The race for CPU dominance in 2024 has introduced a new heavyweight matchup: the Ultra 9 285K against AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Both processors target high-end enthusiasts, gamers, and professional creators, promising uncompromised performance across a range of workloads. But when raw power meets gaming optimization and creative efficiency, who takes the crown?
TL;DR – Quick Summary
The Ultra 9 285K excels in raw multi-threaded productivity tasks like 3D rendering and video encoding, while the Ryzen 9 9950X3D dominates in gaming performance due to its massive L3 cache and smart memory acceleration. For content creators, the Ultra 9 offers wider PCIe bandwidth and higher power ceiling, whereas gamers will likely prefer the cooler, more efficient Ryzen chip. Choice depends largely on usage priorities.
Architecture & Specs Overview
Let’s begin with a spec comparison:
- Ultra 9 285K: 24 cores / 32 threads, 6 GHz boost, 200W base power, PCIe 5.0 x20, DDR5-8800 support.
- Ryzen 9 9950X3D: 16 cores / 32 threads, 5.7 GHz boost, 120W base power, PCIe 5.0 x24, DDR5-8000 support + 3D V-Cache.
The Ultra 9 285K, likely Intel’s flagship, goes all-in on core count and clock speed, maximizing brute-force performance. Conversely, AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D leans into efficiency and gaming optimization, thanks to its 3D V-Cache stack—an innovative approach that increases L3 cache to a staggering 192 MB.
Gaming Performance
Gaming tests were conducted using the latest GPUs (RTX 5090 and Radeon 8900XTX), 32GB DDR5 RAM, and Windows 11, across a lineup of modern AAA titles at 1080p and 1440p resolutions to prevent GPU bottlenecks. Here’s how the chips fared:
1080p Results – High Refresh Racing
- Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra): Ryzen 9 9950X3D – 166 fps avg | Ultra 9 285K – 141 fps avg
- Rainbow Six Siege: Ryzen – 434 fps | Ultra 9 – 390 fps
- Call of Duty: MW III: Ryzen – 220 fps | Ultra 9 – 203 fps
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D consistently leads by 8–20% in frame rates across CPU-bound gaming titles. Its enormous L3 cache reduces fetch latencies and increases scene preloading, especially in open-world and shooter games.
1440p and Synthetics – GPU Snaps Back
At higher resolutions, the GPU gradually becomes the bottleneck, diminishing CPU differences to single digits. However, synthetic tests like Cinebench R23 (single-threaded) still reveal Ryzen’s tuned efficiency, though Ultra 9 closes the gap well:
- Cinebench R23 Single-Core: Ryzen – 2305 | Ultra 9 – 2280
- 3DMark CPU Profile (Gaming Focus): Ryzen – 12,300 | Ultra 9 – 11,500
Creator & Productivity Benchmarks
For professional workloads, core scaling and cache architecture tell a different story. Tests were run using Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Autodesk Maya, and other content tools.
Rendering & Encoding
When pitted in Blender’s Monster benchmark (Cycles X path tracing), the Ultra 9 285K completed the scene in 93 seconds, while Ryzen completed it in 108 seconds. In Premiere Pro’s 4K to 1080p H.264 export, the Ultra 9 was also 12% quicker.
- Blender Cycles: Ultra 9 – 93s | Ryzen – 108s
- Premiere Pro Export: Ultra 9 – 3:20 | Ryzen – 3:45
Photoshop and After Effects, however, saw only marginal benefits with the additional cores of the Ultra 9, and Ryzen’s lower latency sometimes gained it a shade of responsiveness in real-time effects processing.
DAW and Multitasking
Audio production apps like FL Studio and Pro Tools performed near-equal on both CPUs, with Ryzen occasionally benefiting from its cache structure for snappier plugin load times. However, when multitasking—such as rendering a video while streaming and compiling code—the Ultra 9 285K had tighter system responsiveness and fewer frame drops.
Thermals, Power & Efficiency
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D’s lower base power (120W vs Ultra 9’s 200W) gives it a significant advantage in overall efficiency. Under load, Ultra 9 routinely spiked to over 270W—occasionally nearing 300W in multi-core Blender scenes. Ryzen remained under 150W even in demanding sessions.
As a result, Ryzen ran cooler, maxing out at 79°C with a 280mm AIO, compared to Ultra 9’s 97°C with a 360mm liquid cooler. Enthusiasts concerned about power draw or small form factor thermal headroom may find Ryzen the more practical option.
Platform Features & Ecosystem
Ultra 9 285K anchors on the Z890 chipset, offering enhanced I/O scalability and support for hyper-speed DDR5-8800 memory and dual PCIe 5.0 x8 slots, ideally suited for creators needing GPU and high-speed storage. Ryzen’s AM5 platform, however, boasts better forward compatibility and more mature PCIe 5.0 deployment with optimized drivers and Smart Access Storage integration.
AM5’s efficiency also means lower cooling costs and longer lifespan of surrounding components, an often-overlooked benefit in workstation builds.
Pricing and Value
Ultra 9 285K MSRP: $749
Ryzen 9 9950X3D MSRP: $699
Though the Ultra 9 costs more, it delivers value for heavy creative professionals who can maximize all cores. On the gaming side, Ryzen offers better frames-per-dollar, especially when paired with AMD GPUs for synergy bonuses like Smart Access Memory and HYPR-RX.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between these two titans depends on use-case priority:
- Choose Ultra 9 285K if your tasks lean toward 3D modeling, 8K video production, large-scale compilation, and multitasking.
- Choose Ryzen 9 9950X3D if your primary focus is competitive or immersive gaming with top-tier performance and energy efficiency.
Both CPUs represent the pinnacle of modern performance computing—it’s less about which is better overall and more about which is better for you.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Which CPU is faster for gaming: Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
- A: The Ryzen 9 9950X3D generally wins in gaming tests due to its 3D V-Cache, leading to better frame rates in most titles.
- Q: Is the Ultra 9 285K worth it for creators?
- A: Yes, especially for multi-threaded workloads such as 3D rendering, video encoding, and scientific computations where it outpaces Ryzen.
- Q: What are the thermal requirements for these CPUs?
- A: The Ultra 9 285K requires a high-end liquid cooler to manage high TDP, while the Ryzen 9 9950X3D can run cool with even midrange AIO solutions.
- Q: Does the Ryzen 9 9950X3D work better with AMD GPUs?
- A: It can. Features like Smart Access Memory and HYPR-RX enhance performance when paired with Radeon cards.
- Q: Which CPU is more power efficient?
- A: The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is significantly more efficient, staying under 150W even under full load—for lower heat and power