per-thread performance is not the primary strength of this chip.

PassMark results for the Ultra 9 show a broad workload spread. Data compression scores 658,724, which is the highest single result in its suite. Data encryption reaches 50,008. Extended instructions score 51,290. Finding prime numbers yields 519, a relatively low figure. Floating point math hits 201,773, while integer math reaches 164,839. The multithread score is 59,439, and the physics test records 3,387. Random string sorting produces 80,327. Single-thread performance is recorded twice, both at 4,951.

The nearest rival data for the Ultra 9 provides context for its standing. The Intel Core i9-14900KF averages 79,371, which is 0.3% lower than the Ultra 9's average of 79,574. The AMD EPYC 7413 averages 80,041, putting it 0.6% higher than the Ultra 9. The Intel Core i9-14900K averages 79,097, which is 0.6% lower. The Intel Xeon w5-2565X averages 80,671, which is 1.4% higher. These deltas place the Ultra 9 in a tight competitive band around the 14900K and 14900KF, slightly behind the EPYC and Xeon parts.

Given the absence of Core 7 benchmarks, the head-to-head section cannot report exact score differences. The architecture data, however, indicates that the Ultra 9's 24 cores, larger caches, higher clock speeds, and newer process node should deliver substantially higher multi-threaded performance. The Core 7's 15W TDP compared to the Ultra 9's 55W TDP shows a power envelope difference that suggests the Core 7 is optimized for thermal efficiency rather than peak throughput.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the database:

• Cores: Core 7 150UL has 10; Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24.
• Threads: Core 7 150UL has 12; Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24.
• Base Clock: Core 7 150UL is 1.70 GHz; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 2.70 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Core 7 150UL is 5.00 GHz; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 5.50 GHz.
• TDP: Core 7 150UL is 15W; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 55W.
• Socket: Core 7 150UL uses Intel Socket 1700; Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114.
• Architecture: Core 7 150UL uses Raptor Lake; Ultra 9 290HX Plus has no recorded architecture field.
• Codename: Core 7 150UL is Raptor Lake-PS; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is Arrow Lake-HX Refresh.
• Generation: Core 7 150UL is Core 7 (Raptor Lake-PS); Ultra 9 290HX Plus is Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-HX).
• Process Node: Core 7 150UL is 10 nm; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 3 nm.
• Foundry: Core 7 150UL is Intel; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is TSMC.
• Transistors: Core 7 150UL has no recorded value; Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 17,800 million.
• Die Size: Core 7 150UL has no recorded value; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 243 mm².
• L1 Cache: Core 7 150UL is 80 KB per core; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 192 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: Core 7 150UL is 1.25 MB per core; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 3 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: Core 7 150UL is 12 MB shared; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 36 MB shared.
• Memory Support: Core 7 150UL supports DDR4 and DDR5; Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports DDR5 only.
• Memory Bandwidth: Core 7 150UL has no recorded value; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 102.4 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: Core 7 150UL does not support ECC; Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports ECC.
• PCIe: Core 7 150UL is Gen 4 with 8 lanes; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is Gen 5 with 20 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Core 7 150UL uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU; Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.
• Market Segment: Core 7 150UL is Desktop; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is Mobile.
• Release Date: Core 7 150UL is April 2024; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is March 2026.
• Multiplier Unlocked: Core 7 150UL is locked; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is unlocked.
• Part Number: Core 7 150UL is unknown; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is SADSS.
• Percentile: Core 7 150UL is 50th; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 95th.
• Average Benchmark Score: Core 7 150UL is 0; Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 79,574.

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Core 7 150UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 9 provides more than double the physical cores and exactly double the threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Core 7 150UL boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Ultra 9 also has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 1.70 GHz.

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: The Core 7 150UL has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 7 150UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports DDR5 only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor ranks higher in the database percentile?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 150UL ranks in the 50th percentile.

Q: How does the Ultra 9 290HX Plus compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 79,574. It is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900KF (79,371), 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900K (79,097), 0.6% lower than the AMD EPYC 7413 (80,041), and 1.4% lower than the Intel Xeon w5-2565X (80,671).