Intel has quietly introduced a new mobile performance monster: the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Part of the Arrow Lake Refresh Plus lineup, this chip represents the most aggressive x86 mobile processor Intel has shipped to date. Fresh PassMark results show it not only eclipsing its predecessors, but also surpassing AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, and even approaching desktop-class performance.
🧪 Benchmark Results: A New Mobile Record #
The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has appeared in PassMark with scores that redefine expectations for mobile silicon.
| Processor | Single-Thread | Multi-Thread |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | 5,009 | 66,203 |
| Core Ultra 9 285HX | 4,635 | 57,752 |
| Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | 4,491 | 62,094 |
| Core Ultra 9 285K (Desktop) | 5,093 | 67,430 |
What Stands Out #
- Record-breaking single-core: The 290HX Plus is the first x86 mobile CPU to cross 5,000 points in PassMark single-thread.
- Major generational uplift: ~8% higher single-core and ~15% higher multi-core performance versus the 285HX.
- Desktop-class proximity: Multi-core results land within ~2% of Intel’s desktop Core Ultra 9 285K.
- AMD overtaken (in PassMark): Around 6% higher multi-thread score than the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D.
⚙️ How the “Plus” Delivers More Performance #
Unlike typical refreshes, the 290HX Plus does not increase core counts. It remains a 24-core design (8P + 16E, 24 threads). The gains come from refinement rather than scale.
- Higher sustained clocks: Peak frequencies reportedly reached ~5.45 GHz, unusually high for mobile workloads.
- Power and thermal tuning: Updated microcode and power management allow the chip to hold boost clocks longer under load.
- Chassis dependency: These results require extreme cooling solutions, seen in laptops such as the MSI Titan and Acer Predator Helios, paired with high-wattage power adapters.
In effect, the “Plus” designation reflects Intel pushing Arrow Lake to its absolute thermal and electrical limits.
🎮 Productivity vs. Gaming Cache #
Intel’s positioning is unambiguous: maximum raw compute for mobile workstations and flagship gaming laptops.
- Intel advantage: Heavy multi-threaded workloads, compilation, rendering, and synthetic benchmarks like PassMark.
- AMD counterpoint: The Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, with its massive 128MB L3 cache, is still expected to excel in latency-sensitive gaming and high-FPS scenarios.
For buyers in 2026, the choice may hinge on workload focus: pure throughput and desktop-like power (Intel) versus cache-driven gaming performance (AMD).
🚀 A Turning Point for Mobile CPUs #
The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus signals a shift in what “mobile” performance means. With benchmark numbers brushing against high-end desktops, Intel is effectively redefining the ceiling for laptop CPUs—at the cost of power draw and cooling demands.
Arrow Lake Refresh Plus may not change the architecture, but it proves just how far Intel is willing to push silicon when absolute performance is the goal.