# Comparison of Intel processors
**Comparison of Intel processors** covers how Intel's consumer and mobile CPU lines have diverged since [Alder Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/alder-lake): the hybrid P-core/E-core designs of 12th through 14th generation Core chips, the tiled Core Ultra generations ([Meteor Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/meteor-lake), Arrow Lake, Lunar Lake), the 2023 naming overhaul that dropped the "i", and how these chips measure against [AMD Ryzen](https://www.edgepedia.org/amd-ryzen) and Apple Silicon.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flagship desktop chip | Core Ultra 9 285K: 24 cores (8 P + 16 E), 24 threads, 5.7 GHz max turbo, 36 MB Smart Cache, 40 MB L2, 125 W base / 250 W max turbo power[1](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241060/intel-core-ultra-9-processor-285k-36m-cache-up-to-5-70-ghz/specifications.html) |
| Compute tile process | TSMC N3B for the 285K's compute tile; graphics tile on TSMC N5P, SoC/IO tiles on N6, base tile Intel 22FF[1](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241060/intel-core-ultra-9-processor-285k-36m-cache-up-to-5-70-ghz/specifications.html) • [2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k) |
| Naming (2023) | Core i3/i5/i7/i9 names lost the "i" (to Core 3/5/7/9), while Core Ultra became a separate tier; generational messaging dropped; Pentium and Celeron retired in favor of "Intel Processor"[3](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/next-gen-core-and-core-ultra-cpus-lose-an-i-as-intel-shuffles-its-branding/) |
| SMT | Arrow Lake removes simultaneous multi-threading: the 24-core 285K offers 24 threads versus 32 on the i9-14900K[4](https://www.digitalfoundry.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2024-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-ultra-5-245k-review) |
| NPU TOPS | Arrow Lake: 13 TOPS (below Microsoft's 40 TOPS Copilot+ bar); Lunar Lake: 40–48 TOPS (qualifies); Apple M3 Ultra Neural Engine: 70 TOPS[5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review) • [6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/) • [7](https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-apple_m3_ultra_28_cpu_60_gpu-vs-intel_core_ultra_9_285k) |
| Memory | 285K: up to 256 GB DDR5-6400, 2 channels; Lunar Lake integrates 16 or 32 GB of RAM into the package[1](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241060/intel-core-ultra-9-processor-285k-36m-cache-up-to-5-70-ghz/specifications.html) • [6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/) |
| Sockets | Arrow Lake requires the new LGA 1851 and is incompatible with LGA 1700 boards; AMD's 9950X uses the mature AM5 socket[8](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html) • [9](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-9-9950x-vs-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-faceoff-it-isnt-even-close) |
## Lineage and naming
In June 2023 Intel overhauled its consumer branding. The mainstream lines lost the "i", shifting from Core i3/i5/i7/i9 to Core 3/5/7/9, and Intel stopped using generational messaging in processor names; a hypothetical chip that would once have been the "Core i7-14700K" might be named the "Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 14700K"[3](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/next-gen-core-and-core-ultra-cpus-lose-an-i-as-intel-shuffles-its-branding/). Intel introduced the Core Ultra label for processors featuring Arc graphics and an NPU; the rebrand first reached laptops with Meteor Lake in late 2023 and desktop with Arrow Lake in the 200 numbering range[8](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html). Intel had already retired the Pentium and Celeron value brands, renaming low-end parts generically, for example the Intel Processor N200[10](https://www.theverge.com/21559670/intel-core-rebrand).
The Arrow Lake desktop launch lineup ran from the Core Ultra 9 285K at $589 through the 265K ($394), 265KF ($379), 245K ($309), and 245KF ($294); F variants lack integrated graphics[8](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html). Later street prices settled lower: PassMark lists $500.17 for the 285K and $329.99 for the 265K, against $539 for AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X[11](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/6296vs6326vs6549vs6211vs6171/Intel-Ultra-9-285K-vs-Intel-Ultra-7-265K-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9950X3D-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9950X-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9900X).
## Microarchitecture generations
**Alder Lake and Raptor Lake (12th–14th gen).** Alder Lake pairs up to eight Golden Cove P-cores with up to eight Gracemont E-cores arranged in two four-core modules, plus an Xe Gen 12.2 GPU with up to 96 execution units and a Gaussian Neural Accelerator (GNA v3)[12](https://research.spec.org/icpe_proceedings/2024/proceedings/p95.pdf). [Raptor Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/raptor-lake) refined these into Raptor Cove and Gracemont. Meteor Lake's Redwood Cove P-core is architecturally close to Golden Cove, sharing the same decoders, allocation queue, op-cache, and memory subsystem[13](https://hardwaretimes.com/intel-core-ultra-meteor-lake-performs-like-a-refresh-but-isnt-one-heres-why/).
