Core Ultra 9 285K
The current Core Ultra 9 285K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU · Core Ultra 200
Retailer photo of Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. View this offer in Where to buy
Works well for: Productivity, Gaming
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowConsider: Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus offers stronger value around CAD 480.Compare
Prices & availability
Core Ultra 9 285K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 285K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 23 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | Newegg | New | CAD 900 | 21 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Core Ultra 9 285KMultiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#14 of 234 graded processors
- #11 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 42
- #12 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 41
- #13 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 40
- #14 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 39
- #15 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX 39
- #16 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX 39
- #17 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X 38
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#140 of 234 currently priced processors
- #137 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 23
- #138 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 23
- #139 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 23
- #140 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 23
- #141 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 22
- #142 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 22
- #143 IntelIntel Core i9-14900KS 22
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#40 of 234 graded processors
- #37 AMDRyzen 5 9600X 73
- #38 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX 72
- #39 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7975WX 72
- #40 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 72
- #41 IntelIntel Core Ultra 9 285 72
- #42 IntelIntel Core i7-14700KF 72
- #43 IntelIntel Core i9-13900KF 71
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#104 of 234 currently priced processors
- #101 IntelIntel Core i9-13900F 46
- #102 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KF 46
- #103 IntelIntel Core i9-13900K 45
- #104 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 45
- #105 IntelIntel Core i9-14900 45
- #106 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 45
- #107 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 45
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#14 of 234 graded processors
- #11 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 42
- #12 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 41
- #13 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 40
- #14 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 39
- #15 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX 39
- #16 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX 39
- #17 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X 38
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#17 of 234 currently priced processors
- #14 IntelIntel Core i7-14700KF 72
- #15 IntelIntel Core i9-13900KS 71
- #16 IntelIntel Core i9-14900KF 71
- #17 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 71
- #18 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F 71
- #19 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900XT 70
- #20 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 225 70
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#35 of 234 graded processors
- #32 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 50
- #33 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 265 50
- #34 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900X 50
- #35 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 49
- #36 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7950X 49
- #37 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 265F 49
- #38 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 245KF 49
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#162 of 234 currently priced processors
- #159 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 14
- #160 IntelIntel Core i9-13900K 14
- #161 IntelIntel Core i9-10900F 13
- #162 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 13
- #163 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D 13
- #164 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 13
- #165 IntelIntel Core Ultra 9 285 13
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value23 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 42 +2% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeA Value45 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 9850X3D S 76 +39% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Ryzen 5 9600X A 91 +1% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeS Value71 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 100 +2% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeB Value13 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 7900 S 31 +103% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 8400F B 64 +3% capability |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Productivity is your main prioritygraded S for Productivity on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyCAD 233 is where Relative Value reaches 80 with Balanced priorities, in the 2026-11-07–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus holds Relative Value 42 against its 23 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 480
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded A for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallyCAD 264 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Gaming, in the 2026-11-07–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelRyzen 5 9600X holds Relative Value 91 against its 45 for Gaming. Check on Amazon.
Works well if
- Productivity is your main prioritygraded S for Productivity on the same rubric as the tier list
- Strong-value threshold: ~CAD 657CAD 657 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Productivity, in the 2026-11-07–2026-11-09 offer frame
Consider other options if
- Current offer is above the strong-value threshold (~CAD 657); check the price on AmazonCAD 657 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Productivity, in the 2026-11-07–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 71 for Productivity, at CAD 480
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is your main prioritygraded B for Performance per Watt on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 8400F holds Relative Value 64 against its 13 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Core Ultra 9 285K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 24
- Threads
- 24
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 16
- Base clock
- 3700 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5500 MHz
Power / Interface
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 40 MB
- L3 cache
- 36 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2024
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-07–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1851 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1851. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR5 memory
This processor takes DDR5. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 250 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 250 W on socket LGA 1851.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Core Ultra 9 285K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #14 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1893. Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Core Ultra 9 285K offers A-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #40 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1893. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Core Ultra 9 285K offers S-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #14 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1893. Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Core Ultra 9 285K offers B-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #35 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1893. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-07–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.