Best GPU for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: perfect picks for Intel’s flagship CPU
With a next-gen processor, you'll need a graphics card that matches its performance
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Intel has just launched its Core Ultra 200 processor lineup, which, according to Team Blue, offers modest gains over its predecessors while being 30% more power efficient. The flagship model in this lineup is the Core Ultra 9 285K, which, as seen in our review, offers up like-for-like performance when compared against the brand’s equally impressive 14900K. That not only makes this a powerful CPU for both gaming and workloads, but also warrants a powerful GPU pairing as well.
With this next-gen processor, you need the right GPU that will comfortably handle the performance levels it brings to the table – while not bottlenecking it in more intensive workflows. To help with the selection process, we’ve gathered up some of the best GPUs to pair with the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. These GPUs have consistently impressed us with their performance, making them ideal companions for the Arrow Lake-S flagship processor. Whether you prefer AMD or NVIDIA, our list offers something for every gamer.
At a glance
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Best GPU pick for Core Ultra 9 285K
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
- Core Clock Speed: 2,640 MHz boost
- CUDA Cores: 16,384
- Memory Size: 24GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 357.6 x 149.3 x 70.1mm
- PSU Required: 1000W
- TDP: 450W
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Runner up
ASUS TUF Radeon RX 7900 XTX OC
- Core Clock Speed: 1,895 MHz base, 2,395 MHz shader & game, 2,565 MHz boost
- Stream processors: 6,144
- Memory Size: 24GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 352.9 x 158.2 x 72.6 mm
- PSU Required: 850W
- TBP: 355W
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Next best Nvidia GPU
Gigabyte RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB WINDFORCE V2
- Core clock speed: 2,550MHz boost, 2,295MHz base
- CUDA cores: 10,240
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 330 x 136 x 58 mm
- PSU required: 750W
- TBP: 320W
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Budget pick
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- Core clock speed: 2,430MHz boost, 2,124MHz game
- Stream processors: 3,840
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 267 x 111 x 50mm
- PSU required: 600W
- TBP: 263W
How we test the best GPU for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Here at WePC, we put all the hardware we recommend through thorough testing as we believe solid benchmarking is the foundation of all our recommendations. Additionally, we only recommend products that have been tested by us or reviewed by trusted and reputable third-party sources that highlight both the positives and negatives.
For the best GPU to pair with the Core Ultra 9 285K, we tested several graphics cards and ran them through synthetic benchmarks and real-world scenarios to evaluate their overall performance. A key focus was minimizing bottlenecks, and we made sure our selected GPUs offered the best compatibility with this processor. If you’re interested in learning more about our testing process, check out our dedicated page on how we test GPUs.
Intel Core Ultra 200S lineup doesn’t have hyperthreading
One of the biggest changes that came with the next-gen processor was the lack of Hyperthreading. With the Arrow Lake-S series, Intel decided to ditch Hyperthreading, their own technology that allows multiple threads to run on a single core.
However, this move worked in Intel’s favor, as leaked benchmarks showed that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K performed on par with the i9 14900K and even the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, despite having 8 fewer threads than both.
Best graphics cards for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: Our thoughts
Here, we’ve rounded up some of our top GPU recommendations that pair perfectly with the Core Ultra 9 285K, allowing you to enjoy your gaming sessions without worrying about subpar performance.
- Core Clock Speed: 2,640 MHz boost
- CUDA Cores: 16,384
- Memory Size: 24GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 357.6 x 149.3 x 70.1mm
- PSU Required: 1000W
- TDP: 450W
- Memory Clock: 21 Gbps
- Memory Bus: 384-bit
- Card Bus: PCIe 4.0 x16
- Output: 2x HDMI 2.1a, 3x DP 1.4a
- Power Connectors: 1x 16-pin
The RTX 4090 is currently the best graphics card money can buy. It delivers exceptional raw performance, and its Ray Tracing capabilities are sure to leave you in awe. While it comes with a high price tag, it also offers significant gains.
- Exceptional 4K performance
- Excellent air cooling solution
- Works well with DLSS3
- Still well over $2,000
- Massive size restricts case choices
Currently standing as Nvidia’s top-tier graphics card, the RTX 4090 is, in most contexts, the best GPU you can get if you have the budget for it. The RTX 4090 offers enough power to pair seamlessly with the next-gen Core Ultra 9 285K, delivering fantastic performance in both heavy workloads and gaming. In our review, we concluded that the 4090 sat firmly at the top of the GPU hirearchy, making it a solid choice for anyone seeking top-tier performance and visuals.
In terms of specs, the RTX 4090 comes with 16,384 CUDA cores, a base clock of 2.32 GHz, and a boost clock of 2.52 GHz. This number of CUDA cores allows the GPU to offer exceptional performance in gaming, video editing, and rendering. Additionally, you get a whopping 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and its 191 Teraflops of Ray Tracing cores ensure that you get top-notch Ray tracing results.
