Coming out on top in synthetic benchmark results puts the Core Ultra 9 285K at the top of the productivity pile, but the gaming situation hasn't changed much from the previous-gen Core i9-14900K, and that's by design.

Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K is an undeniably impressive CPU, but it's still tough to recommend given some inconsistent performance. The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

Officially, Intel recommends an MSRP between $309 and $319, with the first Core Ultra 5 245K listing selling for $328.99 at Newegg. It's technically slightly cheaper than the $319 to $329 launch MSRP of its last-gen counterpart, the Core i5-14600K, though it now sells for as low as $255 at Amazon.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 CPU sets a new standard for power efficiency and takes a significant step toward the future of computing.