Intel's Latest AI Laptop Processor Keeps Up with AMD, But It Forgot Something Important

Over the past few years, personal computers have experienced significant advancements, primarily fueled by heightened rivalry among key players like AMD, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and market dominator Intel in the silicon sector.

As a researcher delving into technology, I’ve observed that Intel’s past complacency allowed its competitors room to grow. However, they’re now countering this with an aggressively updated Intel Core Ultra family. In the realm of thin-and-light ultrabooks, the latest Intel chips have left a lasting impression on me. Yet, the Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) is set to extend its dominance beyond these devices, gracing more robust laptops, workstations, and gaming machines. Remarkably, I’ve had the privilege of testing one of the first laptops equipped with the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, courtesy of both Intel and MSI.

Based on my testing, I’m quite certain that very few people will be disappointed by the new H and HX-series Intel Core Ultra processors. This CPU, in particular, offers both power efficiency and strong performance whether you’re using it on battery or not, and its built-in GPU allows for gaming without requiring additional costly hardware. However, I must admit that Intel’s strategy regarding AI with their more expensive, high-end chips leaves me perplexed. It seems that AMD and Qualcomm have a clearer understanding of this aspect. It will be intriguing to observe how this unfolds in the future.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H review: What is it?

The Core Ultra 9 285H is the flagship in Intel’s new H-series line.
It’s a 16-core processor meant for more powerful laptops and workstations.

The Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) was introduced alongside the V-series, a range we’ve encountered frequently in luxury thin-and-light devices such as the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024), which I reviewed. With Series 2, the Intel Core Ultra made its debut on desktops with the potent K-series. Currently, Intel is broadening the selection by introducing the budget-friendly U-series for mobile devices, the powerful H-series and premium HX-series mobile chips, as well as the more affordable T-series for desktop systems.

The number of series and items within each series is quite extensive, making the situation more complex. Importantly, you should understand that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, along with its less powerful siblings, the Ultra 7 and Ultra 5, are specifically designed for laptops requiring enhanced performance beyond what the V-series can provide. You’ll often find these series in laptops catering to creators, enterprise workstations, and even compact gaming systems. While they are self-sufficient, Intel created this family with integrated graphics from the HX-series in mind.

There are many series and products within each series, making it a bit confusing. However, you should know that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and its less powerful siblings, the Ultra 7 and Ultra 5, are designed for laptops needing more performance than what’s offered by the V-series. These series can be found in laptops for creators, workstations, and gaming laptops. Although they can stand alone, Intel created them with integrated graphics from the HX-series in mind.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H is a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that showcases an impressive setup of 16 cores and 16 threads, distributed across 6 high-performance cores, 8 power-efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficiency cores. The base speed ranges from 1GHz to 2.9GHz, while Intel Turbo Boost technology can push maximum frequencies up to 2.5GHz to 5.4GHz. This CPU is backed by a 24MB cache and features an integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), the Intel Arc 140T, which includes 8 Xe2 graphics cores. Additionally, it comes with an Intel AI Boost Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 13 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) in artificial intelligence computations. As a system, the Core Ultra 9 285H consumes between 35W and 45W of power, with a peak consumption of 115W during turbo boosting.

Should the terms mentioned seem strange to you, don’t fret – proceed reading as we delve into the practical advantages and disadvantages of opting for a laptop equipped with this specific chipset.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H review: The good

The Core Ultra 9 285H is a reliable performer with everyday computing.
It also boasts one of the best integrated GPUs we’ve tested.
Efficiency seems to be solid, with casual computing sipping power.

To evaluate the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, Intel provided me with an MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo (B2HMG) unit for testing, along with an MSI Prestige A16 AI+ (A3HMG) laptop powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 365 as a point of comparison. While I understand Intel’s intention to position the Ryzen 9 365 as a direct competitor for this chipset, it seems somewhat unconventional to challenge a 10-core processor with a 10-core CPU that has been previously competing against Intel’s 8-core V-series chips.

In a different perspective, I believe the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 found in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) I reviewed is a more fitting competitor for Intel’s HX-series, despite Intel preferring direct comparison between their own HX-series. The shared “HX” label doesn’t automatically make them rivals, especially considering AMD recently introduced more potent Ryzen AI MAX chips that challenge Intel’s new HX-series more directly. Moreover, these two MSI Prestige laptops exhibit significantly more differences than just their choice of processor. Differences in design, displays, cooling systems, components, and various other aspects make it challenging to accept any direct comparisons without careful consideration.

