Today, we’re re-reviewing the Core Ultra 9 285K – simply kidding! Instead, we’re throwing Intel’s newest flagship CPU to the wolves, and by that we imply we’re evaluating it head-to-head with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D throughout 45 video games.
What we wish to know is how these CPUs evaluate throughout a variety of video games – or, extra particularly, how a lot sooner the 9800X3D is. For this overview, we’re sticking with the brand new format. Instead of displaying particular person outcomes for a dozen or so titles and summarizing the margins for the remainder, we’ll current outcomes for 5 video games at a time. This manner, you’ll be able to see the FPS information for each sport examined.
As all the time, all CPU gaming benchmarks are carried out at 1080p utilizing the GeForce RTX 4090. If you are curious why that is the perfect method for evaluating CPU efficiency in video games immediately and into the longer term, now we have an article for that proper right here.
Now, let’s dive into the graphs!
Gaming Benchmarks
The Last of Us, Cyberpunk, Hogwarts Legacy, ACC, Spider-Man
For our first batch of video games, let’s start with The Last of Us Part 1. This is an instance the place the 285K performs fairly properly, ensuing within the 9800X3D being solely 5% sooner – a negligible margin. In this state of affairs, each CPUs ship distinctive efficiency, as anticipated from flagship processors.
However, the 285K stinks in Cyberpunk 2077, choking the RTX 4090 to simply 151 fps. As a outcome, the Ryzen 7 processor is a powerful 45% sooner. The 9800X3D additionally crushes the 285K in Hogwarts Legacy, delivering 43% higher efficiency. The margins are much more brutal in ACC, the place the AMD processor outpaces the Intel CPU by a staggering 75%. While efficiency improves for Intel in Spider-Man Remastered, the 9800X3D nonetheless maintains a 15% lead.
Baldur’s Gate 3, Homeworld 3, APTR, Flight Simulator, Starfield
Next, now we have Baldur’s Gate 3, the place the 9800X3D is 34% sooner, leaping from 131 fps to 176 fps. The margins grow to be much more placing in Homeworld 3, with the 9800X3D reaching 58% higher common body charges and an unimaginable 117% enchancment in 1% lows.
(*7*)
The 285K additionally performs unexpectedly poorly in A Plague Tale: Requiem, averaging simply 123 fps in comparison with 195 fps on the 9800X3D – a 59% efficiency increase for the AMD CPU.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, the 9800X3D maintains a powerful lead with a mean of 95 fps, a 34% enchancment over the 285K. The Intel CPU reveals one among its greatest leads to Starfield, although even right here, the 9800X3D is 10% sooner.
Horizon Forbidden West, Horizon Zero Dawn, Watch Dogs, Far Cry 6, T&L
In Horizon Forbidden West, the 285K delivers one among its greatest performances, coming inside just a few proportion factors of the 9800X3D. However, in Horizon Zero Dawn, the Ryzen 7 processor is 29% sooner. The 9800X3D additionally outpaces the 285K by 46% in Watch Dogs Legion and 28% in Far Cry 6, whereas the margin is negligible in Throne and Liberty.
Hitman 3, Callisto Protocol, SoTR, Halo, Warhammer 3
Next is Hitman 3, the place AMD’s 3D V-Cache processor is simply 7% sooner. Both CPUs present greater than sufficient efficiency for this older sport. We’ve up to date the benchmark for The Callisto Protocol to a much less GPU-bound take a look at, displaying the 9800X3D outperforming the 285K by 42%.
(*9*)
We’re additionally seeing a 24% enhance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and like Hitman 3 efficiency right here is way increased than is required, nevertheless it’s a great benchmark software for evaluating the gaming efficiency of those two elements. Then we see that efficiency in Halo Infinite and Warhammer III is close to sufficient to be an identical.
Black Ops 6, Borderlands 3, Riftbreaker, Remnant 2, SWJS
This subsequent set of outcomes begins with Black Ops 6, the place the 9800X3D is nineteen% sooner. Although the 285K is greater than succesful on this case, the Ryzen 7’s important benefit suggests higher longevity.
Similarly, in Borderlands 3, the 9800X3D delivers a 21% enchancment. In The Riftbreaker, the 285K faces a considerable defeat, with the 3D V-Cache processor is a whopping 42% sooner.
In Remnant 2, the 285K produces comparatively low body charges for a high-end CPU, making the 30% enchancment offered by the 9800X3D extremely noticeable, particularly for these utilizing excessive refresh price displays. Finally, in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the 9800X3D delivers a crushing 45% efficiency lead.
War Thunder, Skull and Bones, Returnal, Ratchet & Clank, Dying Light 2
And right here now we have but extra gaming information. Those looking for final efficiency in War Thunder will discover the 285K underwhelming, as 266 fps shouldn’t be notably spectacular on this title. This additionally means the 9800X3D was almost 50% sooner.
