Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX: New details on the “Arrow Lake-HX” CPU

Intel has unveiled the Core Ultra 9 285HX, another CPU in the “Arrow Lake-HX” series, which is designed for use in performance-oriented laptops. The processor series is based on the new Arrow Lake architecture and was recently spotted in a Geekbench AI benchmark, which made some technical data public.

Technical features of the Core Ultra 9 285HX

The Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores, which are divided into 8 performance cores (P cores) and 16 efficiency cores (E cores). This core configuration corresponds to that of its desktop counterpart, the Core Ultra 9 285K. The CPU supports 24 threads and offers a base clock frequency of 2.8 GHz for the P-cores. The base clock frequency of the E cores is 2.1 GHz. The maximum boost clock speeds have not been fully confirmed in the benchmarks. However, earlier reports suggest that the P-cores could reach up to 5.5 GHz, while the E-cores have a maximum frequency of 4.6 GHz. The CPU has an L3 cache with a capacity of 36 MB. There is also an integrated Xe graphics unit with 64 execution units (EU) and a clock speed of 2.0 GHz.

Benchmark results and initial findings

The Core Ultra 9 285HX was tested in the Geekbench AI test, a benchmark that focuses on AI workloads. In this test, the processor scored 4091 points in single-precision calculations. Results from classic CPU benchmarks are currently not available, which means that the general performance of the CPU cannot yet be conclusively assessed. Nevertheless, the published data provides an initial insight into the processor’s direction. The mix of performance and efficiency cores indicates that the CPU is designed to process both computationally intensive and parallelizable tasks.

Application area and hardware configuration

The tested CPU was installed in an MSI Raider 18 HX, a laptop model designed for a combination of gaming and productivity applications. This model is equipped with Intel’s Core i9 HX processors and supports powerful GPUs. In its current configuration, it could be equipped with NVIDIA graphics solutions such as the RTX 4080 or newer models.

Comparison within the Arrow Lake HX series

Intel offers several models within the Arrow Lake HX series with different numbers of cores, clock rates and integrated graphics units. The following table shows an overview of the known models:

Assessment and outlook

The Core Ultra 9 285HX joins the upper performance segment of the Arrow Lake HX series. It combines a high core count with a balanced clock frequency and offers additional functionality for systems that do not use a separate GPU thanks to the integrated Xe graphics. The exact market availability and price of the CPU are not yet known. Further details may be released by Intel in the coming months, possibly in conjunction with further testing and analysis of the new processor series.

Source: BenchLeaks