Performance-wise, the RTX 4090 easily handles everything thrown at it, even at 4K configurations. In our review, it dominated modern AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, achieving over 150 FPS at 1080p. Increasing the resolution to 1440p still kept the FPS above 100, but at 4K and with Ray Tracing enabled, things got a bit shaky with averages of around 74 FPS and 43 FPS, respectively. However, that’s where the RTX 4090’s support for advanced features like DLSS 3 comes in, which boosted these numbers significantly, reaching an average of 133 FPS.
With that said, the biggest drawback to achieving these impressive numbers with the RTX 4090 is the hefty cost. Despite having a launch price of $1,599, you can expect to pay closer to $2,000-$2,200 for the factory overclocked edition. Pair that with the Intel Core Ultra 9, priced around $589, and you’re looking at a total of well over $2,600 for just two components – an amount that could build you an entire PC if top-tier performance isn’t your number one priority. So, if you don’t have the budget or prefer not to spend that much on a single component, we suggest opting for a more budget-friendly option from this list.
- Core Clock Speed: 1,895 MHz base, 2,395 MHz shader & game, 2,565 MHz boost
- Stream processors: 6,144
- Memory Size: 24GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 352.9 x 158.2 x 72.6 mm
- PSU Required: 850W
- TBP: 355W
- Memory Clock: 20 Gbps
- Memory Bus: 384-bit
- Card Bus: PCIe 4.0 x16
- Output: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DP 2.1
- Power Connectors: 3 x 8-pin
The ASUS TUF Radeon RX 7900 XTX OC is the best AMD GPU on the market. Factory overclocked and featuring AFMF2 technology, it delivers high frame rates at any resolution. Plus, it’s more affordable than other top-tier GPUs.
- Factory overclocked for better performance
- Great cooling solution keeps temps in check
- Excellent performance in games
- Poor Ray Tracing capabilities
- Less than the RTX 4090 but still an expensive GPU
- Physically large
For our runner up best GPU for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, we chose the RX 7900 XTX, which is currently AMD’s best graphics card. This GPU delivers high FPS and solid performance when paired with the flagship Arrow Lake-S processor. While the RTX 4090 may take the crown, the RX 7900 XTX offers strong competition to NVIDIA’s top-end GPU and provides a great alternative without costing nearly as much.
As we mentioned in our review of the RX 7900 XTX OC, the card is more than capable of delivering impressive FPS where your game feels smooth at any resolution. During the game-specific benchmarking, the 7900 XTX offered averaged frame rates of 221 at 1080p, 181 at 1440p, and 113 in 4K – which is pretty impressive all things considered. On top of that, the 7900 XTX also supports AFMF2 which allows you to achieve greater FPS while offering stunning visual quality.
However, the RTX 7900 XTX does fall behind in Ray Tracing performance, especially when compared to the leading Ray Tracing card, the RTX 4090. This shortfall is compensated by a lower MSRP of $999, which is nearly $1,000 less than the ASUS ROG RTX 4090. Without considering Ray Tracing, the 7900 XTX delivers significant performance gains over its predecessor and continues to challenge NVIDIA alternatives. So, if you’re not planning to use features like Ray Tracing in your games, then the RTX 7900 XTX offers great value for money.
- Core clock speed: 2,550MHz boost, 2,295MHz base
- CUDA cores: 10,240
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 330 x 136 x 58 mm
- PSU required: 750W
- TBP: 320W
- Memory clock: 23 Gbps
- Memory bus: 256-bit
- Card bus: PCIe 4.0 x16
- Output : 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x FP 1.4a
- Power connectors: 1x 16-pin
As a successor to Nvidia’s less-than-popular RTX 4080, the RTX 4080 Super delivers significantly better value for money. Featuring DLSS 3 and impressive power, the RTX 4080 Super can easily handle any modern AAA title.
- Top performance across the board
- Significantly cheaper than the RTX 4090
- Simple and sleek design
- Large size means it won’t fit into all cases
Another top choice for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the RTX 4080 Super, which delivers some of the best features of the Ada series without the hefty price tag of the flagship model. The RTX 4080 Super is Nvidia’s successor to the RTX 4080, which has become all-but-obsolete due to the performance, efficiency, and value for money that the RTX 4080 Super offers.
With the RTX 4080 Super, Nvidia wanted a GPU that emphasized value-to-performance metrics – and that’s exactly what you get with the RTX 4080 super, hitting shelves at 20% cheaper than its predecessor while providing a slight uplift in performance. The RTX 4080 Super packs a lot of power with 10,240 CUDA cores, featuring a base clock of 2,295 MHz and a boost clock of up to 2,550 MHz. It also comes with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736 GB/s of bandwidth and a total package power of 320 W.
In terms of gaming performance, the RTX 4080 Super handles the latest AAA titles smoothly at max settings. During our gaming benchmarks, it consistently reached over 100 FPS in several esports titles and lighter games like Doom Eternal at 4K. With DLSS 3 and frame generation, the card delivers a noticeable performance uplift from its predecessor, making it a strong overall choice.