While we’re on the topic, though, let’s go ahead and get those comparisons out of the way.

Graphs provide a swift snapshot of how various chips compare to each other, even though benchmarks only offer a piece of the overall picture. Indeed, it’s clear that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H surpasses the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 in most aspects, except for encoding a 4K video in the H.265 mkv format – a task where AMD usually takes the lead with similarly equipped Intel processors.

Although it’s possible that the AMD-equipped laptop’s slower SSD and other hardware differences may have influenced some of these results, the Core Ultra 9 285H still performs exceptionally well overall. This is particularly noticeable in single-core performance, which plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth day-to-day usage and can significantly affect efficiency. Moreover, having more cores allows the Core Ultra 9 285H to match or even outperform last-generation gaming laptops equipped with HX-series chips when it comes to multi-core performance as well.

In terms of performance, the Ryzen AI 9 365, with six fewer cores, tends to stay close behind its competitor, the Core Ultra 9 285H. However, in Geekbench 6’s multi-core test, AMD experiences a 17% drop compared to Intel. Although Intel’s new H-series flagship doesn’t surpass AMD’s offerings significantly, it maintains a strong competitive edge and lacks any major weaknesses. In summary, synthetic testing shows that Intel has made a good start, though it hasn’t set any exceptional benchmarks yet.

When it comes to practical use, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H truly delivers a great experience. Its exceptional single-core performance ensures smooth sailing for everyday tasks, making navigating Windows 11, browsing the web, and using Microsoft Office feel as effortless as gliding through silk. This MSI Prestige 16 laptop has been impressive in maintaining a cool and quiet operation during casual usage. It boots up quickly, wakes from sleep swiftly, and logging in via Windows Hello is a breeze, offering a fast and smooth experience.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H can heat up significantly when pushed to its limits, yet it’s not so hot as to be uncomfortable to handle on the MSI Prestige 16. Remarkably, even under heavy use, it didn’t slow down noticeably. In terms of multi-core performance, it’s no slouch. The standout feature of this chipset is its integrated graphics processor (GPU), which outperforms AMD and Qualcomm in this specific category.

Forza Horizon 5 — 47 FPS (High preset, 1200p resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, Intel XeSS disabled)
Gears 5 — 51 FPS (High preset, 1200p resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 52 FPS (Minimum preset, 1200p resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, Intel XeSS enabled)

Lowering some settings would have made it relatively straightforward to maintain a steady 60 frames-per-second in both Forza Horizon 5 and Gears 5. While the graphics might not have been as stunning, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H’s GPU holds its own against top-tier gaming handhelds. To assess its long-term performance consistency, I ran 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark 25 times in a row, and it delivered an outstanding frame rate stability of 99.5%. Quite impressive!

To wrap up, let me emphasize that Intel has boasted about the efficiency of its Core Ultra (Series 2) platform. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Core Ultra 9 285H. On paper, a 45W, 16-core x88 processor might not inspire much confidence, but this chip proved to be more efficient than anticipated. To test its efficiency, I adjusted the laptop’s settings to the “Balanced” performance profile and a screen brightness of 200nits. Then, using Procyon’s one-hour battery consumption benchmark, I looped a standard Microsoft Office workload for an hour, which consumed only 4% of the battery. Similarly, an hour of looping an HD video at 50% volume drained just 6%.

In simpler terms, I won’t delve into comparing the efficiency of the device under discussion with the MSI Prestige A16 and its AMD chip, as the former doesn’t perform as expected. Interestingly, in identical test conditions, the Ryzen AI 9 365 saw a 10% drain in both tests, but that doesn’t quite align with reality because the ASUS ProArt P16 (2024), equipped with a more powerful Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a higher resolution 120Hz OLED display, and an active NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, also exhibited similar battery drain in the same test.

I can compare the performance when it’s not connected to a charger. Previous mobile processors, particularly those from AMD, have faced criticism for throttling too much when running on battery power. However, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series keeps up nearly the same performance whether it’s plugged in or not.