**Meteor Lake (Core Ultra Series 1).** Meteor Lake is Intel's first tiled, disaggregated client architecture, built on Intel 4 with Foveros die-to-die interconnects[14](https://www.hc34.hotchips.org/assets/program/conference/day2/Mobile%20and%20Edge/Meteor_Lake_Hotchips%20_%20Wilfred%20_%20final_submit%20(1).pdf). Its E-cores moved to a new Crestmont architecture, and it introduced a new low-power E-core category (LPE cores)[15](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/meteor-lakes-e-cores-crestmont-makes-incremental-progress). Die analysis found Crestmont about 34% smaller than Gracemont on Intel 7 (a 1.52x density improvement), with the E-core cluster shrinking about 29%[16](https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/meteor-lake-die-shot-and-architecture). The P/E size gap is widening: Redwood Cove is roughly 5.1x the area of Crestmont, versus about 4.48x for Golden Cove over Gracemont on Alder Lake[16](https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/meteor-lake-die-shot-and-architecture).
**Arrow Lake (Core Ultra Series 2, desktop).** The 285K pairs eight Lion Cove P-cores with 16 Skymont E-cores and drops Meteor Lake's two Crestmont LPE cores[17](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/examining-intels-arrow-lake-at-the) • [23](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-clarkdale-core-i5-661%2C2514-2.html). It also removes simultaneous multi-threading, so 24 cores yield 24 threads rather than the 32 threads of the i9-14900K[4](https://www.digitalfoundry.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2024-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-ultra-5-245k-review). Intel claims [Lion Cove](https://www.edgepedia.org/lion-cove) delivers 9% higher IPC than Raptor Cove, and reports Skymont gains of 32% in integer IPC and 72% in floating-point IPC over Gracemont[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k) • [5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review). Clocks actually fell: the 285K tops out at 5.7 GHz against 6.2 GHz for the i9-14900KS[18](https://hothardware.com/reviews/intel-core-ultra-200s-arrow-lake-cpu-review), with two of its Lion Cove cores reaching 5.7 GHz, the rest 5.5 GHz, and all 16 E-cores at up to 4.6 GHz (PCMag cites 4.5 GHz)[17](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/examining-intels-arrow-lake-at-the) • [2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k). L3 grew to 36 MB and L2 to 40 MB[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k), but P-core L3 load-to-use latency exceeds 80 cycles, versus about 52 on [Lunar Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/lunar-lake); aggregate L3 bandwidth just over 1 TB/s is more than double Meteor Lake's, while single-core L3 bandwidth has not improved since Skylake (an i5-6600K read 59.5 GB/s)[17](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/examining-intels-arrow-lake-at-the).
**Lunar Lake (Core Ultra Series 2, mobile).** Lunar Lake uses a 4 P-core + 4 E-core composition, common in Apple's M-series chips but new for Intel, with Hyper-Threading removed and 16 or 32 GB of RAM integrated into the CPU package[6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/). Intel claims its Skymont E-cores deliver over 20–80% better performance per watt than prior Crestmont E-cores[19](https://hc2024.hotchips.org/assets/program/conference/day1/56_HC2024.Intel.AGihon.final.pdf).
## P-cores, E-cores, and Thread Director
The hybrid design splits work between wide, high-throughput P-cores and smaller, more efficient E-cores clustered four to a module[12](https://research.spec.org/icpe_proceedings/2024/proceedings/p95.pdf). Thread Director provides workload-class feedback to the operating system to help it place work appropriately. Its feedback is enabled through the HW_FEEDBACK_CONFIG and HW_FEEDBACK_THREAD_CONFIG MSRs, with software polling the THREAD_FEEDBACK_CHAR MSR[12](https://research.spec.org/icpe_proceedings/2024/proceedings/p95.pdf).
Experimental probing of Alder Lake's interface found real limitations: E-cores never returned valid workload-class samples, and P-cores correctly identified classes 0, 2, and 3 but mapped the class 1 workload to class 0, raising doubt that the operating system can reliably keep unsuitable threads off E-cores using the interface alone[12](https://research.spec.org/icpe_proceedings/2024/proceedings/p95.pdf).
## Manufacturing process and packaging
Meteor Lake replaced the on-package interconnect used since the 2013 Haswell-era client platform (OPIO, 8 GT/s) with Foveros Die Interconnect (FDI) between tiles[14](https://www.hc34.hotchips.org/assets/program/conference/day2/Mobile%20and%20Edge/Meteor_Lake_Hotchips%20_%20Wilfred%20_%20final_submit%20(1).pdf). Arrow Lake extends the disaggregation: a compute tile on TSMC N3B, a graphics tile on TSMC N5P, SoC and I/O tiles on TSMC N6, all on a Foveros base tile built on Intel 22FF[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k) • [5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review). Lunar Lake's compute and platform-controller tiles are both made by TSMC, with CPU, GPU, and NPU reunited in a single compute tile via Foveros[6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/).
