Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX vs Intel Xeon 6724P Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6724P has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Xeon uses hyper-threading to double its thread count, whereas the Core Ultra 9 does not.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (620 vs 323.5, a 47.8% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (6161 vs 2187.5, a 64.5% lead). However, in PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 9 285HX wins decisively with 4618 vs 3279, a 40.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6724P has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Xeon does have a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz compared to 2.80 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 9 285HX records an average benchmark score of 76155, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon 6724P scores 72396 on average, sitting in the 94th percentile. The Core Ultra 9 sits 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.

Q: Which processor supports more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P supports 409.6 GB/s with its eight-channel DDR5 memory bus. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX supports 102.4 GB/s via a dual-channel DDR5 bus. This is a 4x difference in raw memory bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Intel Xeon 6724P has no integrated graphics (N/A), making a discrete GPU mandatory for display output.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design lineages. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is built on Arrow Lake-HX architecture using a 3 nm process from TSMC, packing 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die. The Intel Xeon 6724P uses Granite Rapids architecture on Intel's own 5 nm process, with transistor count and die size not recorded in the database.

The Core Ultra 9 features 24 cores with no hyper-threading (24 threads), a design choice that prioritizes physical core count. Its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Xeon 6724P has 16 cores with hyper-threading (32 threads), using 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and a much larger 72 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The Core Ultra 9 uses a dual-channel DDR5 bus delivering 102.4 GB/s. The Xeon 6724P uses an eight-channel DDR5 bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, a fourfold advantage that matters heavily for data-intensive server workloads. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also differs significantly. The Core Ultra 9 provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon 6724P provides 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, enabling far more expansion cards, NVMe drives, and accelerators in a server chassis.

The Core Ultra 9 comes with an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon 6724P is locked. The Xeon draws 210 W TDP compared to the Core Ultra 9's 55 W. The Core Ultra 9 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114 socket; the Xeon is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 4710.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Core Ultra 9 285HX wins 11 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Xeon 6724P takes 6. The wins are lopsided in different directions.

The Core Ultra 9 dominates in Cinebench R15 multicore with 5656.5 vs 4399, a 28.6% advantage. It also leads Cinebench R20 multicore by 10.4% (20236 vs 18330). However, the Xeon flips the script in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 43643 vs 36429.5, a 16.5% lead. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions suggests the Xeon's 32 threads scale better under certain load patterns.

Single-core results are equally split. The Xeon wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 47.8% (620 vs 323.5) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 64.5% (6161 vs 2187.5). Yet the Core Ultra 9 wins PassMark single-thread by 40.8% (4618 vs 3279). The PassMark test appears to favor the Core Ultra 9's higher 5.50 GHz boost clock, while the Cinebench single-core tests reward the Xeon's architecture differently.

In PassMark workloads, the Core Ultra 9 shows strength in compute-heavy tasks. It leads floating point math by 44% (194998 vs 135404) and data encryption by 41.5% (48567 vs 34332). It also wins integer-heavy prime number finding by 23.7% (460 vs 372) and random string sorting by 12.7% (77196 vs 68477). Data compression is nearly tied, with the Core Ultra 9 ahead by just 0.7% (631885 vs 627185).

The Xeon fights back in specific server-oriented workloads. It wins extended instructions by 9.2% (54101 vs 49148) and integer math by 10% (172216 vs 155076). Its most striking PassMark win is in physics simulation, scoring 5004 vs 3476, a 30.5% advantage. The Xeon also leads PassMark multithread by 10.8%? No, that is actually a Core Ultra 9 win: 56902 vs 51345, a 10.8% lead for the mobile part.

The overall average benchmark score favors the Core Ultra 9 at 76155 vs 72396. The Core Ultra 9's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX at 76212, just 0.1% higher. The Xeon 6724P's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon 6517P at 72350, with the Xeon ahead by 0.1%.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX | Intel Xeon 6724P |

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

| Cores | 24 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 210 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2114 | Intel Socket 4710 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Granite Rapids |

| Process Node | 3 nm (TSMC) | 5 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | N/A |

| Die Size | 243 mm² | N/A |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB per core | 112 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 3 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB shared | 72 MB shared |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | 409.6 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | 20 Gen 5 | 88 Gen 5 |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU | N/A |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2025-02-23 |

| Launch MSRP | N/A | $3622 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins in scenarios that demand high clock speeds, strong floating-point throughput, and efficient power use. Its 44% lead in floating point math and 41.5% lead in data encryption indicate a strong fit for scientific computing, financial modeling, and cryptographic workloads on a laptop or compact workstation. Its 40.8% single-thread advantage in PassMark means snappy responsiveness in single-threaded applications. The 28.6% Cinebench R15 multicore win and 10.8% PassMark multithread lead show that 24 physical cores can outperform 32 threads in several parallel workloads. The 55 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile deployments where thermal headroom is limited.

The Intel Xeon 6724P wins in server-oriented tasks with massive memory demands. Its 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 72 MB L3 cache benefit workloads that stream large datasets. The 30.5% lead in PassMark physics points to simulation and physics-engine performance. The 10% integer math advantage and 9.2% extended instructions lead suggest strength in database operations, integer-heavy analytics, and SIMD-heavy code. The 64.5% Cinebench R23 single-core lead and 16.5% multicore win in that same test show the Xeon's architecture excels in certain rendering pipelines. The 88 PCIe lanes support dense GPU or NVMe configurations that the Core Ultra 9 cannot accommodate.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward decision matrix. For mobile computing, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the clear choice. It delivers a higher average benchmark score (76155 vs 72396), wins 11 of 17 head-to-head tests, and does so within a 55 W power envelope. Its unlocked multiplier and integrated Arc graphics add flexibility for portable systems. The 95th percentile standing among all CPUs, just 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, confirms its competitive position.

For server and workstation deployments, the Intel Xeon 6724P offers different strengths. Its 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is a structural advantage that no mobile processor can match. The 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes enable expansion the Core Ultra 9 cannot provide. In workloads that leverage its 32 threads and 72 MB L3 cache, the Xeon wins decisively, as shown by the 16.5% Cinebench R23 multicore lead and 30.5% PassMark physics advantage. The Xeon sits in the 94th percentile, just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6517P.

The choice depends on workload priorities. The Core Ultra 9 285HX suits compute-heavy tasks that respond to high clocks and floating-point throughput, especially in power-constrained environments. The Xeon 6724P suits memory-bandwidth-hungry server workloads, multi-GPU systems, and tasks that scale with thread count and large shared cache. The data shows no single overall winner; it shows two processors optimized for different segments of the computing spectrum.