Intel Core i7-14700HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 dominates the Intel Core i7-14700HX across every recorded benchmark in the database. The head-to-head comparison shows 17 wins for the Ultra 9 285 and zero for the i7-14700HX, with the largest gaps appearing in single-core workloads.

The most extreme difference comes in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ultra 9 285 scores 6909, which is 69.6% higher than the i7-14700HX's 2103. A similar pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ultra 9 285 delivers 696 against 296, a 57.5% advantage. These results indicate a substantial IPC uplift for Arrow Lake over Raptor Lake in lightly threaded tasks.

Multi-core performance also favors the Ultra 9 285 decisively. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 48945 for the Ultra 9 285 versus 24595 for the i7-14700HX, a 49.7% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows with 20556 against 13059, a 36.5% margin, while Cinebench R15 multi-core records 4933 versus 3812, a 22.7% difference. The scaling is consistent: the newer desktop part pulls further ahead as the workload becomes more demanding.

PassMark results reinforce the pattern. Floating point math shows the Ultra 9 285 at 194988, which is 51.9% above the i7-14700HX's 93836. Find prime numbers shows a 64.1% gap (459 versus 165), and extended instructions shows 45357 against 25718, a 43.3% advantage. Data encryption delivers 46949 versus 26092, a 44.4% gap, while data compression records 602121 versus 438539, a 27.2% lead.

The smaller margins appear in integer math and single-thread tests. PassMark integer math places the Ultra 9 285 at 164869, only 20.4% ahead of 131296. PassMark single-thread and singlethread both record 4881 against 3947, a 19.1% difference. Even in these closer comparisons, the Ultra 9 285 still holds a clear advantage.

The average benchmark scores place the i7-14700HX at 45953 with an 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Ultra 9 285 averages 75488 and ranks in the 95th percentile. The nearest rivals data confirms the separation: the i7-14700HX sits near the AMD EPYC 7303 (45960, 0% delta) and AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, 0% delta), while the Ultra 9 285 sits near the AMD EPYC 8224P (75582, -0.1% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75738, -0.3% delta). No recorded rival is closer than 0.2% to either part, so the two tested CPUs occupy distinct performance tiers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every single-core test. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 6909 versus 2103, a 69.6% lead, and PassMark single-thread shows 4881 versus 3947, a 19.1% lead.

Q: How large is the multi-core gap between the two?

A: The Ultra 9 285 leads by 49.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (48945 versus 24595) and by 35.4% in PassMark multithread (56602 versus 36566). The margin grows in longer render-style workloads.

Q: Does the i7-14700HX win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head table records zero wins for the i7-14700HX across all 17 benchmark entries, including every Cinebench and PassMark test.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark ranking?

A: The i7-14700HX holds an 89th percentile ranking with an average benchmark score of 45953. The Ultra 9 285 ranks in the 95th percentile with an average score of 75488.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The i7-14700HX sits within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 7303 and AMD EPYC 4364P. The Ultra 9 285 sits within 0.3% of the AMD EPYC 8224P, AMD EPYC 4545P, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755.

Q: Does the memory bandwidth figure differ between the two?

A: Yes. The Ultra 9 285 records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i7-14700HX has no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantage rather than by any reversal of results.

For single-threaded applications, the Ultra 9 285 is the clear pick. The 69.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 57.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core indicate that applications relying on one or two threads, such as legacy software, input handling, or lightly threaded productivity tools, will see a large performance uplift.

For multi-threaded rendering and compute, the Ultra 9 285 also takes the lead, though the margin varies by workload. The 49.7% edge in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 36.5% edge in Cinebench R20 multi-core show strong performance in CPU-bound rendering. PassMark physics shows a 37.4% gap (3598 versus 2252), and PassMark multithread shows a 35.4% gap (56602 versus 36566). These results point to consistent gains in simulation and parallel workloads.

