Core Ultra 9 290K Plus: Minimum Performance, Maximum Disappointment

A Chinese YouTuber has tested a sample unit of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, and the results are not encouraging. In most tests, this processor barely outperforms its younger sibling, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with differences ranging from 0.69% to 2.84% in CPU-Z, Cinebench, and Geekbench. Even in 1080p gaming, the advantage is minimal and hard to perceive.

Core Ultra 9 290K Plus processor mounted on a test bench, benchmark software interface displaying CPU-Z and Cinebench scores on a monitor, a digital caliper measuring negligible performance gap between two processors, the larger chip barely outperforming the smaller Core Ultra 7 270K Plus during a gaming test at 1080p, cinematic technical illustration, dim lab lighting with cool blue LEDs, heat sink fan spinning slowly, subtle smoke effect suggesting wasted potential, engineering visualization style, photorealistic metallic surfaces, dramatic shadows emphasizing disappointment

The only victory: fluid dynamics vs. AMD 🏆

The exception occurs in fluid dynamics simulation, where the 290K Plus was 4.6% faster than the 270K Plus and 9% superior to AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D. However, this very specific improvement does not justify the model's launch. In the remaining tests, AMD processors widely outperform Intel's new chip, making it clear that the competition offers more balanced and superior performance in everyday and high-performance tasks.

The 290K Plus: 9% faster in fluids, 100% irrelevant in everything else 💧

Intel has created a processor that only feels special when you simulate spilling coffee on the motherboard. Seriously, the only area where it shines is fluid dynamics. What's next? A benchmark on how a rubber duck slides? Meanwhile, AMD laughs in most tests, and users wonder if this chip comes with a manual of limited uses or if it is only sold for plumbing simulators.