The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are two of the best mini PCs you can buy. You can get a lot of power from these two processors, which come in a small package. But pick the one that works best for you. We are going to give you a full breakdown of all the important details, including the specs, gaming features, and AI features. Let us find the very best processor that will still work in 2025.
At a Glance: A Tale of Two Processors
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Hybrid Core DesignCombines Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficiency-cores (E-cores) for intelligent power management
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Smart SwitchingAutomatically transitions between high-power and low-power modes based on workload demands
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Versatile PerformanceDelivers maximum performance when required and optimal energy efficiency when it’s not
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AI-First DesignBuilt from the ground up with artificial intelligence capabilities at its core
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XDNA 2 NPUPowerful Neural Processing Unit that accelerates AI-powered applications and tasks
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Enhanced AI FeaturesOptimised for next-generation AI applications and AI-enhanced video conferencing
Specifications: Head-to-Head
Here is a side-by-side look at the main specs of both processors. For easy viewing, we have circled in green the best things about each one.
| Feature | Intel Core Ultra 9-285H | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Meteor Lake (Intel 4) | Zen 5 (TSMC 4nm) |
| Cores / Threads | 16 Cores / 16 Threads | 12 Cores / 24 Threads |
| Max Clock Speed | 5.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Arc 140T | Radeon 890M |
| AI Performance | 13 TOPS (NPU) | 50 TOPS (NPU) |
| Memory Support | DDR5-6400 | LPDDR5x-8000 |
Click to learn more about Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Architecture Explained: AI Features and Performance
The race is very close, as you can see. AMD delivers superior performance in integrated graphics and AI capabilities, while Intel has faster clock speeds, and it also has better memory support.
A Deeper Look: Architecture and Technology
Intel’s Hybrid Approach: A Team of Specialists
There are two kinds of cores in the Core Ultra 9-285H: E-cores and P-cores of performance. The heavy-duty P-cores are made for tasks like video editing that require a lot of power. E-cores are the flexible workers who do tasks in the background to keep everything running smoothly without using too much power. A smart technology called Intel Thread Director makes sure that the right task gets sent to the right core at the right time so that everyone can work together. You can get a good mix of power and efficiency from this smart system.
AMD’s Zen 5: A Unified Powerhouse
This is how AMD’s Zen 5 architecture works. It is more traditional. It does not have different kinds of cores; instead, all of the cores are the same type and have the same amount of power. That is, each core is a heavy lifter that can handle anything you give it. Twelve of these powerful Zen 5 cores are in the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. It can handle an amazing 24 tasks at once thanks to simultaneous multithreading. For heavy multitasking creative work, this makes it a great choice. According to the experts at NotebookCheck, the Zen 5 architecture has 15~16% more instructions per cycle (IPC) than its predecessor. This means that it works much faster in real life.
The AI Revolution: NPU Showdown
Seeing AI grow is one of the most exciting things to happen in the world of computers. There is a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in each of these processors. The NPU is like a mini-brain that is designed to handle AI tasks. What makes the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 stand out is this. That is a huge step forward for integrated AI, as its XDNA 2 NPU achieves an amazing 50 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) of AI performance. The NPU in the Core Ultra 9-285H, on the other hand, has 13 TOPS. Both can run AI-powered Windows 11 features, but the Ryzen processor will be much faster and better at running more demanding AI apps.
Click to learn more about AI TOPS Guide: Finding the Perfect AI PC for You
Performance Benchmarks: The Real-World Test
Synthetic Benchmarks: The Raw Numbers
To find out how fast a processor really is, synthetic benchmarks are very useful. These tests put the CPU to the test and show us what it can do. Our tests used Geekbench 6 and Cinebench R24, two well-known benchmarks, to check both single-core and multi-core performance.
For things that need a single powerful core, like games and apps with few threads, single-core performance is important. According to Geekbench 6, the Intel Core Ultra 9-285H has a score of 2,897, which is a little higher than the next best processor. Along for the ride is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which has a score of 2,593. Because it has a faster clock speed, this means that the Intel chip might be slightly better at single-threaded tasks.
What is interesting is multicore performance. The processor’s ability to handle multiple tasks at once is important for heavy multitasking, video editing, and 3D rendering. Both the Intel Core Ultra 9-285H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 get impressive scores of 17,173 and 13,320, respectively, on our Geekbench 6 multi-core test. This test clearly favours the Intel chip because it has more cores.
The Intel Core Ultra 9-285H clearly does better in both single-core and multi-core tests in Geekbench 6. But keep in mind that fake benchmarks do not always reveal the whole picture. Let us check out how well these processors work in the real world.
Productivity Performance: The Daily Grind
Benchmarks are fun to show off, but what matters most is how well these processors work in real life. You need a processor that can handle your daily tasks, whether you are a student, a worker, or a person who makes content. We put both processors through a number of work-related tests to see how well they handle the daily grind.
Office and General Computing
Both processors are more than enough for everyday tasks like surfing the web, sending emails, and working on documents. On either machine, the experience will be smooth and quick. This is because the Intel Core Ultra 9-285H has better single-core performance, which gives it a slight edge in tasks that need a single powerful core, like opening large files and running complicated spreadsheets.
Content Creation
If you make content, you need a processor that can run Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, which are all very demanding programs. Both processors did very well in our tests, but the Intel Core Ultra 9-285H was clearly better at video editing and 3D rendering thanks to its higher number of cores and strong multi-core performance. In our test of exporting from Premiere Pro 4K, the Intel chip was always faster than the AMD chip. Tom’s Hardware experts said that the Core Ultra 9 285H has a big improvement in multi-core performance, which is important for these kinds of tasks.
Gaming Performance: Let the Games Begin
Integrated Graphics: A Tale of Two GPUs
While the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has the Radeon 890M, the Intel Core Ultra 9-285H has Intel’s new Arc 140T integrated graphics. Even though both are great, the Radeon 890M is slightly faster. The Radeon 890M is powerful enough, according to NotebookCheck, to play most new AAA games at 1080p with low to medium settings.
Click to learn more about The New AI King: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Put Through Its Paces
Gaming Benchmarks: The FPS Showdown
We put both processors through a number of popular games to see how well they work. It came out like this:
| Game | Intel Core Ultra 9-285H (Arc 140T) | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (Radeon 890M) |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Medium) | ~40 FPS | ~45 FPS |
| Starfield (1080p, Medium) | ~35 FPS | ~40 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 (1080p, High) | 47 FPS | ~55 FPS |
| Gears 5 (1080p, High) | 51 FPS | ~60 FPS |
From what you can see, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 always gives you higher frame rates. Because it works better, the Radeon 890M is clearly better for gaming, making it the better choice for casual gamers.
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
This is all that you know. Which processor should you pick? There is not just one right answer. The Intel Core Ultra 9-285H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are both great processors. Which one is best for you will depend on your needs and priorities.
Choose Intel Core Ultra 9-285H
- You make content, and you need applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve to run as quickly and smoothly as possible.
- You need a processor that can handle many things at once because you do a lot of them.
- For tasks like gaming and light-threaded apps, you want the fastest single-core performance possible.
Choose AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
- You play games occasionally and want to get the most out of them without needing a separate graphics card.
- Your interest in AI is strong, and you want to use the newest AI-powered features and apps.
- You want a processor that is a good mix of speed, value, and how well it uses power.
The Bottom Line
It does not matter which processor you pick; you will get a top-notch chip that will make your computing experience great for years to come. The Intel Core Ultra 9-285H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are both great mini PC options. You can not go wrong with either one. You should think about your own needs and priorities and pick the processor that works best for you.