The i7-14700HX remains relevant in contexts where its platform features matter. It uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, targets the mobile segment, and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 9 285 uses Intel Socket 1851, targets the desktop segment, and supports DDR5 only. The i7-14700HX also has an unlocked multiplier, which the Ultra 9 285 does not. For systems built around the BGA 1964 mobile platform, the i7-14700HX is the only one of these two that fits, regardless of benchmark results.

For raw performance with no platform constraints, the data consistently favors the Ultra 9 285. The smallest recorded gap is 19.1% in PassMark single-thread, and the largest is 69.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core. No workload in the database gives the i7-14700HX an advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The Intel Core i7-14700HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, and carries the Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake) generation label.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. The Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The i7-14700HX therefore has more threads than cores due to Hyper-Threading, while the Ultra 9 285 has equal core and thread counts.

Clock speeds differ modestly. The i7-14700HX has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Ultra 9 285 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Ultra 9 285 runs higher at both ends.

Thermal design power differs by 10 watts. The i7-14700HX has a TDP of 55, while the Ultra 9 285 has a TDP of 65. The socket and market segment also differ: the i7-14700HX uses Intel BGA 1964 and targets mobile, while the Ultra 9 285 uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets desktop.

The process node and foundry differ completely. The i7-14700HX uses a 10 nm node fabricated by Intel. The Ultra 9 285 uses a 3 nm node fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 9 285 also has a recorded transistor count of 17,800 million, while the i7-14700HX has no transistor count recorded. Die size is close: 257 mm² for the i7-14700HX and 243 mm² for the Ultra 9 285.

Memory support differs. The i7-14700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 285 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 9 285 records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i7-14700HX does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts differ. The i7-14700HX provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 9 285 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-14700HX uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 285 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The multiplier unlock status differs. The i7-14700HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 9 285 does not. The release dates are also different: the i7-14700HX released on January 7, 2024, and the Ultra 9 285 released on December 31, 2024. The Ultra 9 285 carries a launch MSRP of $579.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two processors is fundamental. The i7-14700HX uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 9 285 uses Arrow Lake, specifically the Arrow Lake-S die, built on TSMC's 3 nm process. The transition from Intel's 10 nm node to TSMC's 3 nm node represents a full process generation change and explains much of the performance differential.

Cache hierarchies differ at every level. The i7-14700HX has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 2 MB per core, and an L3 cache of 33 MB shared. The Ultra 9 285 has an L1 cache of 192 KB per core, an L2 cache of 3 MB per core, and an L3 cache of 36 MB shared. The Ultra 9 285 provides more cache per core and more shared L3, which contributes to its single-core and multi-core advantages.

The core topology also differs. The i7-14700HX uses 20 cores with 28 threads, indicating the presence of hyper-threaded performance cores alongside efficiency cores. The Ultra 9 285 uses 24 cores with 24 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is employed in the recorded configuration. The Ultra 9 285 compensates with a higher core count and a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 5.50 GHz.

Memory architecture differences reinforce the performance gap. The i7-14700HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5, which allows flexibility for older memory standards but does not maximize bandwidth. The Ultra 9 285 supports DDR5 only and records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The narrower memory support on the Ultra 9 285 aligns with its newer platform and higher bandwidth capability.

The integrated graphics differ between the two architectures. The i7-14700HX uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 285 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Arc-based solution reflects the newer Arrow Lake graphics architecture.

PCIe capability also differs. The i7-14700HX offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 9 285 offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The additional lanes on the Ultra 9 285 provide more headroom for expansion in a desktop platform.

The transistor count and die size round out the architectural picture. The Ultra 9 285 has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The i7-14700HX has no recorded transistor count, but its die size is 257 mm². The Ultra 9 285 packs more transistors into a slightly smaller die, consistent with its 3 nm process.

The production status for both processors is Active, so neither is end-of-life. The Ultra 9 285's 95th percentile ranking and 75488 average benchmark score place it well above the i7-14700HX's 89th percentile and 45953 average. The architectural differences, from process node to cache layout to memory support, all point in the same direction: the Arrow Lake desktop part is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark.