Intel has presented its new Core Ultra Plus for desktops, acknowledging that its gaming advantage over AMD's Ryzen is minimal. However, the key data for our sector is another: the company claims a leadership of 85% in applications like Blender. This contrast defines the true purpose of these chips: they are processors oriented towards productivity and mixed workloads, positioning themselves as a formidable option for 3D creation workstations where rendering is the priority.
Technical analysis: massive cores for productivity, balance for gaming 🧪
Comparative tests are revealing. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, with 18 cores, performs the same in gaming as the 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X at the same price. The Ultra 7 270K Plus, with 24 cores, is only 4% faster in games than the 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X. This parity disappears in professional software. Intel's architecture and huge number of cores are leveraged in parallelizable tasks like final rendering, simulation, or light compilation, where performance scales almost linearly with available resources, justifying the investment for an intensive 3D workflow.
Conclusion for the 3D artist: prioritize the workflow 🎨
For a studio or 3D professional, the choice is clear. Gaming performance is anecdotal compared to hours of rendering saved. A processor like the Core Ultra Plus, which matches in games but dominates in Blender, is the smart option. It accelerates the most expensive part of the process (final rendering) without penalizing other tasks, becoming the ideal heart for a workstation where productivity and return on investment are the true benchmarks to consider.
Can the new Intel Core Ultra Plus, with its hybrid architecture and dedicated NPU, become the most efficient option for 3D rendering and production compared to the clear gaming advantage of its rivals? 💻
(PS: remember that a powerful GPU won't make you a better modeler, but at least you'll render your mistakes faster)