Intel's latest Arrow Lake Refresh lineup is making waves in the mobile CPU space, with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus leading the charge. This processor isn't just a minor upgrade; it's a significant leap forward, delivering impressive single-core and multi-threaded performance that rivals even Intel's desktop offerings.
The 290HX Plus has been spotted in PassMark benchmarks, where it achieved a staggering 5,009 points in single-core tests and 66,203 points in multi-threaded tests. These results position the processor as the current leader among mainstream mobile CPUs, surpassing its predecessor, the Core Ultra 9 285HX, by nearly 15% in multi-threaded performance. Notably, this improvement comes without an increase in core count, maintaining the same 24-core/24-thread configuration.
One of the standout features of the 290HX Plus is its ability to boost up to 5.45 GHz. While this isn't necessarily its official boost clock, it demonstrates the processor's potential for high performance. The 290HX Plus also competes head-to-head with Intel's desktop Core Ultra 9 285K, showcasing the company's commitment to delivering desktop-level performance in mobile platforms.
This significant performance uplift makes the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus a compelling choice for enthusiast-grade laptops. However, it's worth noting that in gaming benchmarks, it may still be outperformed by AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. Nonetheless, the 290HX Plus sets a new standard for mobile CPU performance, offering impressive single and multi-threaded capabilities.
Key Specs
- Chip: Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (Arrow Lake Refresh)
- Cores/Threads: 24-core, 24-thread
- Boost Clock: Up to 5.45 GHz (estimated)
- Memory Support: DDR5
- Connectivity: PCIe 5.0
The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus's impressive performance is a testament to Intel's ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of mobile CPU technology. With its ability to deliver desktop-level performance in a mobile package, it's poised to become a key player in the enthusiast laptop market.
