Intel skipped the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus during its Arrow Lake Refresh launch, yet the chip continues to show strong results in benchmarks that suggest a clear performance lead over the current flagship. The absence of this processor raises questions, especially when early data points to a major uplift in both single-core and multi-core workloads.
Recent Geekbench results show the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus reaching 3,747 points in single-core and 26,117 in multi-core tests. These numbers place it well ahead of the Core Ultra 9 285K and even above competing high-end CPUs. The improvement now sits close to 17 percent in both categories, which marks a significant jump compared to earlier leaks that showed around 10 to 11 percent gains.
According to 9550pro, who spotted the latest listing, the chip delivers what can be described as a “whopping” improvement, with benchmark entries showing a consistent lead across multiple runs. These results strengthen earlier reports that the processor could become a dominant option for high-performance desktop users if Intel decides to release it.
Strong gains in synthetic tests
The numbers suggest that Intel pushed clock speeds or architectural tuning further with this unreleased model. While Geekbench does not fully scale beyond 16 cores in multi-core tests, the single-core score clearly stands out, placing the 290K Plus ahead of both Intel and AMD flagship chips. That level of single-threaded performance matters for many real-world tasks, including gaming and productivity apps that rely on fast cores.
Intel has not confirmed any plans for the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, and some reports even suggest that the chip may have been canceled. Still, the benchmark results keep it relevant, especially for users who want a high-end CPU focused on heavy workloads. As things stand, the Core Ultra 9 285K remains the top option in the current lineup, while the 290K Plus exists as a powerful but unreleased contender.
