CPU vs CPU
Core Ultra 9 285K vs Core i9-14900K
The Core i9-14900K wins outright: 9% faster in games and $303 cheaper for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed) today.
Key facts· updated
- The Core Ultra 9 285K scores 71.8 and the Core i9-14900K scores 78.2 for 1080p gaming in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026 (RTX 5090, fastest chip = 100).
- The Core i9-14900K is 9% faster in games than the Core Ultra 9 285K (Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026).
- The Core Ultra 9 285K costs $520 and the Core i9-14900K costs $490 (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- With the cheapest compatible board and 32GB of memory, it's $1,174 for the Core Ultra 9 285K platform vs $871 for the Core i9-14900K platform (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- The Core Ultra 9 285K uses LGA1851 and the Core i9-14900K uses LGA1700, so they need different motherboards.
| Spec | Core Ultra 9 285K | Core i9-14900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score (1080p) | 71.8 | 78.2 |
| Price today | $520Sample | $490Sample |
| Platform cost today | $1,174Sample | $871Sample |
| Cores | 24 | 24 |
| Gaming power (approx.) | ~250 W | ~253 W |
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1700 |
| Memory | DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 |
| Cooler in the box | No | No |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
Gaming score: Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, “Gaming CPU Benchmarks Rankings 2026” (Oct 2026; 1080p, mix of High and Ultra settings, geometric mean of 17 games, relative to the Ryzen 7 9850X3D (= 100); NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition). Specs from maker pages (checked 2026-10-29). Platform cost = processor + cheapest compatible board + cheapest 32GB kit + cheapest cooler rated for the chip when none is in the box. Highlighted = better. Prices last checked ; Sample = PC Atlas catalog estimate, not a live store price.
Questions
Is the Core Ultra 9 285K better than the Core i9-14900K for gaming?
The Core i9-14900K wins outright: 9% faster in games and $303 cheaper for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed) today.
How much faster is the Core i9-14900K in games?
9% in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy (Oct 2026): a 1080p gaming score of 78.2 vs 71.8, tested with an RTX 5090 so the processor is the limit. At 1440p and 4K with a mid-range card the gap shrinks, often to nothing.
What does each one cost with a motherboard and memory?
Core Ultra 9 285K: about $1,174 with the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi (mATX) and G.Skill Flare X5 32GB (2x16) DDR5-6000 CL30 plus the Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V3 ARGB White. Core i9-14900K: about $871 with the MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 (mATX) and TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (2x16) DDR4-3200 CL16 plus the DeepCool AK620.
Can I upgrade the Core Ultra 9 285K or Core i9-14900K later?
LGA1851: Core Ultra 200S Plus is the newest chip for it; Intel hasn't announced more. LGA1700: end of the line. Intel's newer chips use LGA1851.