Core Ultra 9 285K vs Core i9-14900K
The Core i9-14900K is about 9% faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. Below: FPS in popular games, the specs side by side, and the graphics cards that suit each.
Updated · By Muhammad Muzammil
The short answer
In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core Ultra 9 285K gets about 161 FPS and the Core i9-14900K about 176 FPS. With a slower graphics card, or at 1440p and 4K, the card sets the FPS more often and the gap gets smaller.
The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the LGA1851 socket and the Core i9-14900K uses LGA1700, so they need different motherboards. The Core Ultra 9 285K takes DDR5 memory and the Core i9-14900K takes DDR4/DDR5. Cores and threads: 24 / 24 on the Core Ultra 9 285K, 24 / 32 on the Core i9-14900K. Neither comes with a cooler, so budget for one.
Core Ultra 9 285K vs Core i9-14900K: FPS in popular games
Estimated FPS at 1080p High with 32 GB RAM (Core Ultra 9 285K / Core i9-14900K in each column). With an RTX 5090, the processor sets the frame rate wherever it can. Values above 500 show as 500+. See FPS for your own PC.
| Game | RTX 5090 | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 370 / 403 | 305 / 305 |
| Valorant | 407 / 443 | 407 / 443 |
| Fortnite | 178 / 193 | 164 / 164 |
| Apex Legends | 163 / 177 | 163 / 177 |
| Marvel Rivals | 126 / 137 | 89 / 89 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 161 / 176 | 110 / 110 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 130 / 142 | 104 / 104 |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 132 / 143 | 132 / 143 |
With a mid-range graphics card such as an RTX 5060, the card sets the frame rate in more games, so the difference between the two processors is smaller.
Estimated FPS. Numbers come from the FPSVibe model, not measured benchmarks. How we estimate
Specs side by side
| Spec | Core Ultra 9 285K | Core i9-14900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 24 / 24 | 24 / 32 |
| Boost clock | up to 5.7 GHz | up to 6 GHz |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 36 MB |
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1700 |
| Memory | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-5600 / DDR4-3200 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores) | Intel UHD 770 |
| Cooler in the box | Not included | Not included |
| Power (TDP) | 125 W | 125 W |
| Launch year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Gaming index (est.) | 74 | 80.6 |
Gaming index: estimated CPU-bound gaming performance at 1080p, Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100. Memory and box cooler as listed on AMD and Intel product pages; where we couldn't confirm a value there, check the manufacturer's page.
Graphics cards that pair well with the Core Ultra 9 285K
Graphics cards that pair well with the Core i9-14900K
Check a build in the bottleneck calculator
Core Ultra 9 285K vs Core i9-14900K FAQs
Is the Core Ultra 9 285K better than the Core i9-14900K for gaming?
The Core i9-14900K is about 9% faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core Ultra 9 285K gets about 161 FPS and the Core i9-14900K about 176 FPS.
Core Ultra 9 285K or Core i9-14900K: which gets more FPS in Counter-Strike 2?
With an RTX 5090 at 1080p High, the Core Ultra 9 285K gets about 370 FPS and the Core i9-14900K about 403 FPS in our estimates.
Do the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core i9-14900K use the same motherboard?
No. The Core Ultra 9 285K uses the LGA1851 socket and the Core i9-14900K uses LGA1700, so you need a different motherboard to switch. They also take different memory: DDR5 vs DDR4/DDR5.
Do the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core i9-14900K come with a cooler?
No. Neither comes with a cooler in the box, so you need to buy one.
Do the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core i9-14900K have integrated graphics?
Yes. The Core Ultra 9 285K has Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores) and the Core i9-14900K has Intel UHD 770: enough for a display and light games, not for new games at good settings.
What graphics card should I pair with the Core Ultra 9 285K or the Core i9-14900K?
Balanced picks in our estimates: for the Core Ultra 9 285K, RX 9070, RTX 5070, RX 9070 GRE, RTX 5060 Ti 16GB; for the Core i9-14900K, RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT, RX 9070, RTX 5070.