The Core 9 Ultra 285K is Intel's fastest CPU and costs under $500 - so why is it so much cheaper compared to AMD $679 Ryzen 9 9950X3D?

• Intel’s flagship undercuts AMD while delivering similar overall desktop performance
• AMD charges much more for only modest gains at the very top end
• Power efficiency and pricing now define flagship CPU value

I’ve already written about Intel offering buyers better value at the low end of the desktop CPU market, asking whether the iconic chip maker is becoming the new AMD. That question feels even more relevant given that the same pattern is also noticeable when looking at top tier processors.

Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K is Team Blue's fastest desktop chip and currently sells for $519 on Amazon (discounted from $599). AMD’s competing Ryzen 9 9950X3D, positioned as a premium gaming and content creation processor, costs roughly $676 there.

Despite that price difference, benchmark results show the performance gap between the two CPUs remains relatively narrow.