In contrast to many recent Intel and AMD chipsets, neither the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H nor the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365-equipped laptop encounters issues with this matter. The single-core CPU performance stayed consistent whether the device was plugged in or running on battery, whereas multi-core and GPU performance saw minimal reductions, yet these decreases were too slight to affect everyday use. Interestingly, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 laptop’s performance is comparable, but the differences are smaller, meaning AMD has an edge in this contest.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H review: The bad

The entire H and HX-series looks odd when placed above the V-series.
That’s because these chipsets’ NPUS aren’t Copilot+ PC compatible.
This odd move leaves AMD especially a lot of room to maneuver.

At the event where Intel unveiled their new H and HX-series Intel Core Ultra processors, a Microsoft executive spoke during the keynote about Copilot+ PCs and how significant Intel is to the ongoing AI transformation in the personal computer market. However, as soon as Intel started discussing their new chipsets, they stopped referencing Microsoft’s leading AI platform. Instead, Intel continued emphasizing AI throughout their presentation of the H and HX-series, particularly highlighting the inclusion of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Nevertheless, the focus was primarily on the computational power for AI within their overall platform.

To clarify, no laptop powered by an Intel Core Ultra H or HX-series processor will qualify as a Copilot+ PC, given that the Core Ultra 9 285H and its counterparts are restricted to a 13 TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU). However, in order to be recognized as a Copilot+ PC, which is at the forefront of Microsoft’s AI investments, an NPU with at least 40 TOPS of artificial intelligence computational power is required. As it stands, this includes Intel’s Core Ultra V-series, the entire Qualcomm Snapdragon X series, and the AMD Ryzen AI series. This encompasses budget-friendly options like the latest Snapdragon X and AMD’s most affordable chips such as the Ryzen AI 5 340.

It’s surprising that Intel is introducing two high-end series of laptops that won’t support Windows 11’s advanced AI features in the future. While the Core Ultra 9 285H can manage AI tasks with its GPU, it’s worth noting that an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is designed to handle smaller or background AI tasks much more efficiently than a GPU ever could. In terms of everyday use for regular people on their laptops, “platform TOPS” isn’t relevant as you won’t be using the entire platform solely for AI tasks.

Currently, AMD and Qualcomm are broadening their AI capabilities to various price points, whereas Intel is limiting its Copilot+ NPU for PCs to the high-end V-series at present. While I might not be overly interested in AI PCs myself, it’s undeniable that they hold significant importance now and will become even more crucial in the future. Intel’s decision to restrict the Copilot+ NPU seems puzzling, and it presents a golden opportunity for AMD, given its growing Ryzen AI portfolio.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H review: Final thoughts

You should consider this if …

✅You specifically want an Intel-powered laptop

I understand your perspective. At times, it can boil down to loyalty or tribalism, but there are genuine preferences we develop towards technology brands, and some companies earn our trust more than others. For me, AMD has been impressing lately, yet this Intel setup delivers effectively, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently in the end.

✅You want the best integrated GPU you can get

While it’s uncertain about AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX platform’s capabilities, it’s worth noting that currently, the latest Intel Core Ultra H and HX-series chips offer the strongest integrated graphics you can find. If you’re seeking powerful graphical performance in an efficient package, this could be a promising starting point.

You should not consider this if …

❌You want a laptop future-proofed for AI

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H is undeniably capable of performing exceptionally well for years, but at present, it falls short when it comes to supporting the most advanced AI features in Windows. If you aim to remain on the cutting edge, AMD is currently the best option in this device category.

It’s unusual to evaluate a mobile processor like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H because you can’t physically purchase it and install it in your preferred laptop. However, if you’re seeking specific details to aid in your next laptop purchase, Intel continues to hold its ground with the H and HX-series Intel Core Ultra processors, although they mostly keep pace rather than significantly outshine their competitors.

The reason for this caveat is that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, despite Intel’s claims about AI-focused design, won’t be found in a Copilot+ PC. There seems to be no compelling justification for this, especially since high-end Intel laptops will predominantly feature these powerful, multi-core chips. The AMD Ryzen’s impressive performance in AI fields and Qualcomm’s efficient silicon advancements in lower price ranges could potentially overshadow Intel if it fails to harmonize its product lineup.

If you’re not worried at all about AI, feel free to disregard those concerns. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H has excellent capabilities, particularly its integrated graphics which stand out, and it manages to deliver impressive performance without draining your battery excessively.

2025-02-10 17:10

Intel’s Latest AI Laptop Processor Keeps Up with AMD, But It Forgot Something Important