RTX 4080 vs RTX 4080 Super: Doom Eternal
RTX 4080 vs RTX 4080 Super: Cyberpunk 2077
RTX 4080 vs RTX 4080 Super: SOTTR
- Core clock speed: 2,430MHz boost, 2,124MHz game
- Stream processors: 3,840
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 267 x 111 x 50mm
- PSU required: 600W
- TBP: 263W
- Launch price: $499
- Availability: September 6th, 2023
- GPU Name: NAVI 32
- Architecture : RDNA 3
- Process size: 5 nm
- Die size: 346mm
- L3 Cache: 64 MB
- Bandwidth: 624.1 GB/s
- Memory Bus: 256 bit
- Compute units: 60
- RT Cores: 60
If you’re on a tight budget but want to game at 1440p with high frame rates – or even enjoy 4K gaming at playable levels with upscaling – the RX 7800 XT is an excellent choice.
- Holds up well at 4K and 1440p
- Excellent price to performance
- Subtle design
- Performance limitations at 4K
- Not recommended for Ray Tracing enthusiasts
If you’re looking for a more cost-effective, yet powerful gaming solution, the RX 7800 XT is an excellent choice to pair with your Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. While it’s significantly cheaper than other contenders on our list, like the RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX, it doesn’t match their level of performance. However, it still manages to hold its own, even at 4K settings.
In our review of the RX 7800 XT, the card consistently delivered well over 100 FPS in several modern AAA titles, not just at 1080p, but at 1440p resolution too. Another standout was its 4K performance, where this mid-range card managed to reach around 60 FPS in less demanding games. Like the RX 7900 XTX, it also benefits from AMD’s latest AFMF2 technology, which further enhances its performance, especially at higher resolutions
However, this card isn’t the most powerful model out there, and since AMD cards aren’t known for their Ray Tracing capabilities, you shouldn’t expect playable performance with RT enabled. That said, it strikes the perfect balance between affordability and capability, especially if you’re aiming for stable frame rates at 1440p. Overall, the RX 7800 XT is a strong contender for anyone looking to maximize the potential of the next-gen Intel Core Ultra 9 285K without overspending.
Things to consider when buying the best GPU for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
When choosing the best GPU for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. From considerations to watch out for to tips for maximizing your GPU’s potential, here are the most important ones:
Next-gen components
The first thing to consider is that investing in the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K means getting next-gen components designed specifically for the Core Ultra 200 Series. For instance, you’ll need a next-gen motherboard based on the new Z890 chipset with the LGA 1851 socket, which only supports the Core Ultra 200 series.
These motherboards are expected to range from a budget-friendly $200 to as high as $1,100. Additionally, these new boards do not support DDR4, meaning you’ll need to use DDR5 RAM as well. It’s essential to keep all this in mind as getting a Core Ultra 9 285K means your existing hardware may not be compatible – except perhaps your cooler.
Ray Tracing performance
Another important factor is whether you’ll need Ray Tracing capabilities with your GPU. If the answer is yes, we recommend going for the RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 Super, as AMD’s offerings aren’t on par with what Nvidia provides in this area. However, if the answer is no, then opting for an AMD GPU might be the way to go. This choice will not only provide smooth, stable, and playable frame rates in many games but will also cost significantly less than Nvidia’s options.
Take advantage of upscaling and frame generation
This advice is especially for those leaning toward the budget options on our list. If you feel your games aren’t as enjoyable as you’d like, using upscaling and frame generation technologies can help you achieve high frame rates without compromising visual quality. With features like DLSS 3 and AFMF 2 in your arsenal, you can get a budget GPU and still make the most of it with ease.
How does Intel’s latest 285K flagship standup against Ryzen’s upcoming X3D model
AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 7 9800X3D is expected to deliver significant performance gains, particularly in gaming, with features like 2nd Gen 3D Cache, higher clock speeds, and improved performance metrics compared to the 7800X3D – which has long been regarded as the best gaming CPU. But does the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K pose a challenge? It both does and doesn’t. The Core Ultra 9 285K is a strong processor with notable improvements over previous generations and better performance numbers, despite lacking hyperthreading.
However, the Core Ultra 200S lineup is unlikely to match the efficiency of AMD’s next-gen X3D processor, especially in gaming. In fact, Intel themselves have acknowledged that their upcoming chips won’t reach the performance levels of the X3D offerings. Currently, we don’t have any real-world comparisons to provide actual numbers highlighting the performance gap between the two next-gen CPUs.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’re all set about the best gaming GPUs for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, it’s time to make your final choice. We’ve provided a wide range of options catering to gamers who want top-tier performance without worrying about price, as well as budget-conscious gamers seeking great value without compromising quality.
Ultimately, however, the best GPU for the best Intel CPU is the RTX 4090. It kills the competition in both gaming and workloads, making it a great choice if top-end performance is what you’re looking for. That said, the 7900 XTX OC is also a great choice if you’re a little more budget-oriented, as it offers similar performance at almost half the price.
As you consider your options, take a moment to review the list again, keeping your budget and preferences in mind to find the best GPU to pair with your Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. And don’t forget to keep the considerations and tips in mind before finalizing your decision. Whatever choice you make, it’s safe to say you’ll have an enjoyable gaming experience.
