AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Core Ultra 9 285K: Which is the best for gaming in 2025?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K are some of the fastest gaming CPUs in the market. They are designed with the top-of-the-line gaming PCs in mind, with the largest core counts and operating clock speeds of most consumer-grade hardware. However, if you're building a top-of-the-line gaming system in late 2025, which is the chip to opt for?

In this article, we have dissected the specs, performance differences, and value-for-money differences to answer the question.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K are both top-end gaming CPUs

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best-in-class AMD chip in 2025 (Image via AMD)

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K are very different in terms of their underlying hardware. AMD's Ryzen 9 uses a homogeneous 16-core / 32-thread Zen 5 design in a dual CCX layout. On the other hand, the Ultra 9 uses a hybrid layout with 8 Performance cores + 16 Efficiency cores (24 cores / 24 threads).

The 9950X3D includes 128 MB of 3D V-Cache, some of the largest numbers in consumer systems. The 285K on the other hand, has just 36 MB Smart Cache. While the larger core count on the 9950X3D allows for better multitasking efficiency and capabilities, it also limits framerates in more asset-heavy tasks that require large amounts of cache.

The 285K also has a higher operating power: 250W. The 9950X3D, on the other hand, is a 170W chip. This is despite both processors clocking to 5.7 GHz max turbo. Intel also offers higher DDR5 speeds (up to ~6400 MT/s) than the DDR5-5600 standard of AM5. Ultra 9 285K also includes a faster Intel Arc iGPU, compared to the dual-core Radeon chip found on the 9950X3D.

here's a side-by-side specs comparison:

Spec	AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D	Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Cores / Threads	16 cores / 32 threads	24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) / 24 threads
Base clock (typical)	~4.3 GHz base	P-core base 3.7 GHz / E-core base 3.2 GHz
Max boost / Turbo	Up to ~5.7 GHz boost	Up to 5.7 GHz (Max Turbo / Thermal Velocity Boost)
L3 cache (notable)	Large stacked 3D V-Cache — marketed around 128 MB (X3D/3D V-Cache family)	36 MB Intel® Smart Cache (plus L2 cache reported ~40 MB total)
Power (PBP / MTP)	~170 W	Processor Base Power 125 W; Maximum Turbo Power up to 250 W
Memory support	DDR5 5600 MT/s, 2 channels	DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, 2 channels; up to 256 GB
Socket / Platform	AM5 (desktop)	LGA-1851 / Core Ultra platform
Integrated graphics	Integrated Radeon graphics (on-package)	Integrated Intel Arc iGPU

Both the high-end chips are costly. The 9950X3D is priced at $699 while the 285K is a bit cheaper at $599.

Performance comparison

The Core Ultra 9 285K is the fastest Team Blue chip in the market (Image via Amazon)

Here's how performance in some of the latest video games when paired with an RTX 5090, the fastest GPU in the market. The resolution for these tests is 1080p, which runs all titles at the most CPU-bound scenario. We sourced these numbers from the YouTube channel Testing Games.

	Intel Core Ultra 9 285K	AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024	90 FPS	131 FPS
Oblivion Remastered	108 FPS	126 FPS
The Last of Us Part II	197 FPS	227 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077	118 FPS	136 FPS
Ghost of Tsushima	196 FPS	244 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2	159 FPS	217 FPS
Counter-Strike 2	668 FPS	728 FPS
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2	106 FPS	123 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy	58 FPS	71 FPS
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II	192 FPS	235 FPS

On average, the Ryzen 9 scores 223.8 FPS while the Core Ultra 9 285K trails with 189.2 FPS. This makes the 9950X3D about 18% faster, which is not surprising given the costlier price.

However, the performance per dollar figures show an even starker picture: while the Core Ultra 9 285K gets you 0.320 FPS per $, the 9950X3D slightly edges it out at 0.315 FPS per $. Although the 9950X3D edges the Ultra 9 out, the margin is extremely thin at 1.4%.

While according to raw performance, the 9950X3D wins, both chips make equal sense when comes to value for money. In terms of value-for-money, however, the AMD chip still comes at the top. Therefore, if you have the cash and want the best bang for the buck, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D makes the most sense.

Edited by Arka Mukherjee