Performance in Skull and Bones, Returnal, and Ratchet & Clank is almost an identical, with no clear winner. However, the 9800X3D delivers a 19% efficiency uplift in Dying Light 2.
Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport, Gears 5, Ghost of Tsushima, Hunt
The 9800X3D is simply barely sooner in Forza Horizon 5, nevertheless it reveals a 21% enchancment in Forza Motorsport. In Gears 5, the Core Ultra 9 processor is totally outmatched, managing simply 180 fps with 1% lows of 101 fps. This leads to the 9800X3D being 62% sooner. Margins are extra modest in Ghost of Tsushima and Hunt: Showdown, although the 9800X3D is comfortably forward in each circumstances.
World War Z, F1 24, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite
The 285K is as soon as once more crushed, with the 9800X3D delivering a 27% lead in World War Z and an 18% benefit in F1 24. Similar good points are noticed in Rainbow Six Siege, the place the Ryzen 7 processor offers 26% larger efficiency, and in Counter-Strike 2, the place it delivers a 30% enchancment.
In Fortnite, we encountered a compatibility challenge with Easy Anti-Cheat, which prevented the sport from working on the 285K. We reported the problem to Intel over per week in the past, and so they have knowledgeable us that they’re working with Epic Games on a repair. Hopefully, this will likely be resolved quickly.
Assassin’s Creed x2, Space Marine 2, SW Outlaws, Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Finally, we arrive on the final set of outcomes, beginning with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the place the 9800X3D leads by a cushty 22%, pushing body charges past 200 fps. In Valhalla, the 9800X3D reveals solely a 5% enchancment in common body charges however a powerful 64% benefit in 1% lows, based mostly on a three-run common.
Space Marine 2 is closely CPU-limited, making the 27% efficiency increase from the 9800X3D a big benefit, notably for these utilizing high-refresh-rate shows. Similarly, Star Wars Outlaws is CPU-intensive, however right here, the 9800X3D is simply 5% sooner. Lastly, in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the 9800X3D maintains a 15% lead.
45 Game Average
Here’s how the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K evaluate head-to-head throughout the 45 video games examined. There aren’t any situations the place the Ryzen processor was slower. Margins inside 5% are thought of a tie, as variations of 1 – 3% are usually not statistically important.
Across the 45 video games, we discovered the 9800X3D to be, on common, 24% sooner. While this margin is smaller than our overview information, that is as a result of opinions typically emphasize CPU-limited gaming. This dataset consists of a number of GPU-limited titles, akin to Forza Horizon 5.
What’s notably troubling for the 285K is the variety of video games the place the Ryzen CPU led by over 40%. Hopefully, that is one thing Intel can deal with, nevertheless it appears the 285K might merely not be splendid for avid gamers.
When trying on the 1% lows, the story stays largely the identical. The 9800X3D offers, on common, 29% higher 1% lows. While there are notable double-digit good points throughout many titles, the general averages and 1% lows paint a constant image.
What We Learned
To say this was a one-sided bashing, with AMD wielding the 3D V-Cache hammer, could be stating the apparent. Intel’s 285K received annihilated. You would possibly assume that is a bit excessive, after all of the 285K delivered completely acceptable gaming efficiency in most titles examined, however we’re speaking about Intel’s newest high-end CPU, and at $630, it’s removed from low cost.
Granted, the Core Ultra 285K is a a lot better productiveness CPU. However, that is not the competitors the 9800X3D was constructed for – it is designed for gaming. As it stands, the 9800X3D is the perfect gaming CPU obtainable, with the previous-generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D coming in as the following greatest.
Worse nonetheless for the 285K, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is predicted early subsequent 12 months. It will possible declare the productiveness crown from Intel’s 285K. Even now, it is unclear whether or not the 285K holds that title, because the 9950X already outperforms it in a number of productiveness workloads.
Returning to gaming, in case you’re searching for the very best in CPU efficiency, Intel is now not a part of the dialog, which is stunning. The 9800X3D is just too quick. Intel has admitted that Arrow Lake missed the mark and promised efficiency fixes by December, however expectations stay unsure.
Intel’s Robert Hallock has publicly acknowledged that particular BIOS and OS-level settings have brought on points that negatively impacted efficiency. It’s possible that Windows scheduling enhancements will stabilize efficiency throughout a broader vary of video games. Compatibility issues, akin to these with Easy Anti-Cheat, additionally should be resolved. We are conscious of Intel’s statements about Arrow Lake’s efficiency, in the event that they handle to get out some updates earlier than 12 months’s finish, you’ll be able to relaxation assured we’ll re-test all the things you’ve got seen right here.