Moving the memory fabric and controllers off-chip in Arrow Lake imposes a latency penalty: Tom's Hardware measured about 15 ns of added memory latency with DDR5-5600, and Intel says to expect 15 to 20 ns, a cost felt in gaming[4](https://www.digitalfoundry.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2024-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-ultra-5-245k-review) • [5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review). Lunar Lake takes the opposite trade, putting the memory controller on-package with the DRAM attached directly.
## By the numbers
The 285K supports up to 256 GB of DDR5-6400 across two channels[1](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241060/intel-core-ultra-9-processor-285k-36m-cache-up-to-5-70-ghz/specifications.html), with 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes plus 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and TJMax raised to 105 °C, 5 °C above Intel's traditional limit[5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review). Its NPU delivers 13 INT8 TOPS, the integrated GPU up to 8 TOPS, and the CPU up to 15 TOPS[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k). Intel claims Arrow Lake reduces package power consumption by 40% compared with 14th-generation Raptor Lake Refresh[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k).
## How it compares with AMD and Apple
**Desktop, Intel vs AMD.** In Cinebench 2024 the 285K scored 17% higher multithreaded than the i9-14900K and beat the Ryzen 9 9950X by 11% multithreaded, with only about 4% single-thread gains[2](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k). Tom's Hardware's broader threaded-workload ranking points the other way: the 9950X remained about 4% faster overall than the 285K, partly due to native AVX-512 support. These two credible test suites disagree on the multithreaded winner, and the discrepancy is unresolved[5](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review). On efficiency, Tom's Hardware found the 285K idles at 16 W (a 37.5% idle-power advantage) but the 9950X draws 10–40% less power in multi-threaded benchmarks and delivers 7–13% better performance per watt[9](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-9-9950x-vs-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-faceoff-it-isnt-even-close). Notebookcheck's verdict was that the $589 285K sacrifices gaming leadership to roughly match AMD Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 in power efficiency[20](https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-Ultra-9-285K-Arrow-Lake-S-Review-589-CPU-sacrifices-gaming-crown-to-match-AMD-Zen-5-Ryzen-9000-in-power-efficiency.901799.0.html).
**Platform differences.** The 285K supports DDR5-6400 and CUDIMMs versus the 9950X's DDR5-5600, and 256 GB maximum memory versus AMD's 192 GB; power specs are 125 W base/250 W max turbo for Intel versus a 170 W TDP/230 W max boost for AMD[9](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-9-9950x-vs-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-faceoff-it-isnt-even-close). The 285K integrates Intel's first desktop NPU (13 TOPS), which the 9950X lacks, and an iGPU with 64 execution units, whereas the 9950X has integrated AMD Radeon Graphics with only 2 graphics cores, but the Intel chip requires the new LGA1851 socket (initially Z890, later B860/H810 chipsets), while the 9950X uses the mature AM5 platform spanning A620 through X870E[9](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-9-9950x-vs-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-faceoff-it-isnt-even-close) • [24](https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9950x.html).
**Integrated graphics and AI.** Intel claims Lunar Lake's Arc 140V GPU is on average 31% faster than Meteor Lake's Arc GPU in games and 16% faster than AMD's Radeon 890M[6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/). On NPU throughput, Lunar Lake's 40–48 TOPS meets Microsoft's Copilot+ requirement and is roughly four times Meteor Lake's 11.5 TOPS[6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/), while Arrow Lake's 13 TOPS falls well below the 40 TOPS bar[8](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html). Against Apple, database figures put the 285K 6% ahead of the 28-core Apple M3 Ultra single-core, with the M3 Ultra leading multi-core by 10% and its Neural Engine delivering 70 TOPS versus the 285K's 13 TOPS NPU (37 TOPS combined NPU + CPU + iGPU)[7](https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-apple_m3_ultra_28_cpu_60_gpu-vs-intel_core_ultra_9_285k).
## Recent developments
The rebrand rolled out with Meteor Lake laptops in late 2023[8](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html). Arrow Lake launched in Q4'24 on the FCLGA1851 package[21](https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/products/details/processors/core-ultra.html), and Intel issued a December 18 update listing fixes delivered through motherboard BIOS updates (correcting certain crucial default settings) and [Windows 11](https://www.edgepedia.org/windows-11) 24H2 updates, including the 0x114 microcode[22](https://www.techpowerup.com/review/arrow-lake-retested-with-latest-24h2-updates-and-new-bios/). Lunar Lake shipped in September 2024 with NPUs that qualify for Copilot+[6](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/). Intel's product listings now show Core Ultra Series 3 Panther Lake-family mobile parts, such as the Core Ultra 9 386H with 16 cores at up to 4.9 GHz, carrying a Q1'26 launch quarter[21](https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/products/details/processors/core-ultra.html).
