In games, the Core i9-14900K is about 10% faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K when the graphics card does not hold it back. The Core Ultra 9 285K has 24 threads, the Core i9-14900K 32.
A faster processor only shows in frame rates when the graphics card can draw the extra frames. How much more the Core i9-14900K delivers than the Core Ultra 9 285K, with common graphics cards:
| Graphics card | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 | No gain | No gain | No gain |
| RTX 4060 | No gain | No gain | No gain |
| RTX 5060 Ti | No gain | No gain | No gain |
| RTX 5070 | No gain | No gain | No gain |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | +10% | No gain | No gain |
| RTX 5080 | +10% | No gain | No gain |
| RTX 5090 | +10% | +10% | No gain |
| Any graphics card fast enough | +10% | +10% | +10% |
At 1440p the Core i9-14900K’s lead shows with an RTX 5090 or faster; with a slower card, the graphics card sets the pace and the slower processor does as well. Graphics cards that suit the Core Ultra 9 285K.
Each processor’s figure for games comes from the reference data the Bottleneck app uses to judge the hardware it measures: mostly single-core speed, with a share of multi-core speed up to what an eight-core chip offers, and adjustments for AMD’s X3D cache and Intel’s Core Ultra memory latency that published game tests show. The graphics cards are compared with the same model as the bottleneck calculator. It is about games only, for a typical game at high settings, rounded to 5%: work that uses every core, price and power draw are not part of it.
Before buying a faster processor, make sure your PC gets what it should from the one it has: memory left at a slow default speed can cost as much as the upgrade would add. Bottleneck checks the usual reasons a PC falls short of its parts, free: memory below its rated speed or in single channel, Resizable BAR and GPU scheduling left off, a monitor held at 60 Hz, heat. Then, while you play, it records which part set the pace in every frame.
The free version has no time limit and needs no account. Pro, $9 once, explains each problem and how to fix it, makes the common fixes in one click, and costs out the upgrade for your own PC. Compare the versions