PassMark software has highlighted a new entry in the CPU Mark single-threaded performance rankings. In a tweet shared this weekend, a chart was embedded showing that Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 9 285K processor (an Arrow Lake-S desktop part) is the new single-core leader in the benchmark of the same name. The company admits that the sample tested “may be a pre-release technical sample, but the results look good.”
PassMark’s rating seems reasonable, as the Core Ultra 9 285K is confidently ahead of some of the best CPUs available to consumers, such as the Intel Core i9-14900KS, and a host of Apple M3 variants. It’s even further ahead of chips like the Core i9-13900K and AMD’s top-ranked Ryzen 9 9950X. Expand the embedded Tweet to see the full diagram.
New single-thread CPU performance leader. #Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (note this may be a pre-release technical sample, but the results look good) pic.twitter.com/yqLECdl9XEOctober 5, 2024
The above is great news on the single-core front for Intel ‘team blue’ fans, but multi-core results on PassMark’s website aren’t so great. The upcoming Arrow Lake-S CPU has a score of 46,872 in PassMark’s multi-threaded tests. That’s a score that fits right between the Core i9-13900 and the i7-13700K CPUs. For further context, the aforementioned 14900KS scores 62,502 in this benchmark. The new top-of-the-line desktop chip looks quite anemic if it wants to step into the shoes of the Raptor Lake Refresh part.
In an interesting coincidence, Twitter’s momomo_us discovered a mention of an HP Omen 35L gaming desktop this weekend (Tweet embedded above). According to the screenshot, it packs the aforementioned Intel Core Ultra 9 285K at its core. The listing confirms and highlights the CPU specs, claiming that it offers turbo boost up to 5.70 GHz, 36 MB cache, and 24 cores with 24 threads. We assume that the terrible PassMark multi-threaded result versus the 14900KS may be largely due to the thread shortage – with the Arrow Lake having only 24 threads, versus the Raptor Lake Refresh with its 24C/32T configuration.
Regarding the poor multi-threaded performance shown here, we should also keep in mind that this is an example of one, and it is marked as a technical example. Additionally, motherboard/BIOS plus tuning may need to be done – as well as other adjustments – before Arrow Lake systems are ready for prime time.
However, Arrow Lake-S is not far away. The new LGA 1851 processors and 800 series motherboards, such as the top-end Z890 products, should arrive later this month.