## References
1. [Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 285K Specifications (ARK), Intel](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241060/intel-core-ultra-9-processor-285k-36m-cache-up-to-5-70-ghz/specifications.html)
2. [Intel Core Ultra 9 285K – Review 2024, PCMag](https://uk.pcmag.com/processors/155026/intel-core-ultra-9-285k)
3. [The last generation: Intel has new labels for its next major CPU architecture, Ars Technica (June 2023)](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/next-gen-core-and-core-ultra-cpus-lose-an-i-as-intel-shuffles-its-branding/)
4. [Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Ultra 5 245K review, Digital Foundry](https://www.digitalfoundry.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2024-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-ultra-5-245k-review)
5. [Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Core 5 245K Review, Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-ultra-9-285k-cpu-review)
6. [Review: Intel Lunar Lake CPUs combine good battery life and x86 compatibility, Ars Technica (September 2024)](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/testing-intels-next-gen-core-ultra-200v-cpus-ok-performance-great-battery-life/)
7. [Apple M3 Ultra vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, cpu-monkey](https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-apple_m3_ultra_28_cpu_60_gpu-vs-intel_core_ultra_9_285k)
8. [Core Ultra 9 285K review: 10 must-know facts, PCWorld](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2499641/core-ultra-9-285k-review-10-must-know-facts-intel-new-desktop-cpus.html)
9. [AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Faceoff, Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-9-9950x-vs-intel-core-ultra-9-285k-faceoff-it-isnt-even-close)
10. [Intel is officially killing off the 'i' in Core i7 — as it goes Ultra, The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/21559670/intel-core-rebrand)
11. [Intel Ultra 9 285K vs Ultra 7 265K vs AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs 9950X vs 9900X, PassMark](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/6296vs6326vs6549vs6211vs6171/Intel-Ultra-9-285K-vs-Intel-Ultra-7-265K-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9950X3D-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9950X-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9900X)
12. [Energy Efficiency Features of the Intel Alder Lake Architecture, ICPE 2024 (SPEC Research)](https://research.spec.org/icpe_proceedings/2024/proceedings/p95.pdf)
13. [Intel Core Ultra Meteor Lake Performs Like a Refresh, But Isn't One, Hardware Times](https://hardwaretimes.com/intel-core-ultra-meteor-lake-performs-like-a-refresh-but-isnt-one-heres-why/)
14. [Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake: Intel Next-Gen 3D Client Architecture Platform with Foveros, Hot Chips](https://www.hc34.hotchips.org/assets/program/conference/day2/Mobile%20and%20Edge/Meteor_Lake_Hotchips%20_%20Wilfred%20_%20final_submit%20(1).pdf)
15. [Meteor Lake's E-Cores: Crestmont Makes Incremental Progress, Chips and Cheese](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/meteor-lakes-e-cores-crestmont-makes-incremental-progress)
16. [Meteor Lake Die Shot and Architecture Analysis, SemiAnalysis](https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/meteor-lake-die-shot-and-architecture)
17. [Examining Intel's Arrow Lake, at the System Level, Chips and Cheese](https://chipsandcheese.com/p/examining-intels-arrow-lake-at-the)
18. [Core Ultra 9 285K And Ultra 5 245K Review, HotHardware](https://hothardware.com/reviews/intel-core-ultra-200s-arrow-lake-cpu-review)
19. [Lunar Lake Architecture Session, Hot Chips 2024](https://hc2024.hotchips.org/assets/program/conference/day1/56_HC2024.Intel.AGihon.final.pdf)
20. [Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Arrow Lake-S Review, Notebookcheck](https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-Ultra-9-285K-Arrow-Lake-S-Review-589-CPU-sacrifices-gaming-crown-to-match-AMD-Zen-5-Ryzen-9000-in-power-efficiency.901799.0.html)
21. [Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors, official product listing](https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/products/details/processors/core-ultra.html)
22. [Arrow Lake Retested with Latest 24H2 Updates and 0x114 Microcode, TechPowerUp](https://www.techpowerup.com/review/arrow-lake-retested-with-latest-24h2-updates-and-new-bios/)
23. [Intel Core i5-661: Clarkdale Rings The Death Knell Of Core 2](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-clarkdale-core-i5-661%2C2514-2.html)
24. [AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X](https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9950x.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Computing and digital systems › Computer hardware › Processors & processor engineering › Microarchitecture & implementation › Intel microarchitectures*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license