Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
Panther Lake · 26C · 6.0 GHz
Core i9-14900K
Raptor Lake Refresh · 24C/32T · 125 W · LGA1700
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K lands at 93 and Core i9-14900K at 89. That puts Intel Core Ultra 9 395K ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Intel Core Ultra 9 395K if…
- ✓Latest generation silicon
- ✓Improved perf-per-watt
- ✓Full modern feature set
Pick Core i9-14900K if…
- ✓Strong per-core performance
- ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- ✓Wide platform availability
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K leads on gaming (94 vs 88).
Creators & productivity
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K leads on multi (93 vs 89).
Power efficiency
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KPerformance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K leads on efficiency (86 vs 81).
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 395K | Core i9-14900K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Panther Lake | Raptor Lake Refresh |
| Cores | ▲ 26 (8P+16E+2LP) | 24 |
| Threads | 26 | ▲ 32 |
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1700 |
| Release year | 2025 | 2023 |
| TDP | — | 125 W |
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
- +Latest generation silicon
- +Improved perf-per-watt
- +Full modern feature set
- −Premium pricing
- −Requires up-to-date platform
- −Initial stock scarcity likely
Core i9-14900K
- +Strong per-core performance
- +Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- +Wide platform availability
- −Power draw on top SKUs
- −Frequent socket changes
- −Arrow Lake gaming regressions
FAQ: Intel Core Ultra 9 395K vs Core i9-14900K
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Core i9-14900K? +
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Intel Core Ultra 9 395K worth the price? +
At $649, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in single.
Is Core i9-14900K worth the price? +
At $589, Core i9-14900K delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in single.
Does Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Core i9-14900K last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for gaming, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Core i9-14900K? +
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K — leads on gaming (94 vs 88). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.
Which is better for creator and productivity work, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Core i9-14900K? +
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K — leads on multi (93 vs 89). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.